From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org

Re: United Methodist Daily News note 2900

From umethnews-request@ecunet.org
Date 25 Apr 1996 19:04:52

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2916 notes).

Note 2916 by SUSAN PEEK on April 25, 1996 at 18:29 Eastern (2328 characters).

<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>United Methodist Daily
News</TITLE></HEAD><BODY><H3>Despite danger, bishop pledges
return to Liberia
</H3><P>TITLE: Liberian bishop plans to return</P>
<P>Release # 054 {2918}  April 25, 1996</P>
<P>DENVER (UMNS) -- As an outspoken proponent of peace in
Liberia, United Methodist Bishop Arthur Kulah's life has been in
danger so often that he thanks God for safely arriving home from
his office each day.</P>

<P>Despite the risks, Kulah intends to return to his war-torn
African nation. "I'm going back to Liberia to be with my people,"
he said during an April 25 press conference at the United 
Methodist General Conference here.</P>

<P>But he warned the bitter fighting that has plagued Liberia
since the end of 1989 could spread to other West African
countries unless the United Nations and United States government
"take a very decisive role in bringing peace to Liberia."</P>

<P>Although he acknowledged the United States has sent hundreds
of millions in humanitarian aid to Liberia since its civil war
began, he noted that such aid will not bring a solution to a
military situation.</P>

<P>"What we'd like is for the United States to be actively
involved in bringing the war to an end," the bishop said.</P>

<P>Many of the soldiers are young boys and Kulah blamed the
availability of "drugs of all kinds" for their moral
degradation.</P>

<P>"They have no sense of reasoning, no feeling, no hearing," he
explained. "Our young people are being destroyed."</P>

<P>In early April, the situation in Liberia deteriorated to a
state of anarchy as uncontrolled fighting broke out in Monrovia,
the capital city.</P>

<P>Attempting to escort an extended family of 13 girls and two
boys to safety, the 60-year-old bishop and his wife Violet told
of a harrowing journey to the border before they were finally out
and able to travel to the United States.</P>

<P>But the United Methodist Church in Liberia, with about 77,000
members, represents hope, according to Kulah. Because of its
mission, he must return.</P>

<P>"I have suffered many, many things but my faith in God is such
that it keeps me going," he said.</P>

<P> -- Linda Bloom </P>
</P><P><CENTER># # #</CENTER></P></P>
<P>If you want to know how to get more information about this
story, call InfoServ at 1-800/251-8140.</P></BODY></HTML>
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