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Minister’s Story

 

Rev. J. Dennis Gonleh, Sr.

Rev. J. Dennis Gonleh, Sr. was born on May 22, 1953 to the union of Mr. & Mrs. Oldman Gonleh in Granwee, Nimba County, Monrovia, Liberia.  He started school at the age of 10 and attended Daniel E. Howard Elementary.  In 1967, he enrolled at Carver Mission, Christian Elementary School, where he graduated with a Certificate in 1969.  While attending Carver Mission, Christian Elementary School, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  He graduated from Charlotte Tolbert Memorial Academy in 1975.

He perceived the initial Call of the Lord upon his life in 1970 but kept denying it and finally realized it several years later.  He later saw how his life changed into a spiritual reality by teaching Sunday School, leading  the youth, leading prayer meetings and preaching at Immanuel Baptist Church.  It was during this time that he fully accepted his calling.

Rev. Gonleh attended Monrovia Bible College for two years until the Civil War of 1989 interrupted his studies.  He became an ordained deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church in 1988.  While in exile he attended Advance Theological Studies and graduated in 1995.  That same year he was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel at Union Baptist Church where he later pastored until the 2002 Civil War in the Ivory Coast.

In 2009, he received his Deacon Ordination at First Baptist Church, Montgomery, AL.  He also earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Colorado Technical University in Business Administration and Management that same year.

Philosophy of Ministry

“We must do all we can as a church to achieve our goal and purpose by believing in reaching the lost souls in the world. With this in mind, the following elements should be considered:

  1. Our Belief: We believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God that all hearken to... (Deut. 6: 4 – 12) We believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and Saviour of the world. (Jn. 3: 16) We believe the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Cor. 15: 1 – 4)

  2. Our goal and purpose: the keys that we are Soul – Winners; by: 1. Display the Highest Wisdom - (Prov. 11:30). 2. Win a Radiant Crown - (Daniel 12: 3). 3. Trained by Christ in a New Calling: (Mt. 4: 19) 4. Discipleship Making- Mt. 28: 18 -20). 5. Demonstrate the Reality of Faith, Trust and Dependency on God- (Prov. 3: 5, Ps. 37: 3 – 5).

 Achievements

Rev. Gonleh is the co-author of a book titled “Refuge” which shares his family’s testimonial experience during the Civil War in Africa.  He has also organized an International Prayer Line that meets three times a day which is growing rapidly. 

 Testimony

Since moving to Montgomery, Rev. Gonleh has been able to purchase a four-bedroom home and a  2014 Santa Fe sport utility vehicle free and clear of debt.

Family

Rev. Gonleh has been married to his beautiful wife, Bessie for 43 years.  God blessed them with nine children.  Three of their children perished in the Civil War while seeking refuge in the Ivory Coast.  Two of their children still live in Liberia. The four remaining children live in the United States.  The loving couple have twelve  grandchildren with one on the way.