Christianity Explored in Juba, South Sudan
During October this year I spent two weeks in Uganda and South Sudan, working with ‘Christianity Explored’ (CE) and ‘Fields of Life’ (FOL). We were in South Sudan at the invitation of Bishop Moses Deng of Wau diocese and Bishop Abraham of Aweil diocese to lead a Christianity Explored training conference for pastors and church leaders. The challenges of organising such a conference are significant as great distances are involved and this is the first time such a conference has been held.
South Sudan is a young country just over a year in existence and the fact that it has suffered more than 50 years of conflict and civil war is obvious. The results are apparent with lack of education, health and transport. Soldiers are visible on the streets with a strong UN presence. During our last day of the conference the sound of gunfire could be heard close to the compound we were in, which was close to the Cathedral and guesthouse of the Episcopal church of Sudan.
To organise such an event it is necessary to have someone local who can advise and assist. In this case I was grateful for the help of the Rev James Baak, Country Manager for Alarm. Alarm is an NGO that has grown out of the genocide in Rwanda and Darfur. James is involved in peace and reconciliation work and is very happy to support the work of Christianity Explored to help equip church leaders in South Sudan and to help them in evangelism and discipleship within their communities. James has lived through the war and famine in South Sudan, at the age of 13 he was forced to leave his village which had been destroyed by Muslim militants, and walk by foot to Ethiopia where he was placed in a refugee camp. It was there he heard the gospel and received Christ as his saviour. After being moved to Nairobi, Kenya he entered a theological college and was ordained as a minister. In 1998 he returned to South Sudan where he planted a church in his home village and led many people to Christ, including his immediate family. Since then he continues to work for Alarm and support the work of many pastors.
The CE training conference in Juba was led by Rev Stephen Sizer and myself with support from James Baak, Bishop Moses and Bishop Abraham. Churches represented included the Episcopal Church of Sudan, Africa inland church, the Pentecostal church and the Presbyterian Church. Many of those attending travelled over 500 miles to attend. During the first day Rev John Athil from the local Presbyterian Church translated to Dinka – Rek. There was active participation and involvement by all present. During the second day our translator was Rev John Malesh, of the Bible society in Juba. 35 delegates were present and again there was active participation by all particularly as we broke into small groups for discussion.
By way of conclusion of the first ever two-day CE training session in Juba South Sudan an invitation was issued by both Bishop Moses and Bishop Abraham for the CE team including Rev Stephen Sizer and Jim Mcanlis to organise and lead CE training sessions in the dioceses of Wau and Aweil, possibly in January 2013. South Sudan is a new country in the making. Its people have suffered much therefore this request for training and support deserves much consideration. It requires the translation of the resource material into Dinka Rek including the study guide, the leaders guide, and talks. We also need marks gospel in Dinka- Rek. CE training programs in South Sudan will involve both English and Dinka Rek translations.
Jim McAnlis