27th April is celebrated as Salone - Sierra Leonean Independence, since it was obtained in 1961. Lead Apostle Hans-Jürgen Bauer with seven Apostles and one Bishop from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia conducted a festive divine service, at the Canteen of Freetown Polytechnic Institute FPI; followed by ministers and family retreat in Jui, the outskirt of Freetown.

All the Apostles and Bishop were decorated with a muffler of the Sierra Leone flag. Apostle Bauer, South Germany, Apostles Saffa Braima, Sesay Sanpha, Garber Albert and Bishop Raymond Essequi of Sierra Leone, Apostles Leno Saa Marc, Condé Jacques, Millimono Tamba Wollé Sosso from Guinea and Wreh Alexander – Liberia. It was colorful!
 

The Festive Divine Service

The Lead Apostle read a text word out of John 8:29 “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."

Lead Apostle Bauer expressed his joy for the families of Ministers gathering every independence day (national holiday), to fellowship in the Lord. The church has a big family!

He assured members that, as our heavenly father did not leave our Lord Jesus alone in the salvation mission, so also He will not leave us alone on our striving to reach the goal of our faith (partake in eternal fellowship with God). Our earthly life is sometimes with difficult circumstances of war, sickness, deprivation and the like; “God is always with you, you are never alone”, he concluded.

The youngest Apostle Millimono of Guinea, Apostle Wreh of Liberia and Apostle Garber of Sierra Leone served along.
 

The Family Retreat

After the divine service, introduction of Apostles, Bishop, District Ministers and congregations present was done. As usual the family retreat continued: Ministers and their family members, together with widows of deceased ministers and all who participated in the divine service familiarized themselves. Food and drinks were shared and the joyful fellowship of brotherly love was manifested. The role of Ministers and support needed from their family and all a sundry was highly emphasized for the development of the Church.

About 650 attended the independent festive divine service and family retreat.