War Crimes

War crimes

With so much attention being centred on the opening of the trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, in the Hague, it would be easy to overlook today’s news from Sierra Leone of a similar criminal procedure. In Freetown a United Nations supported court is due to deliver its last verdict on war crimes suspects from the country's civil war, which ended it 2002.
The ten year long conflict was characterised by widespread murder, mutilation and abuse of civilians. Three rebel leaders are awaiting the result of appeals against convictions for such crimes. The finalising of this trial would mean that the only outstanding case would be that of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s crimes against humanity, in Sierra Leone, whose trial continues in another courtroom but in The Hague.
See the following for more details; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8325470.stm
The subject of war crimes were not addressed when Janice and I were welcomed at St Andrews Church, Paddock Wood, Kent, yesterday. We were there at the invitation of a church which seeks to be connected to not just one area of mission but six different projects, with our future work with the Sierra Leone Methodist Church being a focus of prayerful engagement. St Andrews is both an Anglican and a Methodist Church and we were able speak to Rev Brian Knapp, the Vicar, before the service and then to share in leading the worship with Rev Lynda Russell, the Methodist Minister.
A small team had just returned from a visit to Bereko, one of the church’s mission projects in Tanzania, so we were able to appreciate the vitality of this congregation which is committed to enhancing its vision of a wider ecumenism than just that of a local church. Hopefully the provision of a prayer card – bookmark will assist the mission of not only St Andrews but other churches and individuals too.

Peter and Janice

Sierra Leone Reunion

“Exporation !” - an informative experience which surpasses mere preparation.

Janice and I have just returned from a 24 hour reunion of former mission partners and volunteers to Sierra Leone, which was addressed by Michael and Joanne Tettey, mission partner on furlough and Rev Francis Nabieu, ( pictured left)the President of the Methodist Church in Sierra Leone. The gathering not only attracted 25 people but assembled no less than 170 years of service covering the last half century and of course much of it prior to 1990 and the outbreak of the civil war.

It was a fascinating to observe the response of the seasoned group of “missioners” to the information shared by Francis on matters ranging from national and regional politics, economics and church development, and from Michael and Joanne on the challenges of providing good medical care and the nursing training at Nixon Memorial Hospital, Segbwema.

It was an event that re-affirmed our understanding of the multifarious challenges that lie ahead. However it was also humbling to appreciate how what we seek to do in the name of God’s mission is set in a time frame, that stretches across church history of which we are but a tiny part.

Before leaving the retreat centre, near Evesham, we strolled down to the River Avon on what was an idyllic autumn day and paused to appreciate what the event had given us and the application of the knowledge gained for our future time in Sierra Leone.

Getting ready

Getting ready and trying to look the part!



A warm October day in Birmingham is not the same as being in Freetown in November, but it is too good an opportunity to miss in trying out what might be appropriate dress for Sierra Leone in a few weeks time.



This week we have met with World Church Relations staff at Methodist Church House, in London, to finalise aspects of our appointment. It was also necessary for us to have another medical to prove that we are still fit enough to work in a tropical environment, such as Sierra Leone.
We are looking forward to meeting Francis Nabieu, the President of the Methodist Conference of SL, as well as returned mission partners at a reunion early next week.