On September 26, the North America Liberia Adventist Association (NALAA) launched their Fourth Biennial Convention to address the spread of Ebola, to raise money, and to support one another through prayer.
“We have come to humble ourselves before God,” said lead speaker Matthew Kamara. “We must reach out in faith.”
As pastor of Pilgrims Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kamara knows about faith—he preaches it, citing Biblical texts as evidence. But now, with his wife and two sons living in one of the worst Ebola hotspots, his own life is evidence, and he clings to those same texts for support.
“Before God we are all equal,” he preached. “It does not matter where you are. It does not matter who you are.”
For many Liberians who feel the Ebola epidemic is not adequately being addressed, such a message provides comfort.
“Ebola in Liberia is not a Liberia problem,” said Ezax Smith, president of the Liberia Association of Maryland. “It is a world problem.”
“We are in crisis,” added John Flomo, president of NALAA. “Even if you don’t find yourself in the hotspot, even here in America, we are in crisis.”
To combat this crisis, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to provide monetary and logistical relief. David Holdsworth, the Associate Director of Material Acquisitions, spoke at the conference, describing the most up-to-date Ebola response from ADRA.
“We have partnered with GlobalMedic to ship $92,000 of equipment and supplies,” Holdsworth said. “We are working with other agencies and the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to provide relief.”
While much has been done to end the worst Ebola outbreak in history, there is still more to do.
“Ebola doesn’t need a visa to travel,” Kamara concluded. “Everyone must join the fight.”
