News Society

Global Ekklesia launches 1st Digital Photo Lab Training in Liberia today

James Fasuekoi

By Our Staff Writer
A few hours from now the online Global Ekklesia U.S. based Christian news magazine will be launching its first Digital Photography training in Monrovia, and with up to 25 participants from nearly ten local churches expected to sit for the class which begins at 5: PM., local time, and the venue is the JNB Foundation office in Rehab, Paynesville.

Journalist James Kokulo Fasuekoi poses in this picture with Rev. Johnson Sumo (L) and Bishop Philip Nelson-two strong supporters of the Gospel (from Kakata and Careysburg, who will attend today’s Digital Photo Lab Training, and thereafter, would help train members of their own churches.

According to the seminar’s facilitator James Kokulo Fasuekoi, an international journalist and news photographer himself, this evening’s two-hour Photojournalism section will devote much time to helping participants learn and demonstrate “How to shoot captivating photos” at church events like weddings, fundraisers and national crusades.  

Photojournalist Fasuekoi said if time allows they would also discuss the various classes of photography such as conservation, nature, aerial, architectural, landscape, wildlife as well as environmental photography, unique disciplines people rarely hear of in Liberia. 

This is the Konia Public School, captured by James Fasuekoi, as he passed through recently from Voinjama and Foya. In background is a mountain range plus the national flag.

In contrast though, according to Journalist Fasuekoi, freelance photographers in other parts of the world who deeply appreciate life itself and nature (given by God), use these mediums in such a powerful way to force their own communities and leaders to act where necessary, especially when their forests, environment, or wildlife, e.g., face the threats of extinction.     

Already, up to 22 persons, majority of whom are Christian young folks and currently active in church media work, have registered for today’s Digital Photo Lab training. Some evangelists, including four local bishops who initially registered for the training, would be joining the class, with two expected to come from as far as Kakata and Careysburg Cities.

“Digital Photography has changed our world in such a way that no one ever expected, especially for us who grew up using 35mm Films to shoot pictures and processing them in the Dark Room,” remarked Fasuekoi. 

Much of the country’s stunning images can be found in the interior, not in the big cities. This picture, an example, was shot recently by international photojournalist, James Fasuekoi around the Luyeama, Lofa region.

“We must use our smartphones and techniques to rebrand our country, Liberia. And by the time this seminar is over, our participants will know how to identify and shoot a News Photo. Besides, they would know when and how to wage a campaign, using their photographs to protect our land which God has given us,” he stressed.  

Journalist James Kokulo Fasuekoi is the Editor-Publisher for Global Ekklesia News Magazine, a nonprofit Christian publication based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A twice 2017-Bush Foundation Scholar, Fasuekoi is a former Associated Press Liberia-War photographer and correspondent.  

Today’s event is Ekklesia’s First Phase of training in Digital Photography, or Photojournalism, to be continued. It is free and participants will be certificated at the end of the training section.

Journalist James Kokulo Fasuekoi (standing in photo with Ekklesia’s poster) covered his country’s First Civil War and survived. He previously promised God to serve Him if God could spare his life and God answered but that Fasuekoi didn’t keep his own promise! His publication was greatly inspired by his own family tragedy at the height of the COVID war.

A brief ceremony is expected to take place moments before training starts, with opening remarks by the JNB Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director Henry Saah Flapor. All participants are advised to therefore arrive at 4: 30 PM for the program.