Tonj Diocesan Strategic Plan from 27/3/2016-2020 Introduction Nehemiah 1:2-12 According to what we see in Tonj there is nothing in place, we are starting from zero to something as Dr Susan Mead of Virginia said, with help of God, as God enabled Nehemiah to build the walls of Jerusalem we will do the following as from the above mentioned date. Prayer Ministry We put God first, seek and you will find knock and the door shall be opened un to you and Nehemiah s prayer overcome everything, we will therefore make sure that prayer is the key and shield of any standing temptation. BUILDING THE HOUSE and office for the Diocese We should build the office for the Diocese by mobilizing the communities and well wishers to help in construction as we can see the photo of the office below. Mission and Evangelism Mt 28 :19 We appointed some priests to dealt with spreading the gospel of Christ to the corners of Tonj and beyond. FM Radio: We have radio programs in Tonj, where people are preaching peace and the good news of Jesus Christ.We have Rev David Jong Akoi from Door FM where the community listen to the gospel from various preachers.
Translation and Bible Distribution: We shall endeavor to translate the bible in to Dinka Rek. There has been a major concern among the Rek people who want it because many of them don't understand fully the Dinka Bor. Education: Theological Education: Ten Pastors shall go for certificates every year (Within South Sudan, possibly within Wau Diocese). We shall be sending some clergy to study at various colleges such as Lietnhom, Alarm has been doing that already providing some training for pastors and we will also have Open Door training. Five Pastors shall go for Diplomas every year. (Within and outside South Sudan) possibly inyei where Open Doors and ALARM have already established training centre s, Bishop Gwynne College in Juba, Renk Bible College in Renk, Shokai Bible College in Khartoum and other Bible Colleges in Kenya and Uganda. We can send priest to St Paul s University Limuru, Uganda Christian College Makono, and other Christian Universities in East Africa and other parts of the World. One Clergyman/woman shall go for Masters Degree after every three years and one Clergyman/woman to go for PHD after every five years. Theological Education by Extension (TEE) We shall establish at least one Theological Education by Extension Programmed in each of the 17 Archdeaconries of Tonj Diocese. This will strengthen their capacity of pastors who don t have basic theological education. Those who pass this programme will then be admitted at the certificate level. Primary School for Boys and Girls We shall establish a primary school if God is willing, to help hundreds of the children whose parents are not capable of paying their school fees or even getting uniforms. We have already identified some teachers who teaches children under trees and using our cathedral as a classroom the school will be called the Susan primary school as our remembrance.
Conferences/Workshops: We will also encourage Pastors Conferences and Workshops which will bring many Pastors together from different parts of the Diocese which will be done periodically to address some topical issues such as gender and HIV & AIDS. Adult Education: We will endeavor to establish at least one adult education centre in each of the twelve Archdeaconries of Tonj Area Diocese plus alternative education. Primary and Secondary Education: The Diocese will endeavor to establish at least two Primary Schools and one Secondary School in each of the Tonj Archdeaconries of Tonj Diocese. Health Care: It is our main prayer, to establish a clinic, we shall be making a proposal for medical supply and training of Community Health Workers to any well wishers around the world because we really have challenges with 5 archdeaconries that have a problem in accessing pharmacies or clinics. These people must travel for 2 hours to find the clinic. We shall also partner with the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and other Christian Organizations working in the Diocese to provide more training of Health Workers. HIV & AIDS: HIV & AIDS awareness and counseling programmes targeting the local communities will be heard through the FM radio and will also be included in all the training programmes. Water and Sanitation: Tonj as a state and new Diocese as well have a lot of problems of clean water, we will endeavor to establish a project proposal - John 4:1-
Livelihood: Agriculture: Tonj Diocese already comes up with ideas that we should have a farm to the level of the diocese that saves lives and brings income. There are no ox ploughs but we will make some links with the government to help if they have ox plough so that the diocese uses them and returns them back to the owners. Peace Building and Conflict Resolution: Despite the signing of the historical peace agreement (CPA) in 2005 between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the Khartoum Government which officially ended the 21 year civil war between the North and South Sudan, due to tribalism our people are fighting among themselves. There have also been a lot of tribal conflicts among the Southerners themselves usually over natural resources such as water, grazing land and cattle raiding/rustling. In partnership with the Government and NGOs we will therefore organize at least two peace conferences every year. These conferences will bring together the church, community and Local Government Leaders together to discuss how to resolve community conflicts through peaceful means rather than through violence as well as how to share these natural resources equitably. Youth Ministry: Active Participation of the young people in the spiritual and physical development of the church is very important. We will therefore make sure that youths are represented in our entire diocesan decision making. We will also organize through the Diocesan Youth office at least one or two youth conferences every year. One of the objectives of these conferences will be to empower the youth to participate in peace building initiatives and create HIV &AIDS awareness among them. Music or gospel music with Youth: Music and the Arts is dedicated to retain youth from other bad activities. Tonj Area Diocese wants to promote it as a lifelong engagement with Christian music through a comprehensive program of educational opportunities. Cultural activities are involved and Tonj Area diocese feels this vision to support extensive educational youth programs and partnerships with our partners in UK and US, with these efforts Tonj Area Diocese will provide free opportunities for all to experience music in line with the gospel.
Street Children Ministry and Widows We will establish an office for street children s ministry. Adol parish has been helping some kids and I took responsibility to take the 25 children to Kenya. I see the hand of God in this because God connected me with the Diocese of Virginia to sponsor 6 of these children, Fran Boyle sponsored 2 kids and there are more to be educated, Rev Heleen also sponsored 2 kids. Guest House Building: We will build a Guest house to generate income for the diocese. Microfinance: There will be a Microfinance department which will be run by church members to gain income. We will identify widows and some men including partnership with other Dioceses on this plus the Mothers Union and other church members. The Diocese shall endeavor to establish one Branch of the Microfinance institution in each of the twelve Archdeaconries of Tonj Area diocese.