Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 8,000 as Fears of Illness Keep Parishioners Away from Washington Church

Russ Jones | Christian Press | Updated: Jan 07, 2015

Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 8,000 as Fears of Illness Keep Parishioners Away from Washington Church

The World Health Organization reports the Ebola death toll has reached an all time high. 

To date 8,153 lives have been claimed in West Africa out of 20,656 cases reported, according to Christian Today. A majority of the deaths occurred in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

While Ebola continues to take lives in West Africa, fears of the deadly virus have kept some parishioners away from their church here in the US. 

Rev. John Harmon, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington DC, reports some 50 members have stayed away hoping to avoid Ebola.

"Some folks called to say, you know, I'm not coming to church because I don't know who's traveling," Harmon told NPR News Service.

Harmon explains that his congregation includes worshippers from 20 different nations, including some from West Africa. He recently used his sermon time to educate about the virus inviting doctors to address the congregation.

"In the middle of the service, we just had this conversation," he said.

Publication date: January 7, 2015



Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 8,000 as Fears of Illness Keep Parishioners Away from Washington Church