FOREWORD
Rarely does one have the privilege of reading a blow by blow, event by event account of the tragedy of the fourteen years conflict that occurred in Liberia, West Africa. The author gives a riveting account of his personal experiences during the devastating, horrific time of war. The narrative is presented in a simple straightforward manner. The reader is given a graphic picture, and will experience a range of emotions as the events are detailed.
It has been my ministry to travel to Liberia for over twenty years in evangelism and church administration. This historical account has great significance for me. I can identify with many of the places and people in the story.
It is when God brings you through an experience like this, that you know how real he is. The Bible says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7). Surely this is the explanation for the preservation of the author’s life.
We are indebted to Elder Chea for such an intensive, comprehensive, first hand account of this dark period in Liberia’s history. You will experience the gamut of emotions as you read this up-front and personal account of the fourteen years of struggle, war and bloodshed in this West African nation.
May God use the years of tragic war and destruction that portray man’s inhumanity to man to inspire each of us to seek the God of peace and reconciliation.
Apostle Matthew Norwood
Atlanta, Georgia
Apostle of Foreign Missions
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INTRODUCTION
With a crossover appeal, in a biblical and historical base context, this page turner chronicles the life, death and survival stories of a fundamentally religious people during the fourteen years of civil conflict which devastated the people of Liberia, Africa’s oldest Republic. Liberia was founded on Judeo Christian principles by free black slaves who returned to that part of Africa in 1822.
The personal story of the author’s faith in Christ, struggle and survival, will strengthen the reader’s heart in his or her day to day effort to overcome the challenges of life. It will make a difference in readers’ understanding of the Liberian civil anarchy and explain the reason for the conflict. This book also testify to the loving kindness of GOD for His people in a time of absolute danger. Survival in a life and death situation was a daily occurrence. Sometimes you may never know how effective your survival instinct is, until the proper situation presents itself. The author’s survival instincts powered by his faith in GOD helped him overcome insurmountable odds. Like the Apostle Paul, a child of GOD can do and endure anything through Christ. This is a memorial to the over 300,000 who in an atmosphere of greed for wealth, power drunkenness and settling scores, were denied the right to live. The victims memory must not fade from the public arena.
The author encourages people not to allow their ethnic, political, denominational or so-called class differences to destroy their personal relationships and national allegiance. Being of the conviction that life is worth living, in spite of all of the mistreatments and evil that were brought upon them by wicked warlords, Liberians did not lose their dignity, sense of self-worth and hope.