The Christian community and many other Sierra Leoneans were extremely shocked at the news of the demise of Bishop Yambasu. The Bishop died on Sunday 16th August, 2020 in a gruesome road accident along the Freetown Waterloo Highway. The Bishop until his death was the President of the Council of Churches Sierra Leone (CCSL) and bishop of The United Methodist Church.
Born in southern Sierra Leone, Bishop Yambasu studied at United Methodist mission schools. He was ordained a deacon in 1987 and an elder in 1990. He served churches in Moyamba and Freetown until he began to focus on Christian education and youth ministry.
A graduate of Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Bishop Yambasu taught in many schools, including the denomination’s Harford School for Girls in Moyamba. He also was the Sierra Leone Conference’s director for Christian education and youth ministries and founded the Child Rescue Centre in Sierra Leone, serving as its executive director until he became a regional missionary in 2000.
He was elected a bishop of The United Methodist Church in 2008 and installed in 2009. He would have turned 64 on August 24.
Bishop Yambasu was instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of representatives from United Methodist advocacy groups with contrasting views and bishops from around the world to collaborate on a proposed agreement for the separation of The United Methodist Church.
The agreement, the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, was achieved on December 17, 2019, and announced early this year and will be considered at the next General Conference of the church set for 2021.
Bishop Yambasu was also president of the Africa College of Bishops of The United Methodist Church. He was also the newly elected Chancellor of Africa University.
Bishop Yambasu is survived by his wife, Millicent, and their five children (Rebecca, Adima, John, Emmanuel and Elizabeth.)
