Standing Together in Faith in the ECS Diocese of Wau
A Word from the Diocesan Bishop of Wau Rt, Rev, Moses Deng. First and foremost I would like to thank almighty God for taking care of us specially my staff who are working hard day and night to enable me to achieve my goals. As I reflect back on what has been accomplished this year, it is clear to me that we have been blessed by God to serve. If it were not for you nothing would have been realized in this diocese. You put yourself out regardless of the little resources we have. You have worked beyond your job description, beyond your normal working hours, beyond your ability and talents and beyond all my expectations. In spite of all these challenges that have faced you here and there, every now and then, and through all these messes you never gave up, you are still committed to the tasks which I have assigned you to do. I really thank you in special way. I also remember that some of you are walking from your homes to the office without any mean of transport, some of you have terrible conditions from the look of your faces I could see they are sweating in the sweltering heat. Some of you when they came here were huge guys but now are growing thin because of too much work, some of you literally sleep for some times without something to eat. In spite of that you are still working hard. Continue to walk with the faith, and trust in God, never look backward and become regretful we are called to moved forward. Let’s look forward to improve the current condition. As with any worthwhile endeavour, we must stay determined with our plans of action, keep a positive direction combined with our desires, and dreams to drive ever forward on our journey to success. The end result can be a reward of massive benefits. Let’s keep our desires burning, dream, creating new ideas, and determination to stay dedicated to achieve our goals. Let’s look at ourselves and assess our desires and use our dreams to implement our determination. Let’s keep our dedication steadfast and have the diligence to reveal the
value that dwells within ourselves as only we can tap into this valuable resource that we possess. Through whatever storms we may encounter along our journey to achieve our goals, never mind, there are no perfect journeys in life but remember one thing, in the end the rewards are ever lasting. The Apostle Paul said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14) Charles Kettering said, “You cannot have a better tomorrow, if you are thinking about yesterday all the time” let’s live for tomorrow with the knowledge that these conditions can and will be change, these are our hopes May I also say thank you very much for your cooperation, without unity nothing would have been possible. Together we can make a real difference. Let’s be like Ants. Ants are born to win, if an ant finds some big thing he will not say it is too big for him to carry, instead he'll get a couple of his friends and together they will carry it. If it is still too heavy they will get a couple more of their friends together, and together they will get the work done. The same principle is applicable to humans if we work together as a team nothing will defeat us. Together each one of us does wonders, every single person in this church is very unique and important, and I cannot think that I am better than you because
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neither do you. We all come from different walks of life with a multitude of gifts, talents, skills and abilities. With these unique diversity of gifts we need to accept each other and work together as a team, for together each one of us does wonders, and if divided, each one of us does less. God has given us different talents so that we must live together and work together as a team. 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Together each one of us achieves more, this has become the business language of today,
The Life I will Never Forget By Andrew Apiny Macham James Majok Thiel, is 28 years of age, from Warrap State, Gogrial East County, he has been brought up in Khartoum where he was married. James told his life story in Sudan with great disappointment this is what he said. “Life in Khartoum is one of the worst experiences, I will never forget, I didn’t know that my family and I would be alive now, we were in a situation where we were hoping for today’s life because the next day you may die. Every moment we were liable to be killed by unknown gunmen at anytime, there was nothing but the hand of God’s protection. We were the objects of that very “war in Pan thou” and the wrath of the Khartoum Government that is expressed in the torture and taking our lives to the graves. If it were not for the restraining hand of God upon us we wouldn’t be still alive today. We South Sudanese citizens who
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because better products and more output are realized when a team approach is taken. Therefore, it is important that we function in a team work environment so that we have teamwork skills when we enter into the workforce. I acknowledge the writer who wrote that “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success”. Let us continue to succeed together
Every Blessing Bishop Moses Deng.
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were there, were walking and living in dangerous places where death is imminent, there are innumerable places in Khartoum so dangerous that we could not bear the weight. Things were so much restricted in the sense that, for the South Sudanese citizen to walk in Sudan he/she must have travel documents, without this document, you will be in trouble with the police in town, we locked ourselves inside for many days, those of us who were found without travel documents were arrested and had to pay huge amounts of money to be released. Furthermore, those of us who were working were sent home without question and when you ask why? You become the subject matter. Not only that, if a person falls sick and is in need of medication he/she will not be allowed to buy medicines from any pharmacy around, you have to go to government clinics, hospitals, and buy them at the very expensive prices that common people can’t afford, because of this some of us died. Everything was very difficult. Those of us who speak fluent English were also in trouble, they were accused of being spies from South Sudan, so you have to pretend that you don’t know any English at all. These were indicators that our lives were crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chain of discrimination. We experienced a very tough life, some of us are fresh from narrow jail cells, battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the blustery weather of police rough treatment. As a result we were almost giving up on life.
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Thanks to the humanitarian body, IOM for coming to rescue us from this unspeakable story”, James continued to say, “It was not very easy for me to leave Khartoum I didn’t inform our Sudanese brothers that I was going to south Sudan, it would have caused a criminal investigation. But now we are happy for IOM for transporting us back to our country, although some of us had left everything, it’s not a big deal at this point; what is important are our lives, nothing is more important than this. To be home where you can walk without travelling documents, where people show you a smiling face. I realized this when we reached Juba the capital of South Sudan, we were received with a warm golden jubilee and smiling faces, all the church leaders, Christians and humanitarians aid agencies were side by side supporting us with food, up to this point. The presence of Bishop Moses Deng here today is evidence that we are not alone; we are at home, people care for us and love us so much.”
Please pray for James and the many others in the same circumstances as him.
Read more articles of news and interest like this on our diocesan website:
www.wau.anglican.org
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SOMA Gives Hope to the Desperate in Wau Diocese By Rev Andrew Apiny Macham On 11th July -17th 2012 SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad) conducted a five day HIV/AIDS and Bible sharing conference at the Good shepherd Cathedral Wau. The theme of the conference was sharing the love of Christ and giving hope to the hopeless people. Many people are faced with a lot of different
challenges some are faced with health issues, while others are affected in one way or another all of which would feel discouraged, and discontinued with their missions and disbelieve God. SOMA ministries are out for that, to restore hope, transforming lives. In line with that Rt. Rev, Bishop Moses Deng said “Many people are hopeless and loiter around, there are many reasons which make them aimless in life but the reality is that many people don’t have Christ in their life. That is why they are wandering without going anywhere. He stressed the importance of introducing the world to Christianity. He warned the participants that, “if we fail to disciple the world, the world will disciple us and we will be totally messed up if the world is the one converting the church” he continued saying that
we have to disciple the world not the world to disciple us because the world has nothing to give us rather we are the ones with something to give and that is hope to those who are despairing to restore their personal relationship with Christ, and experience new life in Christ Jesus. With that people will have courage to face the present challenges with a lot of enthusiasm and hoping that the future will get better than the present time.” Philip the team leader of SOMA UK said, “a safe journey is journey that is hopefully, if you have nothing for which to hope for all our strengths and courage’s will wear out in a matter of time and the desire to pursue will be deteriorate so don’t lose hope, hold on for the bible said “Hope in the Lord, for he has bright future plans for you, “I know the plans I have for you” declared the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11) on the same subject matter Dr Katie explained to the participants during the HIV/AIDS period that, HIV/AIDS is a serious disease that if special attention is not taken into account it will finish us. Christians need to be responsible people to protect themselves and to teach the world to be on their guard and stay healthy in life. Dr Katei further added that when she was doing voluntary Counselling Tests with the participants that those who are found to be HIV/AIDS positive shouldn’t lose heart, and think that is the end of living, God still loves you and has better plans for you to prosper”. The team consisted of nine
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members from different countries, UK, USA, Uganda and South Sudan. The team proceeded to Tonj Archdeaconry where they conducted
another five conference.
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Called to Care Tool Kits Received. By Andrew Apiny Macham On 17 th July - 2012 Rev Andrea Ngong Deng received the Called to Care toolkits from the Strategies for Hope Trust. This is the book which brought transformation to Andrea Ngong’s life today. If you picked up this handbook by chance you would like to read it up to the end and in the end you will be able to tell your life status without hesitation. This is the book which contains testimonies of those who are HIV/AIDS positive. Guess what! Rev. Andrea picked up a book called Positive Voices about Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV/AIDS, in Bishop Moses’ house. He then went through the personal testimonies of fourteen African religious leaders, twelve Christians, and two Muslims who are living with or personally affected by HIV. Here is where the transformation from being a story teller takes place and the evolution into messenger to the world has been realized, as he has found in himself that pool of value, regardless of being HIV positive he is still a valuable and resourceful person in the church and in the community. Through the regeneration of his thought process he realized that being HIV positive is not crime. What is important is that God still loves him as before. This
realization comes with the loving of himself for who he is, and the improved opinion that he has for himself. With this comes the wisdom, to give value without price, and in return he will go to heaven.
The called to care is an initiative of strategies for the Hope Trust, created to promote effective community based-strategies for HIV/AIDS care, support, and of course to prevent its spread especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rev Andrea was happy when he received quite number of them, there are nine different types of toolkits of called to care handbooks sent to Rev Andrea from the UK just to mention but few:
Making it Happen, a manual to help the church leaders establishes and manages an HIV project.
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Time to Talk, a handbook to enable church and communities to discuss family life and sex in the context of the global AIDS epidemic.
Call to Me, how the bible speak in the age of AIDS.
More and Better food for people living with HIV and AIDS – A guide to better nutrition for those with HIV/AIDS.
My Life- starting now knowledge and skills for young adolescents.
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“Now you go teach people to be vigilant about HIV/AIDS to protect themselves and others, to be wise in making decisions especially in sexual relationships. Now you have been given two positions both very sensitive and important ones, a messenger of Christ to spread good news so that those without Christ may turn to Christ and a messenger of HIV/AIDS to those who are living with HIV/AIDS and so that those without it may protect themselves.
As bishop, my word of advice to you is; wherever you are given chance to teach about HIV/AIDS let people know that in spite of the Andrea said, with these materials I will be able fact that they are HIV/AIDS positive God still to teach many people, this was one of the major loves them as ever before, challenges I had before teach them to know that Rev Andrea has an incredible story but now it has been this is not the end of their handled by those of to tell. Read it all online at our life there is life after this, Strategic for Hope Trust let them accept Christ as website. Use the link in UK. Rt. Rev Bishop their personal saviour and Moses Deng handed over be baptized, therefore go three boxes full of http://www.wau.anglican.org/index in peace and do what you handbooks to Rev are entrusted to do and .php?PageID=andreapos Andrea Ngong and he God will be with you said to him, always.
Food Security and Sustainable Living Project Opens By Andrew Apiny Macham On 18th July 2012, a new program to increase food security and promote sustainable living among the many marginalized households in Episcopal Church of Sudan, Diocese of Wau was launched. Running in the state of Western Bahr El Ghazal the project has five partners: Christian Actions for Relief and Development,
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Dorcas Aid International, Christian Agenda for Development and the Catholic University of South Sudan, (faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science) with Interchurch Organization Cooperation as the lead consortium. The project is supported by the State Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Irrigation who had officially launched the food security project at Peace Hall in the State Council of Ministries, Western Bahr el Ghazal State Wau. The project aims to Increase Food security and sustainable Living for poor and marginalized households in Western Bahr El Ghazal State South Sudan. The launching ceremony was well attended by the State Executive Director General of Agriculture Forestry and Irrigation, and the Executive County Director of Wau and Jur River and the NGOs of the Western Bahr El Ghazal Agriculture Cluster. In a speech given by the Director General of both Wau and Jur River County, they assured the NGOs their safety in the field, he also added that the Government will be available to support them where it’s necessary. Inyani Kalisto Adrawa the Program Officer ICCO & KERK INACTIE said, “The project will be implemented in Wau and Jur River Counties of WBGS, and address four needs. The first need is the improvement of the production of staple crops. The second need is diversification, targeting marginalised and vulnerable Internally Displaced People and returnees as well as “resident” communities in Jur River County. The third need is marketing, an activity that broadly targets five locations or payam areas (Ajugo, Ghete, Kangi, Baryar,Udici and Wau suburban). The focus is on commodity networks, market links and the price trends in these areas. The focus will be to disseminate and coordinate information and then link market or trade factors in each of these tiers in a way that benefits all. The final need will be capacity building.
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Kalsito – the Program Officer further added that, under this fourth need the consortium will engage in enhancing the capacity of a variety of local institutions or stakeholders including the consortium partners, Local NGOs, Local GOVT authorities at County, Payam and Boma level and also at State level, the State ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Irrigation. Inyani Kalisto finished by appealing to both national and international NGOs who are in one way or another involved in this project directly or indirectly to support the consortium of implementing agencies and to government officials at all levels to cooperate with the consortium in this project to work hand in hand in the field in order to achieve the target number of beneficiaries. After this the launch ceremony was official closed.
Christian Actions for Relief and Development. Wau Diocese’s own development agency is appealing to both international and national NGOs, well-wishers, and governments who have some funding in the Education sector, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Gender based violence and CBOs Capacity Building so they may implement this work on behalf on that donor, in Western Bahr Ghazal state, South Sudan.
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For more information about CARD and its work please contact the Project Manager. Rev Andrew Apiny Macham Hai Mozephin, Opp Wau Teaching Hospital C/O ECS Provincial Office P.O. Box 110 Juba -South Sudan Tel:+211956128449/+211920537627 Email:development@wau.anglican.org www.wau.anglican.org
Eleven Ministers Sworn in for WBGS By Andrew Apiny Macham
On 21st July 2012 in Wau, the ten appointed ministers and the deputy governor of Western Bahr El Ghazal State took an oath together at the State Council of Ministries ground. The Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State Rizik Zachariah Hassan said, the appointment of the Deputy Governor and ten ministers from the three counties of Western Bahr el Ghazal state was fair and reasonable. Jur River being the largest county in the state provided five, the Deputy Governor and four ministers while Wau county provided four and Raja three this made a total of eleven ministers appointed in the various ministries. Among the new appointees only two ministers were women. The Swearing in ceremony was quiet overwhelming; people turned out in huge numbers to celebrate this important event. Tears of joy and exhilaration burst out in all
three counties at the Councils of Ministries’ ground, different kinds of traditional drums and plays were performed in an expression of joy. The people of Marial Baai were very excited because for the first time one of their people was appointed as the Deputy Governor in the state. The Luo of western Bahr el Ghazal who only had three ministers were a little sad.
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It was a one of a kind day to the people of Western Bahr el Ghazal to share their happiness with their compatriots. In a speech given by the state Governor Rizik Zacharia Hassan, he highlighted the very important principles which the government is committed to achieve. He stressed the importance of transparency in which he said, “Nothing will ever overtake the place of integrity, education will not, transparency alone is important to change this state into a beautiful state”. He continued to say “if there is no transparency in Government, it makes it too difficult to bring development.” He also put the accent on, on agriculture productivity, he said, “we will not develop without hard work, if we work hard we will prosper. Work gives people honor, respect, and changes the nation into a wonderful world. We don’t need to depend so much on other countries for food we have our own fertile land to till. We used to transport food to the North in the past but now is different story all together, lets rethink again and begin to go back to farms, only then will other nations acknowledge us”. He added on the subject of good governance, “for us to develop we must practice good governance in all our various ministries, offices and of course in all sectors. With this kind of spirit we will develop our state, not only that, we also must put up with the rule of law, this is very
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important, if we obey our constitution and abide by it, our state will experience tremendous and dramatic change. In the next five years let’s be upright and useful members of the community in which we live and worthy sons and daughters of the state to which we belong”. He also underscored the issue of tribalism, “it is my joyful aspiration to see my fellow citizens stand up together and be united in love, living together, working together, struggling together regardless their ethnical variations. For together we stand, divided we fall. It’s very pain to see that division on ethnical lines wouldn’t help any us at all”. Finally the governor wound up with a very important thing, economic crime, he said, “fraud will not allow us to take a single step forward, instead it tie us up in the same position, let’s love our state and be an active, vibrant civil society aware of its roles and those of government and at the same time who should be responsible citizens that don’t want to be involve in money scandals. It’s the duty of every one of us to fight corruption in our state for together we can make a difference. Finally let’s embrace peace and harmony there can be no development if there is no peace in the country, so let’s work together for together we are strong, divided we are weak. Thank you very much.”
Youth Engagement Program Launched in Wau By Andrew Apiny Macham
On 2nd August 2012 the Spark Ignites Ambition organization and the Hague Academy for Local Governance launched a Youth Engagement Program at the Africana Hotel in Wau. The launch was attended by different government officials, MPs, international bodies, community based organization managers, state youth leaders, civil society, women representative leaders, community leaders amongst others.
In the opening seminary, Lauren Servin, South Sudan Country Manager, Spark explained that the overall objective of the youth engagement program is to reduce instability among the youth through improving their socio- economic positions. More specifically by focusing on creating an enabling environment for them to advocate for and improve their own socioeconomic position by strengthening relevant organizations from the private and education
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sectors as well as in civil society groups targeting youth. The Spark International organization is concerned about youth programs seeking to facilitate the creation of conducive environments for young entrepreneurs to embark on and grow their business. The program came about after a household and youth survey undertaken in Juba and Wau respectively. In this survey there were mixed feelings among the youth, toward government and NGOS who are the creators of job opportunity for youths. Some youths aspirations and expectations are certainly well off while others are pessimistic. They consider themselves poor as result of being excluded when it comes to job opportunities, though not excluded from society. Others think that older people deny them the chance to work because they can do well when given chance. Forgetting that even older people struggle like them, seeking jobs like them and also do well in work and have right to work.
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Most of the youth are dependent on the Government almost in everything, they don’t believe in themselves that they can do something for themselves to survive. Statistics went as far as to indicate that 30% of the youth population expected help from the government to employ them and 37% expected the government to help them with their studies, no one blamed their parents for their failings. Looking at that ideology many youths will never achieve any success in life because of having too many expectations from the government, in the end when these expectations are not met by the government results in the creation of criminals. Which is the evidence seen today, hooligans and prostitution is on the increase among the youth of South Sudan. Although the government feels the problem is insignificant and is being overblown, criminal and prostitution activity is threatening to add another impediment to South Sudan’s social economic development efforts particularly in its effort to make peace and stability in South Sudan.
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If this trend continues, South Sudan could be faced with a major crisis in social economic development as more youths will be edged out, due to lack of opportunity. There is an urgent need for the government, parents, and other departments to change the youth mentality to think what they will do for the government not what the government will do for them, only then we will have better society. This mentality of waiting for the government to do something will not only cause crime but encourage laziness among the youths. This philosophy will not solve any problems at all, unless it is changed. In a statement by Government leaders, “To create work you have to change the mindset of youth. They have to be organized and taught civil obligations such as engaging in voluntary work. This has eroded in South Sudan because of the war”. The youth must become proactive and dream dealers for their future, creative and annotative only then
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the underline issue will be solved, the government cannot and will not employ all youths that is something young people must know. Now days many young people see the government as the only one to create jobs for them, they don’t see the challenges the new nation is going through. They have different opinions from national leaders, mostly in the socio - economic situation with jobs. Youth leaders are somewhat downcast, they see government as against them not supporting them but this is a small group of just some and of course some are very unenthusiastic, they consider themselves poor and not well educated only when given a chance will they be better off.
Please pray for the youth in Wau diocese and South Sudan generally.
ECS Christians Should Think About the Welfare of Their Servant Leaders By Andrew Apiny Macham
The Episcopal Church of Sudan (Anglican) is one of the largest denominations in Sudan and South Sudan with thousands of ordained pastors and more than thirty bishops, most of which have poor living conditions and health deterioration attributable to deficiencies in food. Despite this they are still committed to preaching the gospel of Christ. Recently I interviewed some pastors who are working in different organizations, one pastor who discharged himself from pastoral work as his family living prerequisite are tentative he is at this moment working for the World Concern Organization in Wau. Said, on interview he under lined the issue of pastors welfare is of inferior quality but
not address by the top leaders of the Anglican Church of Sudan, he described it as lack of knowledge he said, “You cannot ordain a person and assign him/her without addressing the issue of nutrition, this should be the first thing on the agenda to be dealt with before ordination. Unfortunately we don’t see this at the inception phase until we are confronted with the matter of rations and now we begin to realise the unavoidable circumstances of need and in the long run it embarrasses the pastor, and weakens the spread of the gospel. Worst of all the pastor is not far different from street children, given that reason delivering a substandard sermon will not be certainty not an
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option” the pastor called upon the Anglican leadership to think deeply about the wellbeing of their local church leaders and minimize ordination. Another pastor who works for Dorcas Aid International, Wau, added “From the best of my knowledge most of all ordained clergies are not paid by the church, you find that during the week they are out there struggling to get something for their families to survive on, and on Sunday they come in to the service very disorganized. When they don’t preach tangible sermons they are to blame for it, when the truth of the matter is that their living conditions are very grave yet their church members are not thinking about their wellbeing. Thomas called upon the Christians to look into the reason behind second-rate sermons with two eyes. There is a real need for the Anglican Church members to know that pastors are also human beings like us who cannot be exempted from living conditions, if we expect them to deliver tangible sermons first let’s explore their living conditions and their educational background. You cannot expect cows to give more milk if you haven’t grazed them well during the day and let them drink enough water, the same principle can be applied here in this situation Let’s graze them and evaluate their pastoral performances, instead of blaming them looking inside their circumstances to see what really affected that pastor to deliver a shoddy sermon”. Another pastor also who work with Samaritan Purse International in Wau has been faced with the same conditions and this is what said, “For the last two years I served God as an archdeacon, there was never a day when church members sympathized with my living conditions, my children were sent home from school due to lack of school fees, sometime my kids went to bed without having a meal not forgetting that they were also naked. When I came late to church and preached an imperfect
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discourse my church members blamed me without knowing what I was going through, it’s impossible for a pastor to talk well when his/her family is in a mess due to lack of food”.
This broke my heart, and I asked myself how I can work year after year and in the end my kids are going to sleep without dining and stay at home because I cannot afford school fees simply because I am man of God! How long will my wife and I continue to wear second hand clothes, how long I will bend down before my church members simply to give me something to live to tell the tale? How long will my kids endure this kind of life and continue asking me “Daddy why does God not provide us with food and you always tell us that God is good all the time and His faithful love endures forever? Yet we are suffering with such kind of afflictions, while our neighbours are eating the best food yet they don’t even go to the church”. Among us who does God love more? When your children ask you such questions, you really feel inferior as a father and you don’t want to
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continue preaching anymore. This made me to think critically about what to do for my family so that my children can feel cared for, feel the love of God and I may look like a responsible husband to my wife. It’s very bad for a man of God to be a beggar instead I must work for the welfare of my family because if I choose to solicit my church members, it will portray a bad image to my family as well as in the church, so am I better delivering substandard sermons than being a homeless person.” Looking at these circumstances, ECS leaders and members need to think about the welfare of their servant leaders, if this is not taken into account there is great potential for the loss of leaders. Today if you analyze the pastors impact of turnout you will be shocked. Warning, if this issue is not address with the seriousness it deserves and is allowed to escalate the opportunity that could have otherwise been available for the ECS to grow spiritually will be lost due to welfare complications. If this continues the ECS is going to face rough times because real leaders are going to be in short supply. ECS leadership at this juncture needs to go back and think about the ideal Anglican’s philosophy and principles then understand what is the ideal philosophy of Anglican Church? Knowing this, is part of problem solved.
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to missionaries and seeking approval that one is okay, even the self propagation institution, it has given authority to spread the Gospel without terrorization this one is also good. But coming to a self supportive ministry this is where ECS miss the point, it has failed completely, Church members were suppose to be taught from the very beginning that their pastors are fully under their care, to support them materially. Followers need be taught that there is no support from England where the Anglican Church came from, they are the very ones to support their pastors as well as ministry. The Church of England has given the Anglican Church a worldwide mandate to support their local pastors financially, there is no hiding the agenda here, and it’s very clear like sun and moon. It’s a biblical principle for followers to support their servant leaders, Paul said clearly that, “Who goes to war at his own expense? Or who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit? or who feeds a flock and eats not of the milk of the flock? None of the above”. This is all about taking the welfare of pastors seriously. However, pastors shouldn’t depend on the church members so much but they should do something for themselves to avoid the suspicion that they are profiting financially from church members, you as pastors need to do something to sustain your lives, even so the church members need to think about the welfare of their spiritual leaders otherwise the church will lose its potential leaders.
Historically Anglicanism is a self-determinate church it has all the rights to ordain servant leaders and to govern itself without going back
Are you able to help Wau Diocese? Your experience or knowledge could be invaluable. Why not make contact and see what may be possible. Our contacts are on page 21 of this edition.
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Senior Wau Clergy Attend CBE Conference By the Rt Rev Moses Deng Bol
A group of Senior Clergy from Wau Diocese, mainly Archdeacons attended a Christian Biblical Equality (CBE) Conference at St Paul's University in Limuru Kenya. The Team was led by the Diocesan Administrative Secretary Rev Peter Yuol Gur. Among them were the Archdeacon of Marial-Wau and Bishop's Commissary of Wau Diocese Ven Angelo Ngor, the Archdeacon of Gogrial East Ven Abraham Ngor, the Achdeacon of Kuajok and Diocesan HIV and AIDS Coordinator Ven Andrea Ngong and the Diocesan Evangelism Coordinator Rev Paul Lueth with his wife Regina A. Paul. The Team’s transport from Juba to Nairobi and back was paid by the Church Mission Society (CMS Africa) and transport from Wau to Juba was covered by a MAF Flight Chartered by SOMA UK. The accommodation and catering during the conference was covered by CBE. This was a great partnership among three groups which enabled the most Senior Clergy from Wau Diocese to attend this very important conference in Nairobi Kenya. In addition to the conference the Clergy were also trained on a bio-gas project and other development projects by CMS Africa in Naiorbi. They were taken to see some of these projects in Machakos, Kijabe and other places.
When they Clergy came back from Nairobi they were so excited by the great experience they got from this field trip, the great Knowledge that they got from the CMS training and CBE Conference. They were also amazed at the development they found in Kenya especially Nairobi as most of those travelling had never been outside South Sudan and so have never seen development such as tarmac roads, tall buildings and so many cars. Everyone was pleasantly surprised by the standard of the Guest Houses they were accommodated in by CMS and CBE as well as the availability of a variety of delicious foods available in these Guest Houses and in the markets, which can hardly be found in South Sudan. Everyone clearly stated that they were well treated by their hosts, CMS Africa and CBE. The conference organiser were St Paul's University in partnership with the EKKLESSIA Community of the Diocese of Bondo in Western Kenya and they in every way exceeded their beyond expectations. I personally would like to thank CMS Africa and the CBE Conference organisers for the great encouragement and motivation they gave to our clergy.
One in Jesus – the CBE Conference, Kenya 2012 By Mimi Haddad – President of CBE International
Jesus said, that if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to the largest of
mountains, “Move from here to there, and it will move!” (Matt. 17:20) God used mustard seed
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faith to build an African egalitarian movement. It began like this…
NEED THE PURPOSES!
Dr. Jewel Hyun, a beloved CBE board member and pioneer of Matthew 28 Ministries, faithfully delivers CBE’s journal, Priscilla Papers, to libraries throughout Africa. In 2009, she placed our journals in the library of Saint Paul’s University, Limuru, Kenya. It was here that a student, preparing for the Anglican Priesthood, began his search for a biblical response to the patriarchy that was crippling communities in Kenya. CBE’s message ignited a passion to promote the biblical foundations of gender equality as God’s path to healing. With permission from his denomination, the Reverend Domnic Misolo developed The Ekklesia Community for Advocacy for this purpose, and he contacted CBE with an interest in a partnership. Thanks to generous funding, we are able to bring Domnic and 10 other international leaders to our conference in Seattle in 2011. Together they considered egalitarian strategies and Domnic determined to host a 2012 conference in Kenya.
The Revd. Philip Owasi—CBE's first International Fellow—translated Still Side by Side and Studies on Biblical Equality into Swahili, which we distributed to each attendee. Yet, we wanted to do more! So we asked friends to send books and funds to ship them. Two weeks before boarding our plane, we had translated, printed, shipped or packed in our luggage enough books and journals so that 230 plus attendees would have at least six books of
Thanks to a generous grant, Domnic began organizing "Equal to Serve: Gender and Authentic Biblical Leadership," a three day conference for pastors, educators, lay leaders, counselors and students. Speakers were invited, the venue was booked, meals were ordered, hotel rooms reserved, buses were rented, and more than 230 scholarships were offered. By God’s grace an amazing worship team assembled and more than 4,000 books and journals were donated, printed and shipped. Why so many books? Because of the cry for books and more books. One woman wrote to CBE saying, I would be grateful if you could bring lots and lots of your books so those of us from Africa can buy because it is very difficult for some of us to order online from America, and WE REALLY DO
MATERIAL
FOR
SO
MANY
their own, including copies of Equal to Serve and God’s Word to Women, along with several CBE journals. Each library represented also received up to twenty-five books. As we landed in Nairobi and made our way to the conference site, we learned that four Anglican Bishops planned to attend—an unprecedented interest from national church leaders. We also heard that a distinguished guest would join our opening ceremony, someone who required additional security. On the first day of the conference, armed security guards were found walking across the campus of Saint Paul University, attending carefully to our security. As our meetings opened, a tall and distinguished woman walked to the podium—a member of Parliament and minister of the president's cabinet—Charity Ngilu. She celebrated biblical women who give her daily reasons to advance gender equality in her political work. Her conviction of purpose, her devotion to Christian ideals, and her passion for gender equality was inspiring. The quality of her presentation set high standards for the speakers who followed.
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Just as speakers came from all over the world, attendees represented more than 12 countries including Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. While we were a diverse group, the African context and culture was not only predominant, but is also one that is much closer to bible culture than our own. For this reason, we enjoyed new windows of insights into the biblical texts. And, as astute observations were made from the podium, inevitably someone would rise to their feet in song and dance and several others would join in. What began as a lecture grew into song and motion, because learning and worship is as communal as it was kinesthetic. Most importantly, all were welcome to participate because everyone had a gift from God to share. As song and dance erupted amid lectures and questions, our sessions were filled with joy. This was never more the case than during our evening of cultural worship, as choral groups from neighbouring countries led worship through tribal dress, song, and dance. Rather than sitting as passive observers, we all joined in. We danced, and danced, and danced just as we sang, and sang, and sang. Our tired bodies and weary minds were revived through an older tradition of worship. One that reaches back to
Miriam and David where praise was unabashedly exuberant, where bodies and voices were rarely still, and where colourful clothing swirled around us all. As our cultural worship renewed our spirits, we were poised to celebrate eight individuals who received CBE’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Together we honoured their life of service, sacrifice, and
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tenacious labour and courage. Younger leaders had much to ponder.
With each session, our oneness in Christ grew day by day and hour by hour, culminating in communion and a candle lighting service. One candle lit another, just as our unique gifts serve and empower each other. Our call from God was clear. Every member of Christ’s body has gifts the world and the church desperately need. We are fortified, by God's Spirit, to be new wine and to create new wine skins where the gifts of women are welcomed and celebrated. Before heading home, there was one final meeting…an invitation to any eager to form CBE chapters in their community. Over 20 attended this session, and more than 7 countries were represented. We joined hands to develop local chapters in each country present, and to form an all-African council in planning the next African conference. While many headed back to their buses, making their way to Nairobi and beyond, a dozen of us headed to Bondo—the poorest region of Kenya. Here two workshops were led by Empower International, training more than 300 lay leaders on the biblical foundations of male and female relationships, using the book New Man New Woman, New Life, by Carrie Miles. Each who graduated from this training received CBE books and journals honouring their hard work and giving them resources for their communities. This is the result of faith even as small as a mustard seed, but which through God's grace grows into a large tree with branches that reach across a continent called Africa. What words shall we use, but Asante Jesu. Asante Jesu. Asante Jesu!
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God is Not Your Problem, He is Your Solution From a sermon given at Wau Cathedral in June by By Rev Andrew Apiny Macham
It’s an honour to stand before you today to preach on the subject matter “God is not your problem, He is your solution” I am happy because the topic is not very new to us, everyone has trouble, we face problems, affliction, suffering, and hardship. Be they the death of beloved ones, lack of children, wrong accusations, lack of food, job searching problems, discrimination, tribalism, nepotism, personal health problems, education problems, relationship problems, financial or career related issues, there is no one exempted from these circumstances. We face them all but to differing degrees; some are minor and have solutions that are noticeable, while others are complex by the nature and mysterious with solutions that seem impossible. Often we find ourselves in the midst of a problem for which no solution seems reasonable.
water, throats are dry with thirst, then I the Lord, will answer their prayer; I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will make rivers flow among barren hill… but the people of Jerusalem said, “The Lord has abandoned us! He has forgotten us.” So the Lord answers, can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” Psalm 41:1-3, the Lord rescues people when they are in trouble. The lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. The lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health” This verse seems to imply the following things, relating to God being the solution to our problems and his love for us.
When all these happen God become the subject matter, why does God allow such trials, worries, anxieties, and difficulties to fall on me? What have I done to you? Everybody is wondering how did the world get this way, there must be some reason for why God permits a blameless person to suffer? How it could be that somebody inoffensive get such pain? If we are created in God's image, how come we have problems? At this juncture God seems to become a problem, he seems to become our enemy.
When my people are in their need and look for water, their throats are dry with thirst, then I the Lord, will answer their prayer: This implies that God is not our problem; he is the solution to our problems, that is why when we have problems and call for him he will not hesitate to answer our prayers. The same is expressed in Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and you will receive, seek, and you find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find and the door will be opened to those who knock.” The problem now is why you don’t have it, because we didn’t ask.
We begin to be suspicious that God is the cause of all this pain and suffering and we begin to see God as the source of our problems not the source of our solutions. But I tell you today my friends God is not your problem, he is the solution to your problems. Isaiah 41:17, 49:1416 said, “when my people in their need look for
The God of Israel, will never abandon them, This implies that God will never ever abandon us, come what may, He will stand with us to the end. This answers those who believe that God has abandoned us. Similar is said, in Hebrew 13: 5 “I will never leave you; I will never
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abandon you” let’s be bold, then, and say: “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. We are under God’s protection; there is no doubt about that.” So the Lord answers, can woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. This answers the questions of those who say God does not love us. God’s love and care for us is sufficient. If you doubt God’s love here is the question for us to answer. Can a woman forget her own child or not love her child; even if she did forget, I will never forget you. The love of God for us can’t be measured, and if that is true; then how can such a loving God be at the same time problematic to us? I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”For some of us who doubt that God doesn’t know them physically or by name, it’s now very clear in this particular verse, God has written our names on the palms of his hands, not in a book but his on own hands where He can see your name almost every minute. Praise the Lord! We are known, our names are written on his palms of his hand. Let’s not wallow in the valley of despair but be glad because our names are written in the book life in heaven. It would be a great regret “Whoever didn’t have their names written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15 The Lord rescues people when they are in trouble. This answers the suspicion that God does not rescue his people when they are in trouble. But from this verse we see God’s care for the weak, poor and needy, we also see God’s mercy for the sick, when everyone deserts us, God remains at our side. We can further note that the Lord nurses people when they are sick and restores them to good health. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. This answers the wrong belief that God does not protect his people and keep them safe. Now from this scripture God is our protector. You are alive today not because of your intelligence,
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cleverness but because of God’s protection. The fact that you have problems now doesn’t mean that God does not protect people, He does, that is why He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. Therefore, I tell you today my friends God is not our problem, he is our solution, let’s not lose hope and jump to conclusion that God is my problem. I know some of you may ask me, what about Job? A man who suffers total calamity, he loses almost everything including his children and he was considered a man of upright character who loved God. In spite of that, God allowed Satan to attack him; If God is not our problem how can he allow such things to happen to him? From their conversations we see coordination of work, If not then how can Satan ask permission from God and be allowed to carry out his work to do a lot pain and suffering to Job. This is circumstantial evidence that God is our direct problem, the suffering of Job therefore to us can only mean that God and Satan are working in collaboration to cause problems to us, none of them are part of our solution. We didn’t expect Job to deserve such brutal punishment since we are God’s children and faithful servants, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. But if we all suffer the same afflictions then what is the difference between the children of God and those who are not?...........
Read the rest of Rev Andrew’s sermon on the Wau Diocese website – use this link to find it –
www.wau.anglican.org/index.php?Page ID=notyourproblem
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A Word From the Diocesan Health Co-ordinator By John Garang Achuoth Warm greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I am still new in the office of Health Co-ordinator in Wau diocese but already I have find found a lot of difficulties that need to be overcome in order to do the work that needs doing. I have listed the problems that we have and ask for assistance to try and overcome them. Please see the list below.
There is no building for a clinic There is a lack of drugs or medicines for a clinic There is a lack of laboratory services There is a lack of staff mainly due to financial constraints
As soon as we established this department in the Diocese we received many patients and since we opened in July many people have been coming but due to the things we lack our work has been severely hindered. Therefore I am requesting more assistance for our clinic, please pass my request on to any well
wisher to help us your kindness is highly appreciated.
Jump Start Sudan Has a Positive Impact on the Akon Community By Peter Angui Akook JSS embarked on its first relief trip to Akon in 2002 led by JSS executive Director Akot Lual Arech who is also the founder. The relief he was bringing to the community was blankets and mosquito nets, school uniforms for the school children, Bibles for the local churches both for the Episcopal churches and Catholic churches in and around Akon.
This was done at the time that the Machakos peace agreement for Sudan was signed and a lot of things were expected out of this organisation at Akon in particular and in the whole South Sudan in general. Here is the testimony I got from a Primary school pupil who was six 2002. He told me that the provision of school uniforms for him created a great hope in him and had helped him see his
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future as a "bright future". He called it bright future simply because he will one day be an educated person who can even support others as Akot Lual did out of misery. And old man told me that he has hope in the young generations that they would be more valuable and supportive to us the old people in future. Infact, the JSS relief to Akon in 2002 had brought all people on board equally whether old or young, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, believer or unbeliever, woman or man, villager or not. Above all, the JSS relief rescued the situation of young people who were not allowed to go to school and were oriented how to be a good cattle keeper if they were a man and how to be the best cook if they were a woman. In 2002 through the practical experience, everybody sent his children to school whether boy or girl in order to be like Akot Lual Arech in the future. That one is a credit that can be best given to JSS staff in general and the JSS founder in particular. God bless the JSS staff as much as possible. The same JSS organisation sponsored Akon Bible school in 2005 which is the year when the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) for Sudan was signed and was sadly held back in the same year due to the shortage of its funds. But this year, 2012 when JSS again decided to continue its sponsorship once more and was reshaped and restructured as a "TEE led a coordinator" unlike the previous one of 2005. They hope to continue this time in partnership with Wau Diocese.
This Bible training helped local people plant some more new churches and helped reach people with the "Good News". The same JSS constructed the clinic in Akon which is the only clinic in the area and is known as the "Akon Brownback clinic" and continue supply medicines there. Minor cases are dealt with in Akon Brownback clinic but if a case is more serious then the patient is taken to either to Gogrial or Aweil for further treatment. This also helped the community by avoiding transportation and a treatment expenses to far distant places like Gogrial and Aweil.
Rev Peter is the TEE Co-ordinator for Wau diocese and recently completed a course of studies at Bishop Gwynne Theological College in Juba.
Please pray for our ongoing efforts to reach out to our own priests and provide appropriate training and assistance.
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A Most Peculiar Need By Bishop Moses Deng Bol The progress of Wau Diocese since independence in 2011 has created many new opportunities and many challenges alike. Wau diocese secured and has received funding from the European Union for a food security project through the diocesan NGO CARD. This is a wonderful development which will benefit many needy people and can be read about elsewhere in the newsletter. Rev Andrew Apiny has now become the manager of that project which means that he is now going to very busy with this job. Until now Rev Andrew had been sharing his development role with the task of communication and regularly supplied news about the progress of Wau Diocese. Andrew will not be able to give the time that he used to
communications although he still intends to write because writing is one of his great talents. This situation has presented Wau diocese with a problem because managing communications is a key task in a successful diocese. Bishop Moses has appointed Mr Daniel Machar as Volunteer Communications Officer but for the diocese to maintain him it will need at least 300350 USD a month and the diocese does not have this money currently. So Bishop Moses is appealing to all the various friends of Wau diocese for help with this situation. It may be that you can help Wau diocese get a grant to help with this cost or you may be able to raise funds through a group. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
New Diocesan Appointments Expand Our Capacity By Rev Andrew Apiny
On 1st August 2012 the Rt.Rev Bishop Moses Deng Bol made a series of new appointments in the Diocese of Wau and Wau Diocese’s NGO Christian Action for Relief and Development. Six new staff have been recruited this month in different capacities increasing our capacity to get things done.
teacher at the Sunday Basic School. Mr John Garang Achuoth is newly appointed in the position of Diocesan Health Coordinator, Mr Daniel Machar Kuer who was previously writing for the Christian Times is now appointed as the Diocesan Communications Officer again replacing Rev.Andrew Apiny.
Rev Joseph Mamer is exclusively appointed to replace Rev Andrew Apiny as the new principal of St, John’s Theological College (which was formerly known as the Good Shepherd Bible College) as well as being the Pastor of the English Curacy, also replacing Rev Andrew. Rev Joseph’s wife Claire Achieng has replaced Mama Lois Nafisa as the new Mothers Union Coordinator. At the same time Claire will be a
Having been replaced in so many diverse tasks Rev.Andrew Apiny Macham is now taking up the position of Project Manager for Christian Action for Relief and Development (CARD) as well as becoming the Manager of Renewal the quarterly newsletter of the Diocese of Wau. Assisting with Renewal is James Umuor Maciek who will contribute articles and news and also has the task of Agriculture Extension officer.
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Santino Kuol Kuot is solely appointed an Agriculture Extension officer and will be based in Jur River County, Kangi Payam. The Bishop’s new appointments have been welcomed by the vast majority Christians in Wau Diocese because they cut across geographical locations and are seen to be fair and reasonable. It is a very positive step to have qualified and considerably experienced staff appointed in the right positions. The Diocese of Wau has for the last two years been suffering from a lack of personnel. Last year there were only three people working in the whole diocese, that was the Bishop, the finance officer and Rev Andrew Apiny. This then is a defining moment for the diocese which is growing very fast spiritually, developmentally and is changing faster than ever before. The number of staff currently working in the diocese is now seventeen working full time, this is an indication that the Bishop of Wau is walking the extra mile and through hard work is able to make these offices workable, previously Bishop Moses was crying out for personnel. But now Bishop Moses can relax from this work and focus on the needs of the diocese as a whole relying on his staff to take up their responsibilities and duties fully to meet the expectations of all Christians and the dream of Bishop Moses.
currently there are only four offices available one for the Diocesan Bishop, Finance Officer, Diocesans Administrative Secretary, two Literacy Financial Education Program trainers and the Mother Union Coordinator. Unfortunately the Education Coordinator, the Principal of St, John’s Theological College, Project Manager and the two Agriculture Extension officers working for CARD, the Diocesan Communication officer, and Health Coordinator are all forced to operate in one office. This office currently lacks desks and chairs. Despite this things are improving and these appointments underline that fact strongly.
There are of course still challenges even now with newly appointment staff. There is a lack of office space where the new staff can operate;
Wau Diocese gratefully acknowledges the help it receives from its partners and friends in meeting the many ongoing challenges in its mission. God bless you.
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Contacting Us:
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By E-mail Diocesan Bishop Rt Rev Moses Deng Bol : bishop@wau.anglican.org Diocesan Secretary Rev Peter Yuol Gur : dio.secretary@wau.anglican.org General Enquiries Mr Daniel Machar : communications@wau.anglican.org Mother’s Union Mrs Clarice Achieng : mothersunion@wau.anglican.org A full list of diocesan staff with contacts can be viewed on our website. By Post: Hai Mozephin, Opposite Wau Teaching Hospital, C/o ECS Provincial Office, P O BOX 110, Juba, South Sudan By Telephone: Tel +211 926954187 or +211 955602769 +254 716641233
Breaking News! Three people from Wau from diocese will attend baseline survey training for two days, after which they will be very much involved in a baseline survey for CARD the NGO of Wau diocese.
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Please Pray With Us Pray for the hardworking clergy and volunteers of Wau Diocese who work without pay in difficult conditions. Especially pray for those newly appointed by Bishop Moses to positions of trust.
Pray for all those trapped in Sudan unable to leave and regarded now as second class citizens. Pray for innocent people returning from Sudan to uncertain futures and starting over. Pray for the spread of understanding regarding HIV and AIDS and those who teach the truth about this subject including our own Rev Andrea Ngong. Give thanks to God for the partners who come to us and share in helping us such as SOMA and Jump Start Sudan. Pray for those affected by food insecurity and struggling to get enough to eat every day. Pray for the Governor, ten new ministers and assistant Governor of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, so that they may carry out their work faithfully and honestly. Pray for the health and wellbeing of the people of our diocese. Particularly pray for the many needs of our health co-ordinator. Pray for the success of the Youth Engagement Program and particularly for the youth of Wau diocese that they may grow up knowing peace and development. Pray for all tribal based fighting and killing to stop.
Church prayers needs Pray for our Bishop the Rt. Rev Moses Deng Bol, he has a lot of work to in the Diocese, pray that God will help him to do what needs to be done. Pray for our two cathedrals one in Wau and one in Kuacjok, give thanks for our partners who help us and pray that all the work may be completed. Pray for our theological college called St John’s and the new Principal, Rev Joseph Mamer. Pray for the priests and Pastors of Wau diocese struggling to bring God’s word to the people of Warrap and Western Bhar El Ghazal states. Pray for the work of CARD our own NGO and Rev Andrew Apiny who now manages it full time, that it may reach many in need. Pray for Paul and Regina Lueth who are attempting to study and improve themselves. Pray for Mrs Cecilia Athieng the new Mother’ Union leader of Wau diocese and for all the work of the Mother’s Union .