The Rev. Chris Kowula is the Pastor for the Kuwaa Lutheran Parish in Kuwaa, in what was Lofa County . Kuwaa is in the Gbarpolu area, which has gained county status and is now called Gbarpolu County. In this article by Soka Moses, Pastor Kowula explains about what happened to his town and parish, as the result of the war.

Pastor Chris Kowula left his town, Kuwaa, on November 23, 2001 , after rebels of the group Liberian United for Democracy and Reconciliation (LURD), the biggest rebel group fighting in Liberia , attacked adjoining Fasama and Balamu towns. Word quickly spread to his town about how LURD attacked, captured and burned the two towns. Pastor Kowula and many members of his parish, as well as hundreds of other residents of Kuwaa, ran to the bushes and nearby forests. Pastor Kowula along with his family and many other families walked through the bushes until they reached the Phebe Hospital compound at Suakoko, Bong County , in the central region of Liberia , on December 24, 2002 . Pastor Kowula sought temporary refuge at Phebe; along with few of his displaced church members.

While at Phebe, he explained, "other members of my parish who later succeeded in escaping the fighting that eventually reached our town, brought words that all houses, including the churches in our town, were burned down to the ground." Painfully recounting the situation, Pastor Korwula said that, "many of our people were killed. Our Acting Parish Council Chairman, Moses Morris, and our Parish Secretary, Samuel Wehso, were among many others who met their untimely end."

According to Pastor Korwula, his Kuwaa Parish was the Central Lutheran Parish in Lofa. It controlled 16 other Lutheran Congregations or preaching points. But all these churches were also burned.

Asked about where his congregations went, he explained that everyone is scattered. Some of the members went to Sierra Leone, Guinea and several displaced camps within Liberia , such as Mayamue Camps 1, 2 and 3, Salala, and Monrovia . Mayamue is in Totota, Bong County , 81 miles north of Monrovia along the main highway leading from Monrovia to Gbarnga, the capitol of Bong County . Salala is along this same highway 55 miles north of Monrovia and only 26 miles south of Totota.

Most of the families that came along with Pastor Kowula from Kuwaa now reside in one of the three Mayamue camps. According to him, there are about 150 families from his parish residing in the Mayamue camps.

At present, Pastor Kowula has taken refuge in the Lutheran Church Compound in Monrovia . He makes regular visits to the Mayamue camps in Totota, Bong County , to keep in constant contact with his members there. He has conducted several activities and programs for his displaced congregation. "We have Sunday worship service, we conduct Bible studies. We have a literacy program; we run a school from the kindergarten to seventh grade level, and we also conduct a lot of youth activities," he said.

Pastor Kowula stated that leading a displaced life is very difficult. "There have been a lot of difficulties since we came." He stated that some families have not seen some of their relatives since their arrival and don't even know the whereabouts of the relatives. In addition, many do not have money to send their children to high school. There is little food available; and the displaced are not working to earn money.

Pastor Korwula plans to go back, immediately after disarmament of combatants, a process that has already started, but is progressing very slowly.

After returning, he says the big priorities would be the rebuilding of churches, homes, and schools for members, and the rehabilitation of the church farms. According to him, his parish had a coffee farm, with at least 12,000 coffee plants. "We are appealing to LWF for materials and used clothes as we are slowly preparing for our departure from the camps," he said.

In addition, Pastor Kowula stressed that after reconstruction and rehabilitation of farms, the church will embark on massive evangelism in order to rebuild its congregation.

In his last words, Pastor Korwula said, "We ask that our sister parishes pray for us in order that we may achieve our plans and for peace and reconciliation in our country. Because without peace, there will be no way to go back." Furthermore, he stated that he wholeheartedly looks up to God for reconstruction. "The Lord is our answer, because without him, all plans will prove futile."

Pastor Kowula's Kuwaa Parish is among many Lutheran Parishes around Liberia that were destroyed during the war. The congregations of these parishes are also scattered around the country in neighboring counties. Most of the pastors of these churches seek refuge either in Monrovia or in displaced camps.

Top

Download .doc version of article (26KB)