Indian dentist dies in fire at church mission station

Dr. Shane Sam Mathew of India, a dentist at Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Liberia, died in a fire that gutted his residence at the Ganta Mission Station on Sept. 3. He was 25.

Hospital authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Dr. Shane Sam Mathew was killed in a fire that gutted his residence at the Ganta United Methodist Mission in Liberia. Photo courtesy of Ganta United Methodist Hospital.

Dr. Shane Sam Mathew was killed in a fire that gutted his residence at the Ganta United Methodist Mission in Liberia. Photo courtesy of Ganta United Methodist Hospital.

Mathew was working with the hospital as part of a partnership between the Christian Dental College in Ludhiana, India, United Methodist University and the Liberian government. Mathew also served as an instructor for the nurse dental practitioner program at the nursing college of United Methodist University in Nimba County.

“He was one of my best instructors in dentistry at the college of nursing,” said Clinton Zeantoe, dean of the college. Zeantoe said Mathew was always reaching out to students, helping them with their lessons and other school-related work. “We will miss him.”

In a special tribute, United Methodist Ganta Hospital described Mathew as a compassionate, hard-working man with a Christian heart for the profession he chose. According to the statement, his death has been “traumatic to the entire staff of Ganta Mission Station and The United Methodist Church of Liberia.”

The Rev. George Wilson, director of connectional ministries of The United Methodist Church in Liberia, said Mathew’s death is a great loss to Ganta United Methodist Hospital. “I knew him personally and he had me scheduled for a dental visit at the hospital later this month,” he said.

Wilson said Mathew’s remains will be flown back to India, accompanied by a member of The United Methodist Church of Liberia.

Swen is a communicator in Liberia. News media contact: Vicki Brown, Nashville, Tennessee, (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests


Like what you're reading? Support the ministry of UM News! Your support ensures the latest denominational news, dynamic stories and informative articles will continue to connect our global community. Make a tax-deductible donation at ResourceUMC.org/GiveUMCom.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Mission and Ministry
John Kodjo (standing), a member of Mapamboli United Methodist Church in Kinshasa, Congo, tries to salvage things from his flooded home. Torrential rains and flooding on April 5 damaged over 1,000 homes in the area and killed at least 33 people. Kodjo’s family fled on the roof of their home. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Floods devastate United Methodists in Congo

Thousands have been displaced and two United Methodist churches have been damaged by flooding in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.
Bishops
Bishops Daniel Wandabula (at left in purple robe) and Emmanuel Sinzohagera welcome Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye and First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye to the installation celebration at Ingoma Stadium in Gitega, Burundi, on March 29. More than 4,000 people gathered to celebrate Sinzohagera’s installation as a United Methodist bishop in the newly created East Africa Central Conference. He will lead the Burundi-Rwanda Episcopal Area and serve as the central conference’s president. Photo by Priscilla Muzerengwa, United Methodist Communications.

Burundi celebrates new bishop, episcopal area

United Methodists from Burundi and Rwanda united for the installation of the area’s first bishop and establishment of the East Africa Central Conference.
Mission and Ministry
Alice Samuel (second from left), Northern Nigeria Conference women’s coordinator, distributes food during an outreach event in Yapilo Village in the Chonge District of the Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State on March 29. In addition to providing relief supplies and free medical services, the women preached the Gospel and led prayer sessions in the community. Photo by Ibrahim Babangida, UM News.

Women’s group in Nigeria offers free medical care

More than 100 people received health care, medicine, food and other supplies during a day of outreach in the Northern Nigeria Conference.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved