Correct: Saniquellie First UMC changed to Saniquellie Global Methodist Church
Claim: “Saniquellie First United Methodist Church changed to Saniquellie Global Methodist Church.”
Verdict: Correct, the Saniquellie First Methodist church has been changed to the Saniquellie Global Methodist Church.
Full Text: On February 19, 2025, Roger Tahn, a Liberian journalist who works with Radio Sehnwai FM 97.9 in Saniquellie, Nimba County, posted that the “First United Church” in Saniquellie was changed to “Saniquelllie Global Methodist Church.”
As of the time of this verification, the post had received 12 reactions and 33 comments.
As of the time of this verification, the post had received 12 reactions and 33 comments.
The church formerly known as Saniquellie First United Methodist has been in existence since 1960, making 2025 its 65th anniversary.
Before the formation of the United Methodist Church in 1968, it was originally called the Methodist Church. In 1968, George Harley oversaw the construction of the church compound in Ganta and a hospital in Saniquellie.
That same year, the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, which also led to the renaming to the Saniquellie First United Methodist Church.
Verification: TSM spoke with Rev. Stanley Mabah, the pastor in charge of the church, who confirmed the change. He said the decision to change the name of the church came from a recent assembly held in Bunadin, District #8, Nimba County.
“During the gathering, the Gompa District Conference—comprising over 20,000 members who were previously part of the United Methodist Church (UMC)—announced their collective decision to separate from the UMC.”
Rev. Mabah said the United Methodist Church in Saniquellie has changed the name written on the church's building to Saniquellie Global Methodist Church following the launch of the Global Methodist Church on Friday, February 14, 2025.
On February 14, 2025, the breakaway Liberia United Methodists for Biblical Christianity (LUMBC) launched its new denomination, the Global Methodist Church (GMC). This comes after months of disagreement over same-sex marriage and church policies.
Bishop Samuel Quire, leader of the 192nd UMC Annual Conference in Gbarnga, denies that the church in Liberia supports same-sex marriage. The United Methodist Church in Liberia, at its 192nd Annual Conference in Gbarnga City, adopted that "marriage is a union between one man and one woman."
On February 13, 2025, Bishop Quire dismissed claims that he supports same-sex marriage, calling it a rumor that is being spread by social media.
However, Rev. Jerry Kulah and his group believe otherwise, accusing the leadership of following the Western church instead of upholding biblical teachings.
Rev. Kulah and his group argue that same-sex marriage goes against Liberian laws and cultural values, and they refuse to be part of a church that they believe is compromising its faith.
Conclusion: The claim that the Saniquellie First United Methodist Church has been changed to the Saniquellie Global Methodist Church is true. A thorough search revealed a new name written on the church building, and the pastor in charge, Rev. Stanley Mabah, confirmed the change.
By: Uriah Suah, Nimba Fellow
By: Uriah Suah, Nimba Fellow
