Haywood Mission School Gets U.S $5,000
By Alex Redd
Madison, WI
February 17, 2002

As part of celebration for Black History month, the Haywood Mission
School in Liberia received five thousand dollars from the Madison
Pentecostal Assembly (MPA) to improve its learning facilities which
include the construction of a library for students in Monrovia.
Presenting the check, the MPA head of the trustee board, Mrs. Johnson
said the need to support the Haywood Mission School in Monrovia was a
worthwhile initiative since students there are eager to learn despite
the ongoing political and socio-economic turmoil.

The principal of the school, Rev. Leo Simpson thanked Pastor Eugene
Johnson, ministerial staff, the trustee board and members of the MPA
including visiting guests for the kind gesture and generosity in such
time of inadequate educational material for the school. Rev. Simpson
revealed that he is working tremendously to gather used text books from
Columbus, Ohio for shipment to Monrovia, Liberia. The Haywood Mission
school was established in 1931 as a private educational institution
geared toward the improvement of learning in Monrovia.

Invited by the MPA as guest speaker to celebrate Black History, Rev.
Simpson reminded Liberians residing in the U.S not to abandon Liberia,
he emphasized the need for Liberians to return home to participate in
the reconstruction process of the country. The Haywood Mission principal
averred that abnormacy has plague the country for so long and it would
take a spiritually inspired leader to resurrect the country toward
national peace, security and stability. The Liberian clergyman believes
that social change is certain with presence of a robust civil society
and leaders with good qualities like that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
who stood for justice and social equality.

Rev. Simpson denounced the ongoing violence and insecurity that tend to
derail the social morality of the country. Attributing to a line of the
Liberian national anthem; this glorious land of liberty, Rev. Simpson
lamented, such liberty has been repressed by ethnic tension and violence
characterized by greed, hatred, insecurity and mistrust among Liberians.

" Is there a sensible war as well as a senseless war"? The Liberian
clergyman declared that unresolved war of any kind is detrimental to the
growth and development of any nation and its people, and called on
Liberians and other Africans to pray for blind folded African leaders so
that God will show them the light toward an amicable solution for
lasting peace.

Rev. Simpson used the ocassion to also share jokes about common Liberian
norms, like drawing drinking and bath water from wells using a bucket
tied with rope, sleeping in a place of darkness without electricity
among the host of other basic life necessities that are lackened in
Liberia because of the so-called civil war. The Haywood Mission
principal illustrated these examples of harship in order to remind
Liberians to rethink the past and seize the moment to re-dedicate their
lives to Jesus Christ. Speaking under the theme "let's do the business",
the guest speaker said, making Jesus Christ part of your life would
guaranteed security and clear the way in any direction of life-achieving
goals of perfection."In this faith of Jesus Christ, I will return to
Monrovia to seek the welfare of the nine hundred and fifty students with
sixty staff members at the school" he emphasized.

It can be recalled in late 1997, the pastor of MPA Eugene S. Johnson
visited Monrovia, Liberia with other high ranking clergymen of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) to dedicate an extension of
the Haywood Mission School building. Since then, pastor Johnson has been
very passionate to help Liberians in the U.S and in Liberia including
other African nationals to improve their well-being.

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