Liberia: Lutheran Bishop makes first county tour
By: Augustine N. Myers – The newly elected Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, Rev. Dr. Daniel Jessen Seyenkulo has made his first County tour, since he took over as Head of the Church in Liberia, replacing the former Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Liberia, Rev. Dr. Smallwood Harris.
Bishop Seyenkulo been shown a 4.25 acres of farm by LDS Boss, Mr. Joseph Binda (farm operated by the LDS)
Bishop Seyenkulo’s visit was designed to assess activities of the Lutheran Development Service in Liberia (LDS), the development arm of the Lutheran Church in Liberia.
Bishop Seyenkulo was escorted to Nimba and Bong counties by the Executive Director of the Lutheran Development Service, Mr. Joseph S. Binda, on a 3-day assessment visit over the weekend.
Upon arrival in Sacleapea Mahn District, Nimba county, Bishop Seyenkulo visited seven agriculture sites under the supervision of the Lutheran Development Service where he was warmly received by citizens of Tunudin and Beipa towns.
Speaking to Bishop Seyenkulo on behalf of his group, a local agriculture head of the Lutheran Development Service in Tunudin town, Peter Labala disclosed that a total number of eighteen persons form part of his group and are engaged in producing rice, cabbage, bitterball and husbandry with products benefiting members of the group.
According to Mr. Labala, the agriculture training acquired by members from the Lutheran Development Service had empowered them through agriculture Skills and is helping them solve many of their financial problems.
Bishop Seyenkulo warmly received by locals in one of the towns in Bong county
Mr. Labala said through the agriculture projects supported by the Lutheran Development Service, members of the Tunudin town group have since been able to raise over twenty five thousand Liberian dollars this year and that they are using some of the money to construct a warehouse which has been a major challenge facing the group.
Still in Tunudin town Sacleapea Mahn District, Bishop Seyenkulo met with the Child Focus Health Club supported by the Lutheran Church helping arm, “Lutheran Development Service” and that citizens of the town had a warm welcome program for Bishop Seyenkulo and his delegation in the town Hall.
Making remarks at the ceremony, Bishop Seyenkulo thanked the people of Tunudin town for their level of support with the Lutheran Development Service and also made a special tour through the town LDS projects site including the Latrine project and the Mid-wifely Housing projects constructed with support from the Lutheran Church Helping and development Arm, “LDS”.
In Beipa town few miles away from Tunudin Town, Bishop Daniel Jessen Seyenkulo was thrilled after viewing through a six-class room elementary School also constructed with support from the Lutheran Development Service. A special statement of appreciation was presented to the Lutheran Bishop by the people of the town for the level of support shown them by the Developmental Helping Arm of the Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Development Service in Liberia (LDS).
Receiving the statement of appreciation from the people of the town, Bishop Seyenkulo pledged the Lutheran Church’s continuous support for the people of Beipa and called on them to continue their hard with LDS to acquire more agriculture training and empowerment.
The Lutheran Church Bishop continued his three-day tour to Bong county, Zota district where he visited two Schools, the Gbasue Sulonmah Public School renovated by the Lutheran Development Service in 2005 and the Tokpa town elementary school constructed by the LDS in 2010.
Some other projects undertaken by the Lutheran Development Service in Zota distric, Bong county include, Hand Pumps and loan club engaged by LDS cluster two members with finance collected from Agriculture and Husbandry projects with support from the Lutheran Development Service.
Bishop Jessen Seyenkulo however expressed his satisfaction over the level of work carried out by the Lutheran church helping arm, the Lutheran Development Service.
According to Bishop Seyenkulo, agriculture is critical to the growth of post conflict Liberia and called on all Liberians to prioritize agriculture by engaging in agricultural activities for food production and empowerment.
