The George Family

   In April of 1995, the members of Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, were struck by the sudden tragic death of their pastor. Plans which had been made to sponsor a refugee family were put on hold, initially for a year. Then in August 1995, when Vicki Stephenson, head of the missions committee, called UMCOR to say the church would be ready to sponsor in January 1996, she learned that a family of two, a Methodist pastor from Sierra Leone and his three-year-old daughter, was expected within a month. The news was of immediate interest to the congregation, which pulled out all the stops. A month later, Taylor Chapel welcomed Rev. Christian George and his small daughter, Christiana, to Fort Wayne.

   Christian had pastored a Methodist congregation over the Sierra Leonean border in Liberia. He had become caught in the conflict between the warring factions in Liberia, who did not wish to hear any message of reconciliation. In 1992, Christian's wife was killed by a stray bullet as she walked out of their house, leaving Christiana without a mother. Christian himself became a target, and he and his daughter were forced into hiding. Only after they arrived in Fort Wayne did they cease to fear for their lives.

   Members of the congregation were at the airport to greet the Georges with welcome signs, balloons, and a doll for Christiana who, exhausted by the long journey, slept through the whole event. Christian and his daughter stayed with a family from the congregation for the first few days and were introduced to the church during the service the first Sunday after their arrival. Christian began work quickly at a local factory, and he and Christiana soon moved into their own apartment. Members of the congregation help to look after Christiana while Christian is at work.

   Christian hopes one day to return to Sierra Leone and help his people, but for now he and Christiana have found a new home in Fort Wayne and the congregation of Taylor Chapel has found new life. As Vicki Stephenson noted, "We gain a greater appreciation of what we have by listening to Christian's story. Sponsoring the Georges has helped us emphasize the importance of mission work and realize how much more blessed we are when we give." Although the congregation of Taylor Chapel has endured its own serious loss, the members quickly pulled together to help the Georges start their lives over.