UMU Honors Rev. Dr. Karngar for Lifetime Service to Church, Nation | News

The United Methodist University (UMU), through its School of Graduate and Professional Studies, has honored Liberian educator, church leader, and statesman Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karngar Sr. by naming its Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program in his honor.

The ceremony, held at the Stephen Trowen Nagbe United Methodist Church in Sinkor, brought together church leaders, academics, students, and invited guests to celebrate Dr. Karngar’s decades of service to education, Christian ministry, community development, and national leadership.

Born on April 5, 1930, in No. 3B Chiefdom, Doun Karngar’s Town, Grand Bassa County, Rev. Dr. Karngar has built a distinguished legacy as an educator, religious leader, and advocate for the Bassa people and Liberia at large.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Liberia in 1962, a master’s degree in School Administration and Curriculum Development from Point Loma College in Pasadena, California, and a Doctorate in Religious Education and Ministry from Georgia Andersonville Seminary.

In 1961, he founded the Worldwide Missions of Liberia, an indigenous Bassa Christian denomination dedicated to advancing Christianity, education, healthcare, and community development.

The organization currently operates 76 churches across 10 districts, serving more than 15,000 members nationwide. It also manages two health centers, one hospital, and three senior high schools.

Over the years, his contributions have earned him multiple national and international recognitions. In 2006, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf conferred on him the rank of Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa during Liberia’s 160th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

In March 2011, the Government of Liberia, through the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation and represented by then Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, named a multimillion-dollar complex in Buchanan City in his honor.

He was further recognized by The United Methodist Church Liberia Annual Conference in 2016 and received a distinguished community service award from the United Bassa Organizations in the Americas in 2022.

Delivering the keynote address, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. described Rev. Dr. Karngar as a man whose life embodies faith, service, and commitment to Christian education.

“Today, we are not merely naming a program; we are celebrating a legacy,” Bishop Quire said. “Rev. Dr. Abba G. Karngar’s life has been a testament to faithful service, Christian education, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

He emphasized that the new program will help train future pastors, chaplains, and caregivers in both theological knowledge and practical ministry skills.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches,” he added. “It is fitting that future pastors, chaplains, and caregivers will be trained under a program that bears his name.”

Bishop Quire also encouraged students to emulate Dr. Karngar’s humility, discipline, and commitment to service, noting that true ministry is centered on compassion and transformation.

UMU Interim President Medina A. Wesseh also paid tribute to Dr. Karngar’s lifelong dedication to education and national development.

“His unwavering commitment to the progress, dignity, and advancement of the Bassa people, as well as his service to Liberia as a whole, stands as a shining example of visionary and selfless leadership,” she said.

She added that his legacy reflects the values of service and sacrifice that continue to shape Liberia’s educational and faith-based institutions.

In his response, Rev. Dr. Karngar expressed deep gratitude to UMU for the honor, describing it as a humbling recognition of his lifelong ministry and service.

“I am deeply humbled by this honor,” he said. “Have faith in God. Faith is the binding cord that holds our ministries, churches, and communities together.”

Quoting a Bassa proverb, he added that unity and faith must guide Christian leadership, emphasizing service above personal gain.

University officials explained that the Clinical Pastoral Education and Ministry Program is designed to provide interfaith pastoral training, integrating theological study with practical, experiential learning in clinical and community settings.

They said the program aims to strengthen spiritual care, personal formation, and pastoral competence while preparing future leaders to serve with compassion, integrity, and excellence.

The university expressed confidence that the program will preserve Rev. Dr. Karngar’s legacy by shaping a new generation of pastors, chaplains, and counselors committed to faith-driven service and community transformation.