At BWI farewell ceremony, Pastor Tabla brings old school memories alive!

Rev. Dr. Francis O.S. Tabla in action during a farewell ceremony at Ebenezer Community Church for members of BWI Class Of 1987.
Former student and member of BWI Class Of ’66, Elder Joseph Walker poses for our camera with old schoolmates at Ebenezer Community Church.

Knowing Rev. Dr. Francis O.S. Tabla, you’ve got to also know about Booker T. Washington Institute (BWI), the vocational school he and his wife, Pastor Christin Tabla graduated from in 1987. Like former graduates of L.T.I. & Z.R.T.T.I., in Lofa County, Liberia, Pastor Tabla often speaks so passionately of his alma mater almost everywhere he goes, particularly, the “BWI Class Of ‘87.” Listening to his story, one gets to understand and appreciate three major life-changing events at BWI that shaped his future: It was at BWI he first learned to play a gaiter; also met his wife, and eventually, both started their Gospel Ministry works. After his Class Of 1987’s successful convention and fundraising dinner events of October 28th & 29th in Minnesota, Rev. Tabla, took to the stage, Sunday (October 30,), at his Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, MN, to demonstrate his singing and gaiter-playing skills before the congregation. Members of Class Of ’87 received cheers; they included some of Tabla’s predecessors like current Minnesota resident Mr. Joseph A. Walker (entered 1963 and graduated 1966), plus some of those who came after them. TEXT & PHOTO BY JAMES KOKULO FASUEKOI