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BWI graduates, impacting nations of the world, says Rev. Tabla

James Fasuekoi

Class of 1987 raises nearly $45,000 in Minnesota for BWI-Kakata Project 

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher

Rev. Dr. Francis Tabla, pastor for the mega Ebenezer Community Church (ECC) in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, is known for his captivating remarks at Liberian Community events here, in Minnesota.  

In 2013, for instance, during a fundraising rally here for a community library project in Kakata, Liberia, he alarmed his audience when he stated Liberia does not have a national library.

Dr.Tabla’s comment was received with mixed reaction, amid gnashing of teeth while others treated it as an understatement, especially for a nation as old as Liberia-Uncle Sam’s Step-Child-and first to declare its independence on the then Dark Continent. 

Mr. Michael B. Bull, Chairman, Board of Directors (right), presents an award to Dr. Tabla and his wife, Pastor Christin on behalf of Class Of ’87.

It turned out Dr. Tabla was truly right; the nation, Liberia, in the true sense, has no national public library as of the time of this writing.

Nearly two weeks ago, Pastor Tabla added another which had everyone thinking deeper during a worship service at ECC a day following his old college (BWI) reunion-fundraising events.

“No one goes to BWI and comes out for nothing!” Dr. Tabla told his audience. That is to say, no student has ever attended the Booker Washington Institute and came out futile  or without acquiring a trade.

No one challenged his assertion as evidence to back up his comment were visible: more than 20 highly skilled entrepreneurs (all former graduates) of BWI “Class Of 1987” stood on the podium.   

Dr. Tabla too, belongs to the BWI Class Of ‘87; so is his wife, Pastor Christin Tabla. It is at the BWI he said he learned to play gaiter and also met his wife, following which they started their Gospel Ministry works.    

Rev. Dr. Francis Tabla (1st from right) prepares to lead his Class Of 1987 into a song during Sunday worship at Ebenezer Community Church, Brooklyn Park, MN.

Both Tabla and Christin form part of BWI’s success story, just like many other graduates from the school, and now operate a mega church in North America worth over 10 million U.S. dollars.

Pastor Jerome Sackor who delivered a sermon October 30, 2022, during Sunday service, is also a graduate of BWI and a member of Class Of 1987. He’s presently Director of Missions at Better Way Bible Church in Pennsylvania.

His sermon, titled: “Compassion On the Other Side” touched many hearts and received a standing ovation. Much of his texts came from Mark 4:35-41; 5:1-20, when Jesus ordered His disciples, saying: “Let us go over to the other side” and after crossing they encountered a man possessed by demons. 

Pastor Sackor informed the congregation Jesus Christ decided to cross over to the other side with His disciples because He Jesus wanted to save the life of one man who was demon-possessed and was in desperate need of help. 

Guest Speaker & Chief Fundraiser Clarence Tweh (left), is assisted by Mr. Zacchaeus Payne (Class Of ‘86).  

Jesus, for that reason, he explained, had to go through a storm in order to save the lunatic (Mark 4:35-41), and added that that’s how far Jesus can go to get to anyone found in a tough situation. 

Although many sermons had been preached on the referenced subject in the past, Pastor Sackor’s version seemed quite insightful and it helped people understand why Jesus asked His disciples to cross with Him over to the other side.   

The BWI Class Of 1987 fundraising dinner on October 29, was successful and yielded closer to $45,000 in both cash and pledges, according to Dr. Tabla. The fundraising campaign was led by Mr. Clarence W. Tweh, Sr. (Class Of ‘87), assisted by Mr. Zacchaeus Payne (Class Of ‘86).  

Classmates who had disappeared soon after graduation and hadn’t met for over 35 years, flew into Minnesota from across the U.S. and joined the celebration.

Some guests at the BWI Fundraising Dinner Saturday, October 29, 2022.

The Class Of 1987 has been working hard to raise between $100, 000 to $150,000 in order to build a resource center (to include a modern library) on BWI Campus, Margibi County, for the benefit of that community.

Dr. Tabla praised his former classmates for their continued personal financial support for his new church and placed contributions made by their schoolmates, particularly, “Class Of 1987” at roughly $50,000 to $100,000. 

Mr. Charles Barbu, Chairman of BWI Class Of ’87 Executive Council, speaks at the worship service.

BWI is one of the nation’s top rated and probably, the oldest vocational training centers in the country and located in Kakata, a gateway city to the countryside, some 35 miles north of Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. 

Editor’s Note: A special pictorial by James Kokulo Fasuekoi.