Pastor to close church for Ebola fear

The impact of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia is affecting all sectors of the society, including the Church or worship centers here.

Most churches in Monrovia and its suburbs like businesses in the capital are provided Sanitizers at their respective entrances for customers and worshipers to wash their hands.

Some churches have introduced measures to as much as possible, prevent members of their congregations from shaking hands or interacting closely, including body touch. 

But a Methodist prelate in Margibi County, one of the counties hit by Ebola, has gone one step further by disclosing plan to shut down his Church doors for fear that any of his members or himself could fall prey to the virus during worship.

The senior pastor of the Bulorkolleh United Methodist Church in Cinta Township, Margibi County said he is considering plan to shut down the ‘House of God’ in the wake of the Ebola spread in the township.

The Rev. Alfred Habakkuk Yuagoto, told The NewDawn recently in an interview in Weala, Margibi County that the decision is as a result of high death rate in Bulorkolleh. More than 13 residents have reportedly died in the town after they showed symptoms of the virus such as severe fever, headache, weak joints, red eyes, vomiting and toileting, among others.

Rev. Yuagoto said he has already consulted with the Weala District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Liberia, Rev. Paye Cooper Mondolo, on the need to close down the Church, adding that the district superintendent has promised to think on the plan. He narrated that there are lots and lots of people who are dying in the town showing signs and symptoms of the Ebola disease something he stated that is very scaring.

“I’ve planned to close down the church because people are dying too much in the town, showing symptoms of Ebola; even though I am not saying that they are dying from Ebola. “

“I am afraid because we have Ebola here so I want the Church to be closed for now”, Pastor Yuagoto narrated. The pastor said he would meet with auxiliaries of his Church on the plan and he prayed to have a clear understanding of God before reaching a final conclusion.

The man of God said his members or worshipers will worship with a sister Church, the St. Peter United Methodist Church at German Camp Junction in the same district when the one in Bulorkolleh is closed down.