The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, said the church is postponing a 2015 delegation trip to Liberia over concerns about the spread of the deadly Ebola outbreak.
“It’s a critical situation there,” Warnock said, “and the few medical workers there need our support.”
It’s unclear how many people had committed to going.
He said the trip will be rescheduled for a later date, but until then, Ebenezer hopes to support those who need help during the outbreak.
“We are certainly not going to shrink back our commitment to Liberia,” he said.
The crisis, which health officials consider the worst known Ebola outbreak, has killed more than 700 people in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak poses little risk to this country, it has prompted a warning from U.S. health officials against nonessential travel to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Earlier this week, the Peace Corps decided to temporarily evacuate volunteers from those countries.
The trip was planned as part of a partnership between Ebenezer and Providence Baptist Church, one of the oldest churches in Liberia and where the country’s declaration of independence was signed in 1847. Other partners include local businesses and medical experts. The two churches have established a sister church joint mission to develop the country’s medical infrastructure, businesses, housing and education sectors.
Also on Sunday, the Rev. Sam Reeves, pastor of Providence, will be the keynote speaker during the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services at Ebenezer. Reeves, who is visiting several cities in the United States and has relatives who live in Atlanta, said he has been in contact with his congregation. He said the medical facilities are overburdened. So far, he said, none of his church’s 2,000 members have been affected.
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