| NEWS 
Joni Goheen/UMNS
James Oliver Duncan, president of United Methodist University in Monrovia, Liberia, examines damage from rocket propelled grenades to a wall in his office. The university became ground zero during the countrys civil war last summer. Campus buildings sustained heavy damage, most of the furniture and equipment were looted, and the school lost its prized possession its generator. | United Methodists help Liberian children victimized by war By Joni GoheenUnited Methodist news service United Methodist University, in the city center of Liberias capital, became ground zero during the countrys civil war last summer. Campus buildings sustained heavy damage, most of the furniture and equipment were looted, and the school lost its prized possession its generator. All the administrative offices were damaged, and the office of President James Oliver Duncan was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades. The weapons would have killed him if he had been in his office. A photo of Liberias Bishop John Innis hangs next to a bullet hole in the wall. Jimmy Dennis, a manager at the university, emerged as a local hero. Dennis confronted a rebel leader who was about to leave administrative offices with computers, monitors, and printers. Dennis demanded the return of the equipment, and a rebel leader sent several of his men to retrieve the stolen items. With the smoke of war clearing away, The United Methodist Church faces the task of rebuilding not only the university but other education programs around the country. The denomination has been active in Liberia since 1833 and is considered a longtime champion of education. Education and Methodism are so closely linked that it is nearly impossible to discuss one without the other. Today, most church buildings serve as places for worship, education and health care. More than 600 people, ages 4 to 21, attend school on the steps of the universitys Samuel Doe Sports Complex. The complex also serves as a home for hundreds of temporarily displaced people, taught by displaced teachers. Every day, rain or shine, they assemble to learn music, reading and math. Running a school program like that is difficult, according to A. Gray of Smart African International, an organization that works in developing countries. Yet the cost of not doing so can be great. If we dont put our own limited resources into place to run such a program, in the near future, you will see another group of rebels in this country again, Gray said. David T. Wofodah, a United Methodist missionary to Liberia, recently launched a school for deaf children. Students, ranging in age from 6 to 21, were recruited in a door-to-door campaign, and many are attending school for the first time. The church doesnt have a program for this kind of thing so I decided to bring this idea to the church, Wofodah said. Jesus Christ says, I came to preach the message to the poor, so why cant we go a little farther to include disabled people? They are part of Gods kingdom. Joseph Punyanqoi, 21, one of the older students, communicates by using rudimentary hand signals. He attends school in the mornings, and he and his brother spend their afternoons repairing and shining shoes. Fifty-four percent of the 2.7 million people in Liberia are under age 20. Children under age 16 have routinely had their education interrupted and have never known peace for any significant amount of time. Entire communities are hard at work making repairs so other schools can reopen in late October or early November, according to Edwin Clarke, director of communications for The United Methodist Churchs Liberia Annual Conference. |
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