Bopolu United Methodist Mission Station

Inside this issue:

Mission 1

FUMC News 2

Medical Chart 3

School Works 4

Trophies 4

March 2016

Liberia Annual Conference The United Methodist Church

12th & Tubman Blvd. Sinkor

1000 Monrovia 10

F. Shaffa Seward, Pastor-in-Charge

Three years ago

when we gathered

here to dedicate the

First United Meth-

odist Church at

Bopolu, this site

was mostly covered

with bush. Today,

we are here again but not in the midst

of bushes rather, a clean environment

and buildings that are meant to be used

for the spiritual, mental and physical

development of the people in Bopolu,

and, its surrounding towns and villages.

Before going further, let us take a look

at the setting Bopolu. It is referred to

as the oldest district in the history of

Liberia where King Sao Boso reigned

and was buried. It bears this title be-

cause of King Sao Boso involvement in

settling the dispute between the tribes

and the settlers with this famous quote

‘’ having you sold your land and ac-

cepted payment… I will do to you what

I did to King

Long Peter’’ that

brought its recog-

nition.

Today, the Unit-

ed Methodist

Mission is situat-

ed in the predom-

inantly Islamic

oriented Mandin-

go Clan, Bopolu

District, Gbarpolu

Chatting with Mth. Innis, she appreciated the

fact that the locals are working towards the

growth of the mission which shows they are in

partnership with the church. She also

acknowledge the contributions of our brothers and

sisters in the Virginia Conferences and recalled

their time at Harmony UMC.

At a point during the tour, Bishop Innis was so

delighted that John and Laurie Brohlio, along with

their families and friends in the US are strongly

supporting the mission development and, memori-

alizing Eric Scott. But, on the other hand, regretted

the incidence that prevented them including Tom

Gatewood from being a part of this joyous occa-

sion.

L-R: Mth. Seward, Bishop Innis, Mth Innis; Pst

Seward during Easter Celebration at Bopolu

Bishop Innis chats with Pst Seward after tour-

ing of facilities at the Bopolu Mission Station

Front row (R-L): Shaffa, R. Meram, Mth. InnIs,

Bishop Innis, Hon. Paul Kembah , DS Marshall,

Edrick Noah and Bro. Joe Malleh.

Partial view of the Bopolu Mission

A worshiper from the Weamah Preaching

commented that ‘’we look forward to the

day our church will be constructed and dedi-

cated to the glory of God. May God contin-

ue to bless the works of your hands for

bringing light to your own people.’’

Working in Christ’s

vineyard is not all

milk and honey. This was a

mission challenge for our Dis-

trict Superintendent, Rev.

Christopher G. Marshall whose

vehicle had a breakdown some

46 miles from Bopolu.

Thank God for our 4 Runner

and the energy God has given

us to serve. We drove that 46

miles to rescue the District Su-

perintend and the President of

the Young Adult Fellowship,

Bro. Cyrus P. Yieni along

with two young people of the

district who sacrificed to wor-

ship and celebrate with us

God’s goodness in our lives for

the good of the people of Gbar-

polu County.

The Holy Spirit led the FUMC

at Bopolu English and Dialect

Choirs to sing songs of praises

that were touching thereby

moving worshipers to danced

to the glory of God.

The Conference Lay Leader,

Fth. Rudolph Merab, and the

Lay Leader of the Refuge

UMC Bro. Edrick Noah ar-

rived on Easter morning to

identify with this initiative of

the Liberia Annual Confer-

ence.

Our church was a scene of colour-

ful ceremony in observance of

Easter, the church anniversary

and, the dedication of the mission

station.

Members within the parish started

to arrive early Saturday morning

from Moilaquelleh, and Weamah

preaching points but those from

Deegeh could not come because

of the distance. Other United

Methodist congregations nearby:

Nyaforta UMC and Totoquelleh

UMC also came to grace the cele-

bration. Fortunately for FUMC at

Bopolu, the Resident Bishop at

the Liberia Annual Conference,

Rev. Dr. John G. Innis along with

his wife, Mth. Irene Innis arrived

during the early afternoon. Others

who came along with Bishop Innis

include the Associate Director of

Connectional Ministry, Bro. Joe

Malleh; Fth. Julu Swen, West Af-

rica Write Publisher.

Also in Bopolu was the President

of the St. Paul River District

Women, Mth. Theresa Davis and

suit. She encourage women of the

church to do what is best in sup-

porting and sustaining the minis-

tries being involved with by their

actions of participation.

The peak of the occasion was when

Bishop delivered the sermon from

John 3:16-18 under the theme

‘’Jesus Christ, God’s Precious

Gift to the World.’’

In his opening remarks, Bishop In-

nis thanked God for those whose

finances were used, especially John

and Laurie Broglio and, their fami-

lies and friends, to bring this dream

of serving God’s people in Gbarpo-

lu County to fruition. He also rec-

ognized the commitment of Pst.

Shaffa Seward and his family who

graciously accepted to be in minis-

try with him for and during the im-

plementing this task of mission

development. Also, Bishop Innis

thanked the government through the

offices of the superintendent and

development superintendent for

providing a conducive environment

to operate.

He reminded worshipers that God

so love the world that He gave His

only begotten Son to die on the

cross for the redemption of human

kind. This action brinks salvation

at our doorsteps: as many as are

willing to confess their sins and

accept Jesus Christ as their Lord

and Savior.

He concluded by thanking all those

who, in their least effort contributed to

what was being celebrated: the Bopolu

United Methodist Mission Station.

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The newly constructed mini

clinic (two consultation rooms,

a lab and dressing, drug sup-

ply , and two short stay) at the

Bopolu United Methodist Mis-

sion Station, valued at

$25,000.00 measures 60 ft. by

28 ft., is named in honour of

Eric Scott.

During the cutting of the

ribbon, the Development

Superintendent, Hon. Kem-

bah, said he was so happy

that the Liberia Annual

Conferenced has

brought this clinic to

Bopolu to help the

only hospital in the city.

Then he offered thanks

to God and asked that

God bless the hands of

those whose resources

made this possible and

that the church should

go into the villages to

help in meeting the education

and water needs affecting major-

ity of the population in the coun-

ty by construction safe drinking

water facilities: hand dug water

The Conference Lay Leader, Rudolph Merab

thanked Bishop for an inspiring message and

elaborated saying God’s love is giving and

purposeful– to rescues and give life.

The Development Superintendent, Hon. Paul

Kembah, in remarks thanked Bishop Innis and

The United Methodist Church for allowing one of

their sons, Pst. Shaffa Seward, to spearhead de-

velopment of this nature that will bring relief,

especially the facilities of the church, school and

clinic, to the residents of Bopolu City and its sur-

rounding towns and villages. He further assured

the church that he will do all in his power to facil-

itate the acquisition of additional land needed for

mission work.

Prior to the sermon, there was baptism of 9 new converts,

and 24 confirmation. Others rededicated their lives for

Christian living.

Bishop Innis, during the sermon, presented few cardinal

points :

A day of merriment since it was the rebirth anniver-

sary of the FUMC Bopolu, and dedication of the mis-

sion

God sent Jesus to redeem humankind because man

sin and broke relations with God

Gift is given willingly as exemplified by God

Listening to God’s instruction for God’s people

Jesus our Lord is risen.

He closed by saying we should, at all times and in all forms,

give gifts for the mission work without preconditions of

personal reward in the our service as well as our presence.

Cutting of the ribbon. L-R: DS Christopher G. Mar-

shall, Conference Lay Leader Rudolph Merab, Bish-

op Innis, Development Superintendent Paul Kem-

bah, and Mth Irene Innis

Members of the confirmation class

Eric Scott Memorial

United Methodist Clinic

View of worshiper dancing to praise songs

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Though we have at the top of our priority spir-

itual , mental and academic development, we

also consider play time which is also an essen-

tial part of the mental development of students at

Eric Scott. Indeed, our physical education pro-

gram has paid off so very by our boys and girls

lifting bot male and female trophies in a tourna-

ment sponsored by the

Young Life initiative. All

of the games were held on

a field nearby the properi-

ty on which the mission is

located on the Farwen

Town Road in Bopolu City.

These trophies are dedicat-

ed to the memory of Eric

Scott.

Eric Scott Team First Trophies

During the month of March, the campus of

Eric Scott was the venue of the Liberia Na-

tional Student Union, LINSU. Gbarpolu

Chapter President, Joseph Mulbah, encour-

age participants from the Bopolu Central

High School, Bopolu Bible Mission, and

our boys and girls. This is the parent organization

that represents all students groupings across the

country.

Also, we had the Young Life, a Christian youth

based organization that is working towards mixing

the learning environment with Christian work,

while relaxing at play. During the one day event

that included a sporting component (kickball and

football), the students actually had fine time. Food

and water was available while good music was

being played. At the end of both boy and girls

games, the BRONCOS of Eric Scott won in both

trophies.

Girls above with

team captain, Com-

fort Mulbah holding

the trophies while

students join in with

the boys team as

they lift their trophy

on the right

Mth. Innis , Bishop and I took time to have a photo

with a cross section of the student population and they

(students) were so delighted to have had this oppor-

tunity to see and have a photo with the spiritual head

at the Liberia Annual Conference The United Method-

ist.. Student Kolako Mara, standing between Bishop

and Mth. Innis said she is blessed to have being in that

position.

As a matter of fact, Bishop was pleased that he visited

and worshiped with us to see first hand the smiles on

the faces of these beautiful boys and girls who are be-

ing serviced by the mission and ministries of the

church in Liberia as the Body of Christ.

In conclusion, he admonish them to take your lessons

serious and study hard because you are the future

leaders of the church and the world in which you live.

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