God Still Delivers: The Untold Stories of Divine Interventions in the Sierra Leone Civil War (1991–2002)

By David Musa

The decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone (19912002) not only accounted for thousands of deaths, mass displacements of the population, total destruction of a fragile infrastructure, use and abuse of thousands of child soldiers with brazen impunity but through the same conflict, the entire world also witnessed an unprecedented degree of cruel amputations that left hundreds of innocent citizens maimed for life. Sadly, babies as young as five years of age were among the unfortunate amputees.

Most of those who survived the civil carnage have a common chorus: that Gods grace and saving power is more than enough to deliver his people even from the jaws of death.

This book is a collection of the testimonies of survivals of the civil war. Starting with Lt. Modupe Taylor-Pearce Jr.s delivery from a friendly murder plot usually referred to in military terms as friendly fire to Pastor Edgar Momohs miraculous escape from rebel execution, the theme is the same: God displayed his power and capability to deliver his people.

The book does not purport to be a history of the civil war in Sierra Leone but simply the testimonies of select individuals who are eager to share their personal stories of divine deliverances with the rest of humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 18, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524692124

David Musa

David Musa, Ph.D. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois, is currently adjunct professor of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary, adjunct professor of Religious Studies, Carthage College, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Having previously taught at Carthage College for over 7 years, Dr. Musa now has the special responsibility of creating and directing West African J-term Courses, normally conducted in Senegal and Ghana. Dr. David Musa earned his undergraduate degree (B.Sc.) and a Diploma in Education (Dip. Ed.) from Fourah Bay College, (University of Sierra Leone). David also earned his M.A. (Systematic Theology) from the Wheaton Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois, as well as an M. Div. (Intercultural Studies) from Trinity International University. David is founder and Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Agape Voluntary Efforts (SAVE, Inc), a non-profit (501)(c)3), Christian Charity created nearly two decades ago for the express purpose of meeting the spiritual and physical needs of civil-war degraded country of Sierra Leone and Africa at large. David has published the “History of Christian Mission in sierra Leone,” in the Evangelical Dictionary of World Mission, Scott Moreau, ed. His most recent publication was under the title: African American Religion: A Confluent of African Traditional Religion and Christianity, published by AuthorHouse, Bloomington, Indiana.

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Published by AuthorHouse 05/18/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9213-1 (sc)

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I have known David Musa, the editor of this collection of war experiences, for over forty years. He is committed to the true freedom of Sierra Leone—freedom in Christ’s Kingdom—righteousness, peace, justice and compassion for all. In reading the book God Still Delivers! one celebrates the survivors and His grace and compassion in providing the miracles that are recorded. However, one is always left with a sense of loss for those who did not survive the senselessness of this war, or whose lives were prevented from reaching their full potential. I would happily recommend it to readers, especially to Sierra Leoneans, that we may learn the lessons of injustice and inequality and devote our energies to addressing these issues. It is always true that God’s sovereignty delivers and that is a truth that should always be celebrated. The book will be helpful to those who are searching for a God who can deliver—even in the worst of circumstances! He remains a miracle-working God.

Claire Short – A passionate Patriot in Sierra Leone.

…a Sierra Leonean who is passionate about calling Christians and all Sierra Leoneans to learn the lessons and heed the warnings of the past!

In God Still Delivers! David Musa has curated moving and varied testimonies of the bloody and senseless decade-long war in Sierra Leone. The survival of the nation itself and the fact that it is once again one of the most peaceful countries in the region, albeit its dismal human development indices and poor infrastructure, is nothing less than a miracle. From heads of state during the war, themselves falling victims, to the civilians in every town or village and their surviving relatives, these stories are reminiscent of the biblical exodus experience. To have a written record of the war accounts is a commendable initiative and an important part of our nationhood. The remembrance informs and demands our worship and gratitude to God for taking the nation and people through the drowning water and consuming fire.

Rev. Dr. Aiah Foday-Khabenje

General Secretary

Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA)

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1

For God, Country, And Honor:

Lt. Taylor-Pearce Goes To War!

Chapter 2

In The Valleys Of The Shadow Of Death:

The Multiple Deliveries Of Joseph Taylor-Kamara

Chapter 3

Delivered From The Lion’s Den—Zogoda:

Margaret Kamara Recalls Her Life Of Captivity In Rebel Camps

Chapter 4

But For God:

My Encounter With The Ruf Rebels

Olive Musa

Chapter 5

Delivered From The Bayonet Of A Rebel Colonel:

I Feel Like Executing You Now!

Chapter 6

The Escape Of Pastor Edgar Momoh

Conclusion

About The Author

DEDICATION

To God Be the Glory!

This work is primarily dedicated to the glory and honor of God, for his agape love, incomprehensible grace, and matchless power to deliver those who trust in Him. It is in honor and memory of the thousands of innocent victims who lost their lives in the Sierra Leone Civil War. You are gone but not forgotten! And to all those who survived, but in a less than whole condition: the maimed, the amputees, the psychologically traumatized, and the victims of indescribable abuses at the hands of the criminals called rebels.

FOREWORD

Long before the horror stories of the civil war atrocities in Sierra Leone made the national and international news or the movie Blood Diamonds premiered, David Musa was a voice for the victims of the heinous acts committed by the rebels. I first met David when he and I were both part of the same church body. During that time, David shared what was taking place in Sierra Leone in both words and pictures. I see this book as a continuation of some of those original conversations. As you read it, I believe you will be amazed by the evil of the rebels, the courage of those who stood up to them, and the first-hand accounts of miraculous deliverance from certain death.

I was so moved by these accounts years ago that along with David and other concerned parties, we formed SAVE, which stands for Sierra Leone Agape Voluntary Effort. This organization has worked tirelessly with people on the ground in Sierra Leone to bring relief and restoration to those who were so greatly impacted by the war. As you read these stories, you may have the same reaction I did when I first heard of some of them more than a decade ago, They can’t possibly be true. However, each of these is a testimony of the person in the story. Fact not fiction was the goal.

As you read, I trust you will be inspired, but also motivated to get involved to prevent travesties like this from taking place for a prolonged time and inflicting damage on individuals, communities, and even nations.

Keith Ogorek, founding member of SAVE Inc.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To God be all glory for showing Himself faithful and powerful to deliver His people even from imminent death, and for providing the strength and wisdom to collect and put these stories together.

My deep gratitude to all the contributors who made this book a reality. But for your willingness to share your stories, this book would never have seen the light of day.

It must also be mentioned with gratitude that this is a publication of the Sierra Leone Agape Voluntary Effort (SAVE Inc.) SAVE is a Christian non-profit 501(c)(3) United States based humanitarian organization raised by God to meet the spiritual, physical, educational, and social needs of the people of post-war Sierra Leone, and Africa at large.

My sincere thanks to my wife, Dr. Ndidiamaka Musa, for tirelessly reminding me that I have a gift for writing. Special thanks to my children, Ndiloma, UK, and Ngozi for allowing me to divert time they rightly deserved to be spent instead on this project.

I would be negligent if I failed to mention Mrs. Olive Cassandra Taylor-Pearce for her encouragement and use of her valuable time to record some of the stories in this book.

David Musa

INTRODUCTION

From time immemorial wars and conflicts have been part of human history. Wherever humans have existed they have always found something to fight over. Some wars have been more vicious and nastier than others. The decade-long Sierra Leone civil conflict (1991-2002) falls among some of the most catastrophic, dirty and destructive wars in modern history.

The civil war in Sierra Leone not only accounted for thousands of deaths, mass displacement of the population, destruction of a fragile infrastructure, use and abuse of thousands of child soldiers with brazen impunity, but also an unprecedented number of cruel amputations leaving hundreds of innocent citizens maimed for life. Sadly, babies as young as five years of age were among the unfortunate amputees.