Philadelphia Central Church

it grew rapidly. By the year 1974, an edifice was erected, and the church moved to 10th Street and was named Philadelphia/Monrovia Free Pentecostal Church; “the Church of brotherly love (Rev. 3:7; Heb. 13.1).”


Later in 1980, the missionaries turned over the spiritual leadership of the church to Rev. In that same year, the church was relocated to Congo Town on the Tubman Boulevard, adjacent the former Sophie Ice Cream Shop. Laurore served as the Pastor until 1981 when he had to move on because of God’s leading into another direction of ministry. The office of the Pastorate was turned over to Brother Luis Lawrence, who was then ordained and inducted into office. He served for five years and then turned over the leadership to Elder Samuel M. Dorbor, Sr. who served as Acting Pastor for a little over six months. By March 1988, Rev. George D. Harris, became the Senior Pastor of the Church. In 1999, the Church moved to its present premises in Tarr Town, Township of Congo Town. From that time to present, the church has grown from a membership of about three hundred (300) to over one thousand six hundred (1600) registered members. Philadelphia Central Church still exists as a local assembly, out of which has evolved the Philadelphia Church Ministries International, Inc., which serves as covering body to over thirty-six (36) churches in Liberia, Ghana and the United States of America. The Philadelphia Central Church, over the years, has grown and been involved in Missions work. In 1992, as a result of the expansion of the church into several other churches, the Mission Department was opened with Rev. Samuel M. now Bishop, as the head of the Department. With the evolving of the local church into a ministry (PCMI) the Mission Department became the first activated Department within the Ministry (PCMI). This Department is now being supervised by Bishop Samuel M. as the Bishop/Vice Chairman. The Philadelphia Central Church is now the mother Church of over thirty (30) churches in ten (10) of the fifteen (15) counties in Liberia and several other Philadelphia Churches abroad. With the growth and expansion of the Church Ministry, Bishop Samuel M. Dorbor, Sr., then Associate Pastor of Philadelphia Central Church; in 1998, sensed the leading of God to take over the leadership of Philadelphia Church, New Georgia as Senior Pastor. With this development, in 2005, Apostle Abilio V. Balboa was inducted as first Resident Pastor of the Philadelphia Central Church, to serve alongside Bishop Dr. George D. Harris as principal deputy. Bishop Dr. George D. Harris still remains Senior Pastor of this local congregation and Presiding Bishop of the Philadelphia Church Ministries, International, Inc.