By Nelson Manneh
The Methodist Church of the Gambia will for the first time in its autonomous state consecrate a home grown Minister of religion, Reverend Bannie Ebenezer Fanazer Manga as presiding Bishop.
This historic event will be held on Sunday 27th February 2022 at the Wesley Cathedral Church in Banjul.
Bannie will be replacing Bishop Hannah Caroline Faal-Heim, whose term has ended as presiding Bishop.
Born to Joseph A. Manga and Madeline B. Sambou, Bannie grew up in Dippakunda where he did most of his childhood days. He was Baptized and Confirmed a member of the Bethel Methodist Church, Stanley Street, Banjul.
Bannie was schooled at Ndow’s Comprehensive High School in Kanifing. Two months after his Confirmation at the Wesley Circuit, now Wesley Cathedral, Bannie served as youth leader in Bethel Methodist Church for many years.
Bannie offered for the Methodist Local Bannie offered for the Methodist Local Preachers in June 1997 and completed his local preacher training at the Cliff College, Derbyshire, UK. He was commissioned
as a Lay Preacher at the Bethel Methodist Church in November 2000 and continued for ministerial training at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana in 2001.
In Trinity Theological Seminary, Bannie completed the Diploma in Theology program of studies in June 2003 and proceeded to do the Bachelors of Divinity program of Studies, completing in June 2005 with a Second Class Honors Degree. He was commissioned as Methodist minister at the Ebenezer Methodist Church,
Medina in Accra on 8th June 2003.
After his commissioning, Bannie was stationed to the Accra New Town Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana where he was circuit minister with 7 societies to administer.
In July 2005, Bannie returned to The Gambia and was stationed at the Serekunda Circuit as Circuit Minister. He served under the superintendence of the Reverend W. Bankole Coker and Willie Carr from 2005 to 2008 respectively.
Bannie enjoys the honor of being the only Gambian Minister who served in most if not all portfolios associated with ministerial offices in the Methodist Church The Gambia. He served as Circuit Minister, School Chaplain, Youth Minister, Assistant Synod Secretary, Synod Secretary, Assistant Secretary of Conference, Superintendent Minister and Secretary of Conference.
Bannie is also privileged to serve in shaping and forming Christian Religious Educators at The Gambia College from September 2009 to date. He also participates in shaping minds at the University of The Gambia from 2016 to date and he used to lecture at the Methodist Lay Preachers’ School.
Reverend Bannie Ebenezer Fanazer Manga married Jainaba in October 2006 and they are blessed with three children.