OUT OF LIBERIA
Paul T. Stallsworth

For a number of years, Herbert and Mary Zigbuo have been United Methodist missionaries in Liberia.  Recently, during an extended stay in the United States (in the “Bull City”, to be exact), Herbert visited Carteret County, and preached and assisted with Holy Communion at Broad Creek Church and at St. Peter’s Church.

As is known from the daily news, Liberia is now a political mess.  More than one revolutionary movement is now trying to overtake the unjust regime of President Charles Taylor.  The story is a familiar one: fighting throughout the country is common, deaths result, human services are disrupted, the weakest suffer the most, and masses of refugees are created.

From this political chaos named Liberia, Herbert and Mary Zigbuo, along with 14 foreign-born missionaries and 11 Liberian-born missionaries, were safely evacuated to Freetown, Sierra Leone.  The story of their departure involves a clear and present danger, and its avoidance.

In May and June, revolutionary forces were approaching the city of Monrovia.  Such threats were not all that unusual to the Zigbuo’s, for Christian missionaries in Liberia, who are committed to spreading the Gospel of Life, often confront danger and death.  They were warned to leave.  But they stayed put.  Their worried family members, from around the world, called them and begged them to leave before it was too late.

Then, on June 7th, they were awakened by heavy gunfire very near the city.  That is when the necessary truth of their imminent departure hit them.  Missions officials lined up government security guards to escort the 27 missionaries to the airport.

The airport was crammed full of people trying to fly out of Liberia.  Unfortunately, most airlines had canceled all their flights to and from Liberia.  The lone remaining airline, which was servicing Liberia, was sold out.  So the 27 missionaries chartered a flight to Sierra Leone, and scheduled it to leave the next day.  That night the 27 crowded into eight small rooms of a guest house.  The next morning they returned to the airport, found it filled with even more people, and resisted many who would bribe their way onto the chartered flight.  Within hours, they boarded a well-worn plane and were on their way, by air, to Freetown.  After landing, the 27 missionaries were taken to “safe houses” to regroup.

By e-mail, Herbert Zigbuo revealed his divided heart:  “We were filled with mixed feelings at various levels.  We felt very bad about leaving our colleagues whom we worked with and served together.  What about our friends?  What about our commitment to do the work that the Lord had placed in our hearts?  We are all committed to return as soon as the situation is safe to do so.  For now, we will all be absorbed in church work in other countries...to assist with the ministry to more than 30,000 Liberian refugees.” (The United Methodist Reporter, 7/4/03)

We should thank God that He has called the Zigbuo’s into missionary service, that He has given them protection, and that He has blessed them with a new work among Liberian refugees in Guinea.  In response to their new situation, the Broad Creek Church and St. Peter’s Church can do two things.  First, we should pray for the Zigbuo’s and their missions work.  And second, we can give toward a special offering on August 24th.  The special offering -- the Zigbuo Refugee Support, through the North Carolina Conference -- will make possible many works of mercy among the Liberians now in Guinea.

Thank you, in advance, for your prayers for the Zigbuo’s.

And thank you, in advance, for the special offering to be received on August 24th.

From August 2003 St. Peter’s Post