Mounds View, Minnesota — At its twentieth Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, Redeemed Life Church Worldwide in Mounds View, Minnesota, offered Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee with the “Coronary heart of Service Award” in recognition of his lifelong advocacy for Liberians on Short-term Protected Standing (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) within the US and Twin Citizenship in Liberia, for pure born Liberians and people born of Liberian parentage.
By Eminent Wettee receiving the Coronary heart of Service Award from Pastor Alexander Collins
The church’s milestone celebration—held below the theme, “The Spirit-Fueled Church Lifting Jesus, Reworking Lives, Influencing Change”—introduced collectively outstanding spiritual, civic, and diaspora leaders. Reverend Dr. Emmett Lafayette Dunn, Government Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Lott Carey Overseas Mission Conference, served as visitor speaker. Additionally, in attendance have been Hon. Erasmus Williams, Coordinator of the Diaspora Affairs Workplace on the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, and former Brooklyn Park Metropolis Council Member Wynfred Russell.
In the course of the ceremony, church leaders lauded Wettee’s activism, particularly his function in defending Liberian TPS/DED beneficiaries from deportation. In 2007, whereas serving because the twenty third President of the Union of Liberian Associations within the Americas (ULAA), he pledged that no Liberian could be deported below his watch. True to his dedication, his administration is credited with stopping the deportation of almost 10,000 Liberians whose TPS was on account of expire. The advocacy effort additionally influenced U.S. coverage, resulting in the supply of DED and work authorization for eligible Liberians.
After his tenure at ULAA, Wettee continued to push for structural immigration reforms. He and others together with ULAA, the Group of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM), Liberian Neighborhood Affiliation of DC Metro, Liberian organizations within the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ohio and so on., performed a essential function in lobbying for Liberians on TPS/DED annually and the Liberian Refugee Immigration Equity (LRIF) Act, enacted December 20, 2019, which enabled eligible TPS/DED Liberians to use for U.S. lawful everlasting residency—and later certified for U.S. citizenship.
On the church occasion, Pastor Alexander Collins highlighted one other dimension of Wettee’s impression: the conclusion of twin citizenship rights for Liberians. Owing partially to Wettee’s advocacy, natural-born Liberians and people born of Liberian parentage can now receive Liberian passports, safe nationwide ID playing cards, vote in nationwide elections, and interact in commerce and public service in Liberia.
“This recognition is well-merited,” mentioned the Pastor. “We see in Eminent Wettee a pacesetter who’s woven religion, service, and justice. In actual time, Liberians are benefiting from his management.”
Nationwide Honor Bestowed
In a testomony to his standing in Liberia, Eminent Wettee was lately embellished by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., with Liberia’s highest honors. He was admitted into the Humane Order of African Redemption with the grade of Knight Commander in an investiture ceremony held on July 24, 2025.
Within the presidential quotation, Boakai cited Wettee’s unwavering function in diaspora advocacy, particularly his management in ULAA, his devoted push for twin citizenship reform, and his constant efforts to unite and mobilize Liberians at residence and overseas.
Legacy of Affect
Past awards and recognition, Wettee’s legacy is alive within the lives he’s helped remodel. He’s extensively considered as one of many foremost champions of Liberian twin citizenship and diaspora rights. In March 2025, he acquired a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from diaspora Liberian ladies teams (All Liberian Diaspora Ladies) and Liberians in Columbus, INC. (LICI) in 2021 — an additional affirmation of his long-standing dedication to advocacy and neighborhood and was named the “Father of Twin Citizenship” by European Federation of Liberian Associations, (EFLA).
Because the Church’s “Coronary heart of Service Award” was conferred, attendees praised Wettee not simply as a determine of ceremony, however as a hands-on chief whose advocacy has led to legislative modifications, sensible help for weak Liberians overseas, and new pathways for integration between diaspora communities and the Liberian nation.
In closing, Redeemed Life Church urged its congregation and guests alike to hold Wettee’s spirit ahead—not merely in applause, however in motion.
