Voice of Hope Newsletter of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji

Transcription

1 Voice of Hope Newsletter of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji Issue 8 September 2014 Newly Ordained Priests, the Bishop & the Commissioner after Ordination, June 2014 Editorial Tim Flatman Rev Jacob Haasnoot is away and Bishop Anthony has asked me to step in. Normal service will be resumed next issue! I have been reading 1 & Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings while reflecting on the current conflict inside South Sudan. 1 Samuel presents a new nation state, divided and with rival militias some sponsored by other countries operating within its borders. It shows how godly and ungodly leaders operated in this context. Even though Saul tried to kill David, and David believed he was a corrupt leader, David refused to take up arms against Saul (1 Samuel 24 & 26) because he respected the fact that God had appointed the authorities that existed (1 Samuel 24:10; 26:9-11; see also Romans 13:1). It had been prophesied that David would lead Israel, but David trusted that this would happen in God's time rather than trying to force the issue by ungodly means. David also avoided attacking his own nation while he was in the bush (1 Samuel 27). He thus proved himself fit to be king. In this issue Editorial 1 Word from the Bishop 2 Arrival of Diocesan Lorry 3 New Girls' Dormitory 5 Restored Hope through radio 4 CMMF 5 Ajira Church Construction 6 Discipleship School 7 Bari Concordance Launch Ordination in pictures 8 Contact info 8 In 1 Kings 12 we see the actions of an ungodly leader. Instead of listening to the people and following the advice of the elders, King Rehoboam took the advice of a narrow band of advisors who stood to gain by excluding others from his circle. The result was rebellion and a divided kingdom. I pray that leaders in South Sudan would learn from these passages. I would be interested in readers' The Voice of Hope Issue 8 Sept 2014 Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 1

2 Word from the Bishop Rt. Rev d. Anthony D. Poggo As I write this piece, South Sudan is still going through a conflict which has claimed many lives and led to thousands of people living away from their homes in camps - some within South Sudan and some in neighbouring countries. Peace talks have been taking place in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, since January. Although limited progress has been made, the expected peace agreement to resolve the issues that led to the conflict has not been finalised at the time of writing. We urge our leaders to work expeditiously towards resolving these issues and to sign a much-needed peace agreement. Jesus said Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:9). I call upon all the people of South Sudan to work towards peace. The ongoing conflict continues to affect the lives of people all over the nation, directly and indirectly. The war has had an impact on the provision of services and development of infrastructure that our people long. The outbreak of cholera and its spread to places including Kajo-Keji may be attributed to the limited attention given to and resources allocated to service provision and infrastructure as a result of the ongoing conflict. All South Sudanese, both within and outside South Sudan, are yearning for peace. During a recent visit to Canada in August this year, my wife and I met many people who are disappointed by what is happening in our nation. We urged them to work for peace within the diaspora communities and to contribute towards peace rather than conflict. Bishop Anthony Poggo & Mama Jane Namurye In Canada. Brian Adeba, July 2014 The Kajo-Keji women in the diaspora in the United States of America and Canada did a great job organising and running this conference. Although attendance was lower than expected, those who came had a wonderful time. My wife and I met people that we had not seen in over 20 years. I was impressed with the team that put together the cultural night where some of the young people participated in a fashion show in addition to the Kuku cultural dances. It is commendable that so many of our people in the diaspora have not forgotten such aspects of our culture. Concern was also expressed about the importance of teaching children born out of South Sudan to learn South Sudanese languages. We had many interesting discussions on culture and Christianity. The word culture is understood in many different ways. Nonetheless, the guidance I often give to people is that that we need to weigh aspects of our culture against the word of God rather than condemn all aspects of our culture as evil. Clearly, culture is not an easy issue to tackle in just one paragraph. In Calgary my wife and I were speakers at the 5 th annual Ko disi ti Kajo-Keji (Kajo-Keji Women s) Let me conclude by asking you to continue to pray Conference. This 2014 Hope conference was that a peace agreement will soon be reached so organized by the Hearts of Angels (HAH) and the that the citizens of South Sudan may enjoy peace, South Sudanese Kajo-Keji women in diaspora under justice, reconciliation, prosperity and development. the theme Help our people endure. The conference PS: included sessions on forgiveness, reconciliation, and I would like to welcome our Guest Editor, Tim domestic violence. My wife, Jane Basa, spoke on the Flatman. I have known Tim for many years. He two topics: The Role and Values of a Traditional speaks, writes and does advocacy on behalf of KuKu Woman in Family Life and How does South Sudan and especially the people of Abyei. modernization impact the KuKu Women in our Tim is married to Hannah. I was privileged to current society? attend their wedding in May in Egham, outside London. Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 2

3 Arrival of Diocesan Mission Lorry and new motorcycles Rev Joseph Aba Duduka, Outreach and Mission Coordinator Rt Rev Anthony Poggo at the steering wheel! A longstanding dream finally achieved. Every member of staff in the Diocese can be heard saying the same thing! Lack of transport had previously been a big impediment to evangelism activities in the Diocese of Kajo-Keji. We used go to the market to hire trucks for our missions at exorbitant rates. This often prevented us from holding big evangelical rallies. That is all in the past now, since God has provided us with a big Isuzu Forward truck with capacity to carry over 50 evangelists/youths. Glory to God and thanks to St James Parish, Devizes deanery for their love and generosity, and to all those involved in one way or another to realise this longstanding dream. L-R; Diocesan Secretary, Bishop Anthony, Mission Coordinator, Diocesan Financial Officer and Bishop s Driver, thrilled to receive the long awaited truck from Japan. No ministry or services can succeed without transport. Here in South Sudan, where we lack roads and bridges, and the roads we do have are in poor condition, motorcycle is often the best way of reaching the least accessible communities. So we are very grateful to our partners CRESS-UK and GZB, as well as to the administration, for their generosity in providing three new motorcycles to help us reach the unreached. L-R; Red Honda 125 Excel (funded by Christian Relief and Education South Sudan (Cress-UK); Bajaj (funded by the administration); Bajaj (funded by GZB). Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 3

4 Romogi Richard Earl Secondary School, 14 Jul 14. New Hope is a new Girls' Dormitory. Howard Stringfellow, New Hope I am grateful to Stephen for shepherding this project to a successful conclusion and to Charlie for putting this opportunity before the donors to New Hope who met the challenge once again with this expression of gratitude to God. Charlie and Stephen, by themselves, are a talented and resourceful team, and I am always happy to be in their company. You can see Stephen's motorbike in the shade of the young mango tree. Photograph by Stephen Tomor Kenyi This photograph arrived a few days ago, and it signals the completion of the thirty-third New Hope building in Kajo-Keji. The contractor has some finishing touches to put in place, but the building is now almost ready for occupancy. Two years ago, when Charles Barebo and I were in Kajo-Keji, we toured and inspected all of the New Hope Schools. We found something unusual at Richard Earl. Some of the classrooms were being used as dormitories. We knew nothing about it until we saw it for ourselves. But the explanation came. Some of the students travel so far to go to school that sleeping over is necessary. This should not be surprising: Richard Earl is the only secondary school of the New Hope Schools. We could very well have assumed that it would have attracted students from a larger area than any of the primary schools. And so Charlie went to work raising the money to respond to the evident need. The generosity of New Hope contributors provided the money necessary for the construction, and it will be inhabited very soon. Stephen Tomor has suggested, and I agree, that the dormitory be used right away for the purpose for which it was built and that the dedication of it be during our next visit. I see the completion of the dormitory as an example of New Hope itself: the need makes itself known, and the means to accomplish meeting that need belongs to God's grace and gift. "And my tongue shall be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the daylong" (Psalm 35:28). Restored Hope through radio ministry Iga Julius Radio does not respect boundaries and can reach listeners anywhere with the universal Word of God even in their own home. So it was for a listener by the name of Esther Muja. Esther had planned to commit suicide at midnight one night. However, she happened to listen to the Words of Hope radio program running from 7:00-7: 30pm and was touched by the Word of God. She called the studio number for prayer after the program. In confession she asked the Lord Jesus to forgive her for the decision she had taken and to help her son. Esther later explained in an interview for the same radio program that she had been fed up with her son s behaviour. He sold the little food she had, fought her and stole money to pay for his heavy drinking. Two elders and I (as the radio program producer) prayed for Mama Esther, her son Alex and wider family. One month later Alex received Jesus Christ. He is now a committed church member (and listener to the Words of Hope program!) and peace has been restored within the family. Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 4

5 I thank God for meeting the spiritual needs of listeners through radio ministry and healing the broken hearts and relationships of people who might not otherwise step into a church. However, broadcasting through a secular radio station sometimes presents us with challenges, and I ask you to join me in praying for the radio ministry. Above: Power saving group Wurta during their saving hour. A happy Esther greets her son on the day he receives Jesus as Lord and Saviour Community Managed Microfinance (CMMF) Tomor Chaplain Above: a training conducted in the Cathedral from 6 7/6/2014. CMMF is an empowerment tool that aims to build self-sustainable communities by organizing people in small groups and facilitating training. It is part of the advocacy strategy of the Diocese. Workshop themes have included career choice, small business management and livelihoods. A recent 2-day workshop in Romogi Boma was attended by more than 90 members from the various groups, 71% of whom were women. Similar training is ongoing in all 5 Payams within the Diocese, organized by the group members in collaboration with the Community Based Facilitators / Training Officers and facilitated by some of the Diocesan staff. Above: A two day training conducted in Bibi Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 5

6 PARTICIPATORY AWAKENING PROCESS (PAP) - THE AJIRA CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Wudu Ezbon CCMP Coordinator Participatory Awakening Process (PAP) is a capacity-building program established in February 2009 by Kajo-Keji Development and Rehabilitation Agency (KADRA), a development arm of the diocese of Kajo-Keji. PAP envisions leaders and Community resource persons (CCRePs) through Church and Community Mobilization Process (CCMP) workshops. Participants are trained to be able to pass on a message of holistic transformation; to identify the God-given potential in their communities; and to use available resources properly and effectively. The aim of this training is to build the capacity of our churches, and counter the dependency syndrome that exists in so many of our communities. PAP empowers individuals, churches and communities to become self-reliant through hard work, and address their situation themselves in a holistic manner. Ajira is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Kajo- Keji where the CCMP program is being facilitated. Previously, people in the Ajira community felt neglected as their church did not benefit from a previous Samaritan Purse construction project. In 2009, when the Diocese introduced CCMP, Pastor Lomen Alfred from Ajira was enrolled and trained to be a church and community empowerment facilitator. Over the course of the last four years, Pr. Lomena has been facilitating the people of Ajira, empowering them to discover the available resources God has created to be used to meet their needs. Over the course of the last four years, Pr. Lomena has been facilitating the people of Ajira, empowering them to discover the available resources God has created to be used to meet their needs. As a consequence, people in the Ajira community have formed their own initiative and are succeeding in constructing a church themselves using resources they have available locally. These resources included stones, sand and timbers collected locally, food, water and money raised through local fundraising functions in the community. In April 2014, the community in Ajira raised nearly 2000 South Sudanese Pounds in cash and pledged a further 5000 to complete the church construction project. Below are pictures of the old church building in Ajira, and the new church under construction. The Pastor incharge of Ajira church in collaboration with the CCMP/PAP office in the Diocese of Kajo-Keji request your prayers and support as the community in Ajira looks forward to the final stages of the construction project. Above: the old Church & below is the New Church Ajira is one of the parishes of the Diocese of Kajo- Keji where the CCMP program is being facilitated. Previously, people in the Ajira community felt neglected as their church did not benefit from a previous Samaritan Purse construction project. In 2009, when the Diocese introduced CCMP, Pastor Lomen Alfred from Ajira was enrolled and trained to be a church and community empowerment facilitator. Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 6

7 Discipleship School Rev Joseph Aba Duduka Above: Discipleship students marching out into the community for outreach, led by their Above: The enthusiastic Discipleship students with their instructor Kajo-Keji is known as a Christian community. Greet someone in the street and you will find they have a Christian name. But how deep and strong a faith in Jesus Christ does that person have? It is very likely they do not have the impact on the community that, as salt and light, Jesus wants us to have. This is partly because we often focus on reaping a harvest of souls without going on to make disciples, as Jesus commanded us to in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). The Diocese of Kajo-Keji is attempting to put that right. Last year a Discipleship School was started. Ten youths have been trained in phase one and thirty are targeted in September. First Bari Concordance launch: Above: CBPC Principal, Rev. John Mono and Rev. Jacob Haasnoot launched the Bari Concordance Above: The Commissioner, H.E Henry Kala and the Bishop at the Book Launch. Above: A class giving the Diocesan Secretary their full attention. Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 7

8 Below; The Bari Concordance Diocese of Kajo-Keji, 2014 Ordination In Pictures Below: the Ordained with the Commissioner, and Bishop Anthony Above: the Ordained and their Spouses and Families. Below: Group Photo Above: the Retired Clergy also attended the Ordination, on the left is Bishop Anthony Below: the Two Canons were collated Diocese of Kajo-Keji C/O The Episcopal Church of South Sudan & Sudan P.O. Box 110, Juba, Republic of South Sudan Website: To subscribe/unsubscribe: Voice of Hope Issue September 2014 Page 8