A YORK Methodist Minister has told of the devastating impact of Ebola on his family and friends - as Methodists across York raise funds to help children orphaned by the disease.

The Reverend Francis Nabieu said Ebola had killed his brother-in-law, other relatives and several very close friends back in his home country of Sierra Leone.

"There are times when I am frightened to pick up the phone because I don't know what I am going to hear," said the Minister, who is the former head of the Methodist Church in Sierra Leone but has lived in Clifton Moor for the past five years, serving churches in Clifton Moor, New Earswick and Melbourne Terrace in Cemetery Road.

"It could be more bad news. I took a phone call telling me my wife Rosaline's brother Tamba had died just before I was due to chair a church council meeting in New Earswick. I wasn't myself that night.

"I will watch the news about Ebola in Sierra Leone and recognise a village they are filming, or the people they are filming.

"It has been a very difficult year but what I am worried about is what will happen when it is over and the cameras have gone away - in particular what will happen to the children who have in some cases been orphaned twice.

"They lost their parents in the war and then the people who took them in to look after them have been killed by Ebola.

"There is a need to help them towards a future and school is the only answer. The York circuit of the Methodist Church has launched a fundraising appeal for the Children of Hope Foundation, which aims to ensure children can go to school.

"Individual churches have been holding their own fundraising events and the appeal will go on until August. Candles have been lit every Sunday at churches across York in solidarity with people affected by Ebola.

"A group of volunteers from Clifton Moor Community Church - a joint Methodist/Anglican church - was planning to go out to Sierra Leone to build a new school before the outbreak.

"It was originally going to go at Easter, but this has been put back to August because the risks are too high, but I don't know at this stage if it will be safe even then."

Mr Nabieu, whose own father died in a refugee camp in Guinea during the war, added that Ebola was also wrecking Sierra Leone's economy just as it was getting back on its feet after the conflict.

He appealed for other people across York who weren't Methodists to pray as well and do what they could to help the country and its people in its time of need.

*Cheques for the appeal, payable to York Methodist Church, can be sent to: York Circuit Ebola Appeal, York Circuit Office, Strensall Methodist Church, Strensall YO32 5XS.