Issue # 17 December

Transcription

1 Voice of Hope Newsletter of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji Issue # 17 December Kajo-Keji Christian College graduation Goodbye from Bishop Anthony Rt. Rev d Anthony D. Poggo I am writing of this article on the 20 October 2016 which is my last day as Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji. This follows my appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury s Adviser for Anglican Communion Affairs. I would like to thank you all for your support and prayers in my 9 years as Bishop of Kajo-Keji. I am sure that you will continue to support my successor. The process to search for my successor has began. Please pray for this process that the person who is chosen by God will be elected. I hope and pray that by the time you read this, my successor would have been elected. I officiated at my last Sunday at Emmanuel Cathedral as Diocesan Bishop on Sunday 16 October. This day also marked of our Week of Witness. I also licensed 7 Evangelists who have undergone training as evangelists. The following day, I officially opened the renovated office building for the Diocesan Development department known as Kajo-Keji Development and Rehabilitation Agency (KADRA). We renovated our old Cathedral. Issue # 17 Goodbye Bishop Anthony 1 Nomination of Bishop 3 KCC Graduation Synergy & Success stories 4 My Journey Bishop Elect 5 Team to Rwanda 7 Agriculture in pictures 8 The Voice of Hope Issue # 17, Dec 2016 Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 1

2 My last function was to speak at the opening session in one of the two Rooted in Jesus Discipleship conferences which were being held in Kajo-Keji. Plans for these conferences began over three years ago. I was glad to end my tenure as Diocesan Bishop on evangelism and discipleship function as well as the official opening of the office. As Diocesan Bishop, I had emphasized the importance of balancing between our evangelism and development. That is why I placed emphasis on what I called 3Es namely Evangelism, Education and Empowerment. The hardest part of the week was bidding farewell to many people in the diocese. Bidding farewell to the staff was not easy, especially for some of them, who had worked with me for the last 9 years. I also paid a brief visit to the army barracks to bid farewell to the army leadership, pray with them and to encourage them be professional in their work. It was good that two of the four Commissioners of Greater Kajo-Keji joined me on this visit. On the way to the airstrip, I also stopped over at Kajo-Keji County Police head office to bid them farewell and to pray with them. Bishop Anthony Poggo Please pray that the relative peace in Kajo-Keji will prevail and the situation should even get better not only in the four counties of greater Kajo-Keji namely, Kangapo, Kajo-Keji, Liwolo and Nyepo but in the entire Yei River State and also the whole nation of South Sudan. God bless South Sudan Rt Rev Anthony Poggo Former Bishop of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji Bishop Anthony at the farewell service Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 2

3 Nomination Process of new Bishop Maziina Fred Speech of the Principal at Graduation Rev. Lule James Kenyi. Principal KCC Rev. James Lule, principal of Kajo-Keij Christian College (KCC) gave this speech at the 3 rd graduation Ceremony at KCC. This is a great day for all of us to celebrate the fruits of our labour. It is through the Grace of God that we are here as a reward of trusting in Him with all our hearts, and leaning not on our own ways of understanding, but acknowledging that He makes our paths straight and our aspirations attainable. Nominated Bishop gives a speech of acceptance In our Emergency Diocesan Synod of 11 Nov 2016, Rev. Canon Emmanuel Murye has been nominated as a sole candidate Bishop of the Diocese of Kajo- Keji. We want to thank God and all of you who have been praying for this process. The Archbishop, His Grace Dr. Daniel Deng, expressed this as a sign of unity for the people of Kajo-Keji. His Grace called upon those in government to emulate this example of the Church. The Archbishop said that nominating one candidate doesn't not mean that he was the only good candidate but it is the will of the people to give a chance to one leader at a time and support him. Therefore, Christians and leaders should learn from this and give each other a chance and work together as one body. Please continue to pray for the consecration and enthronement of our new Bishop on 15 th January Congratulations to all of you, our graduants, partners, staff, friends, families and loved ones who are here and back at home. The success registered by the College since the last graduation ceremony has been mainly due to the commitment of the College Board, the teaching staff and the support staff. In addition, I would like to thank all parents, spouses, sponsors, parishes, guardians and the various Dioceses who have sent these graduants here to study at Kajo-Keji Christian College. Tutors and the graduants I am happy to inform you that Kajo-Keji Christian College has fulfilled all the requirements for the registration with National Council of Higher Education. Therefore, I would like to inform you that we shall be offering the following courses in Kajo-Keji Christian College: Bachelor s in Theology, Diploma in Business Administration, Development studies, Education primary and Information Technology. These courses are well designed to equip graduates with both intellectual and competence skills that may develop you holistically. Archbishop, Bishop elect and Mama Cicilia. In conclusion, let us give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and His wonderful deeds! And I hope He will lift us up. Praise the Lord! God bless you all!. Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 3

4 2016 KC College graduation in pictures continue: Synergy and the Story of Sarah Nadia Rev. Elly Kajaminyo Kajo-Keji Development and Rehabilitation Agency (KADRA) has adopted integration as a way to concentrate the impact of its intervention in the communities. By this all the programmes work together and all beneficiaries are reached by all the programmes. Those doing Bonga receive the training in Agriculture, Community Managed Micro Finance, Church and Community Mobilization Process (CCMP) and Functional Adult Literacy. In this way people are able to solve their life challenges holistically. Diploma Class of 2016 Issuing of Certificates to the graduants Sarah Nadia is one of the adolescent girls that is trained at the Solution Bonga Centre at Jale border. Sarah is 18 years old and already married and she has two children aged four and two. She is training in tailoring in the Bonga programme and has now grown egg plants in her back yard garden. Sarah says: I was motivated by the life skills teaching on nutrition, and how to use the available resources around us to improve our health and domestic income. I learnt that the soil is one of the resources God has given us earn a living. This is a central teaching in the CCMP programme. I selected egg plants because it is a short term crop that is easy to grow. The market is available at Jale border crossing point, attracting customers from Uganda. Egg plants can also be chipped and dried. My major interest is to provide a balanced diet and sufficient income to make me self-reliant and free from dependence on my husband for everything. Now I make 250 SSP every week and I will harvest each batch every three months. I have three batches this year. I want to thank Stromme Foundation and the Diocese of Kajo-Keji for the programmes that work together to empower people like me who had lost all hope of standing on my own. The Principal gives a speech on the 3 rd Graduation of the college Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 4

5 Sarah Nadia Cont: My Journey in the Christian Ministry Rev. Canon Emmanuel Murye Modi Bishop Elect Sarah Nadia in her vegetable garden where she harvests money Similar success story for Margret Kila: Rev. Canon Emmanuel Murye Bishop Elect Beloved brothers and sisters in God s kingdom, I am delighted to testify to you on who I am in the service and in the new role that the Lord has bestowed upon me. May his will be done and his kingdom come to Kajo-Keji. Esther Poni has a similar story with skill training in Catering. She is Now working in Juba s New Sudan Hotel God answers the prayers of faithful ones I would like to thank and appreciate all of you, all over the world for praying earnestly during the process of nomination of the new bishop. My special thanks goes to Rt. Rev. Anthony Poggo and Mama Jane Poggo, and all people in the diocese for their ceaseless prayer for the process of nomination. May God bless you all and may you continue to pray for us. I would like to thank Rt. Rev. Enock Tombe of Rejaf Diocese, at that time the director of NCA, who later became general secretary for Sudan Council Bishop of Anthony Churches, with for Rev. foreseeing Fred Taban the in need the UK of church personnel in management. Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 5

6 His prayer was that God would raise church leaders who are both theologian and trained in the management field. He did not only pray but also acted upon this wish. He took the initiative of training some youths on management skills and I was one of them. Bishop Enoch has exerted his time in training us in order to transform the church. He challenged SUDRA to organise a CORAT in-country senior church management training. CORAT indeed trained us and this helped me in my role of management and administration in my term of office as diocesan secretary. My early years in the ministry I was born on December 5, 1966 in a small village in Kajo-Keji call Panyai and my local church was Beliak. After the Addis Ababa peace agreement of 1972 my parents introduced me to the church and I became interested in children ministry. At the age of thirteen, my church teacher (Late Rev. Elikana Lodu) appointed me to teach Sunday school pupils and after two years in children ministry the local church council appointed me to serve as youth leader in the local church. While doing the work in the church I picked interest in scouting, in which I became the Kajo-Keji District scout secretary. The promise I undertook, drew me to the works of servanthood. This means I dedicated myself to serve God, serve people and to keep God s creation. In 1985 I led a team of four boy scouts to Rejaf scout and Guide farm for vocational skill training in various fields. I later learned the skills for carpentry and joinery and I was able to earn money to pay my school fees and join again my secondary school studies in East Bank secondary school. During my secondary school education I became a member of Young Christian Association (YCS). In my second year in the school I was elected to the position of YCS secretary. In this position, I attended several spiritual formation and leadership seminars in Palica catholic centre in Juba. As a member of Episcopal Church of Sudan I attended my prayer services and youth activities in All Saint Cathedral in Juba. I was so close to my dear father in the Lord, late Rt. Rev. Canon Manasseh B. Dawidi, at that time the area bishop of Juba, who became the first bishop of Diocese of Kajo-Keji. He became my role model in my Christian life. In 1990 I joint Bishop Gwynne College (BGC) to pursue certificate in Christian theology and I completed this in After completing my studies in BGC, the office of Kajo-Keji in Juba under the leadership of Rev. Canon Nelson K. Nyumbe, the then chairman of Kajo-Keji community in Juba, and the Rev. Nathaniel Miji Lo bure, the acting Diocesan secretary, appointed me to serve as DKK Development Coordinator in Juba, while Rev. Chaplain Soso was the Acting Education Coordinator. During service as Development Coordinators we were able to establish Ephatha nursery, now the basic school in Goshen. I thank the committee in Juba for carrying forward this vision. The Lord took me to Kenya through Khartoum, for my further studies to pursue bachelors in theology in Pan Africa Christian College (PACC), now Pan Africa University (PACU), Nairobi, Kenya. While undertaking my studies in Nairobi, the Kuku community in Nairobi appointed me to serve as Chairman of Kuku fellowship in the Nairobi Chapter for four years of my stay in Nairobi. My service in Diocese of Kajo-Keji When I was in Nairobi, I used to visit the Diocese and the Canon Benaiah Poggo College (CBPC). The college showed a need for personnel. Many colleagues persuaded me to seek a job in a greener pastures and leave my wife to stay in Nairobi. My response was that I needed to see Kajo-Keji develop like other places and I would like to take part in the development of Kajo-Keji. I also think if the people with potential leave for greener pastures, who is going to develop Kajo-Keji? In cities like Nairobi and Kampala, there were people who sacrificed themselves for the coming generation. Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 6

7 This thinking prompted me to offer myself as living sacrifice and to dedicate myself to God s service. Right away after my graduation I came to serve in the college to build the body of Christ. The college administration appointed me to serve as acting academic dean for one year. In the diocesan synod of 2005 on May 20th, I was elected to the position of diocesan secretary where I served for eight years. The main function of this office is managerial and administrative. One year before I completed my second term of office, Rt. Rev. Anthony showed the need for developing the personnel of the diocese into higher education status. He therefore sent me to All Nation Christian College (ANCC) in England to pursue studies in masters, in development studies with mission. After completion I reported back to the bishop and he allowed me to finish my last year of the office of diocesan secretary. I was posted to Kajo-Keji Christian College (KCC) as Academic dean from 2013 up to date. I have served as chairperson of board of governor of Richard earl high school, Romogi Healing Kadi foundation clinic and Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). While in the UK, I got involved in the formation of Christian Relief Education in South Sudan (CRESS) under the founder Caroline Lamb, the CEO of CRESS. She has introduced me to many parishes in the Chalk Valley as well as in St. James in Devizes, under Rev. Jonathan. Both of them are great blessings to me. I would also like to thank Anne Tew for having trained me in some finance management perspectives. This has helped me to work as honourer treasurer of CRESS South Sudan from 2011 up to date. I would like to bring to your attention the areas of focus for your prayers: The threefold purposes of the Church that we are focusing on are: (1) Ministry to God complete worship, (2) Ministry to the believers - nurturing and discipleship, (3) Ministry to the world social services. We can do this through the four E s (Evangelism, Education, Empowerment and Establishing excellent policies and systems for better management and administration). A team to Rwanda Maziina Fred In September this year, a team of 4 was led by Rev. Alex Aciga to attend a conference and studio maintenance training in Kigali Rwanda. We give thanks to God for Irving Bible Church and Mr. Mike Gwartney who made this possible. The training was conducted by AbR (Africa by Radio in coordination with Adepr Church). We attained training in system connections, installation of broadcasting transmitter, testing, leadership, fundraising and sustainability. This improved our performance Team to Kigali Sept 2016 In God all things are possible As I trust in God, and with the help of Holy Spirit plus the experience and education God has taken me through, I do believe that together with you, we will reach out the good news to all people, in love and unity in a holistic approach in order to raise a society free of hatred, division, and corruption - a kingdom of oriented society. It is my prayer and hope that South Sudan can be transformed only if we exert efforts in reaching children and women with the holistic gospel. Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 7

8 Agriculture in pictures Rev. Elly Kajaminyo Farmers in Pomoju have joined together to support each other. The results are promising. Benjamin Waran with some of his eggplant harvest Mary Jaguru (Secretary) and Henry Kwanyi (Treasurer) are members of the Pomoju Farmers group. They are harvesting the cabbage from their demonstration garden. They meet every Friday at the demonstration garden. They harvest and sell the produce right there. Below: Some beneficiaries who received Agro inputs (Hoes, seeds) to promote better farming practices Diocese of Kajo-Keji C/O The Episcopal Church of South Sudan & Sudan P.O. Box 110, Juba, Republic of South Sudan Or P.O. Box 183, Moyo, Uganda, E. A. Website: To subscribe/unsubscribe: Henry Kwanyi with his harvests of Cabbages Voice of Hope Issue # 17 Dec Page 8