Liberia: Mega U.S. African immigrant church’s fundraiser sparks murmurings but…

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher

From Monrovia, Republic of Liberia

UPDATED VERSION

Many of Dr. Francis Tabla’s schoolmates from Booker T. Washington Institute (BWI), remembered him for his devotion toward his guitar music lessons through which he met his lifelong wife, Mother Christine, before both started their Gospel Ministry in the 80s.

Others also know Rev. Francis O.S. Tabla for something else: his unflinching desire for setting records or making things happen-even where others may have failed and there exists ample evidence for that matter.

In 2000, for instance, Dr. Tabla started off with only an eight-member congregation and ran his worship service out of a Brooklyn Park High School for over a decade. Before long, his Ebenezer Community Church’s membership grew to 850. This enabled EEC to purchase a 4.3 acres land in Nov. 2004 for its future home church.

Before the glare of U.S. mass media, EEC broke ground in 2015 and started construction of the church located at 9200 West Broadway, Brooklyn Park, Minn., which covers 34,000 sq. ft. Today, EEC is worth more than 10 million and remains the largest church ever owned by an African immigrant in the USA. 

But that isn’t all: the couple managed to pull off a successful fundraising campaign collecting over US $35,000 in cash and pledges in one sitting in mid March 2025. This is something most thought may have been impossible in Africa, mainly Liberia, a country erroneously listed by Euruopeans and Westerners as being among the poorest of nations in Africa. 

And their secrets? Dr. Tabla and Pastor Christine, when asked, would say their only secret is threefold: obey and trust in the LORD, and not rely on your own understanding; work harder, give unto the work of God’s Kingdom as well as the needy in our communities.

The idea by this Mega US church to reach beyond the Atlantic and raise money in Africa to help pay off its remaining mortgage fees may have sounded odd to many and even sparked off murmurings in the audience after the ceremony kicked off at Gates Agape Ministeries in Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia.

Sensing the curiosity by some, Dr. Tabla sought to first make some clarifications and this ended the murmurings in the audience. 

Of EEC’s initial debt of 10 million, the church has paid at least 6 million with the remaining balance of 4 million, an amount it intends to “burn-off” comes this September 14, 2025, which is her 25th anniversary.

While Dr. Tabla and Mother Christine could have remained in America and raised the 4 million for the mortgage pay-off, both said they decided to travel to their native Liberia to do so mainly for two reasons: they wish to give their own people the opportunity to sow into God’s work so they can be blessed as well. 

Secondly, the church, according to Tabla, isn’t his personal property; rather, it’s God’s he said, and would always carry Liberia’s name. Dr. Tabla and his wife are humble people and have often refused to take “credits” for the erection of this gangetic worship center next to the city’s main library and college.    

Dr. Tabla’s story has now formed part of the Immigrant Success Stories in the U.S. so much that Tabla is now a well-sought-after preacher here. 

Churches across America and worldwide now invite the “Tablas” to share their church growth experiences with their own congregations in terms of giving to the work of God and how to lead a successful and Spirit-filled church.

Other African immigrant pastors have never held back their admiration for Pastor Tabla’s fine work and prayed to be blessed like him.

In 2020 and 2023, respectively, Ghanaian and Nigerian pastors in Brooklyn Center and St. Louis Park spoke separately well of Dr. Tabla’s work for the Gospel, saying, his mega church is a testament to show nothing is impossible for God; that Ebenezer Community Church itself has brought pride to all Africans in the U.S.

Today, Dr. Tabla and Mother Christine have planted churches in Liberia, Kenya, Ghana and Sierra Leone among other countries.

But like most success stories, Dr. Francis O.S. Tabla’s successful story didn’t come by so easily and one could write an entire book in telling it all. 

Like many other people migrating to the U.S. and elsewhere, the Tablas too, have had their share of immigration challenges, but God eventually gave them a breakthrough!

Editor’s Erratum: We stated initially when this article was first published that the referenced fundraising rally took place at “Destiny Legacy Church” in Congotown. We also reported that Rev. Dr. Tabla first arrived in the U.S., followed later by his wife, Mother Rev. Christine. Rather, the event took place at Gates Agape Ministeries in Oldest Congotown, Liberia. Secondly, the couple actually arrived together in the U.S. along with their son in 1997 to study. We regret the errors!

Banner photo shows Mother Christine Tabla addressing audience during March fundraising campaign in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.  

James Kokulo Fasuekoi is an award-winning journalist, author, documentary writer and news photographer. He previously covered civil wars in West Africa for both local and international news media, including The Associated Press. Listed on his college’s Dean’s List for academic excellence in Pennsylvania, USA, he holds an AA Degree in Biblical Theology, and the equivalent of a degree in Journalism & Communications (Pennsylvania Board of Education-2010/11). He became a Bush Foundation Scholar twice in 2017. Fasuekoi’s work as a civil war journalist in West Africa during the 80s-90s, brought him face-to-face with the law in his native Liberia and the U.S. where the Fed subpoenaed him twice to give testimonies as lead witness in two major international war crimes trials of 2017 & 2018 in Philadelphia. Once a West African national ballet dancer, Fasuekoi now writes, photographs and dances for Jesus Christ. Read profile @ https://globalekklesia.com/profile/