Newsletter, March 2025

For those who do not receive our newsletter in the mail or by e-mail, we wanted our March 2025 newsletter share it here. It includes some of our activities in South Sudan and update about our transition:

This is our last update from Juba. We transition from South Sudan in March. We are filled with many emotions as we prepare to leave our home of almost eight years. Mostly, we are filled with gratitude for the people we have connected with and the gift of doing God’s work together.

Facilitators gathered in our home for sharing and prayer

Last week we hosted a gathering of facilitators of the Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshop in our home. We shared about recent workshops in different parts of the country and testimonies of people who experienced God’s healing and presence. As I looked around, I was grateful for this network that has formed over the years as we have trained more than 50 facilitators in South Sudan. Just in the last few months, our teams have gone to several remote places where there are ongoing tensions and conflict in the community or deep wounds from war and helped people to reconnect with God and with each other.

Michael, one of the facilitators, prays with workshop participants in Renk

Our reconciliation team from the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SSPEC) went to the town of Renk in February, on the border between Sudan and South Sudan and continues to receive thousands of people each week fleeing the war in Sudan. On the final day there was a deep communal time of confession, acknowledging the ways different groups have harmed each other. Many people came to confess wrongs done by their communities – a person from the Chollo tribe started by confessing wrongs done by his people to the Dinka. Many others followed, including a Sudanese man who acknowledged with grief some of the specific ways that South Sudanese were discriminated against and attacked by Sudanese in the north. The South Sudanese present were moved to forgive and embrace him.

Michael and Abdon present a lesson about unity in diversity on the radio

Abdon, one of our facilitators, will take on the role of coordinating healing and reconciliation workshops with SSPEC after we leave. He experienced deep healing and change in himself when he went through the HHTN workshop a few years ago, and has a passion now to help others experience healing. Please pray that God enables Abdon and provides the resources for future workshops and also for radio programs that have been started to communicate these messages.

Celebrating with graduates of NTC

In our last newsletter, Bob shared some reflections on his years teaching at Nile Theological College. In December, NTC held a graduation ceremony for all the students who have graduated since 2018. Because of Covid, funding, and security constraints, they have not been able to hold a graduation for the last five years. It was a great joy for Bob to be able to celebrate this accomplishment for the students. Several of Bob’s former students are now exploring options for Masters degrees, so Bob has been helping a few in the application process. We pray that God continues to provide effective training for leaders here in South Sudan.

Students at the Juba Evangelical Bible School

Last semester we taught a class based on the HHTN lessons at the Juba Evangelical Bible School, a school started by SSPEC to train people for ministry who do not qualify for Nile Theological College. It was a meaningful class, and several students shared that God healed them from pain or bitterness that  they had in their hearts. SSPEC has land for the Bible school and is raising funds to build the first building. Board chair Rev. Tut Kuny said that once they have a building where the students can sleep, then they will be able to host students from rural areas. A few churches in the U.S. have contributed towards this building. If you would like to contribute, you can do so through the SSPEC ECO with PC(USA) (E052148) or contact the SSPEC leadership directly.

Living and working with God’s people in South Sudan has been a great gift to us. We have learned so much from our colleagues here and their example of trusting God in the face of suffering and choosing
hope over despair. God is at work here and God’s people are witnessing of God’s love and grace, despite all the ongoing physical crises in this region.

Being in South Sudan has changed us, and we hope that the small ways that we communicate what is happening here have influenced your faith and actions also.

Saying our farewells at one of SSPEC's congregations in Juba

We have also been blessed and inspired by you – your prayers, interest, and contributions towards God’s work in South Sudan are what has enabled this ministry to flourish. Visiting churches and getting to know you along this journey has been a gift. Right now we do not know what our next steps will be. We are praying that God directs us to the right ministry for the next season. We might land in another corner of Africa or we might end up in the U.S. If you would like to reach us or hear our next update, you can reach us at bob.kristi.rice@gmail.com. Please continue to pray for people in South Sudan and the church and ministries that seek to show God's love and healing in the face of suffering.

PC(USA) is making a significant shift in how we engage with global partners. You can read more about these changes in this Presbyterian News Service article (pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/interim-unified-agency-pcusa-announces-shiftapproach-global-ministry-engagement). The work of all mission co-workers like us is being concluded and the role of maintaining partnerships with global partners will shift to “global ecumenical liaisons.” If you want to support this ongoing work, you can continue to do so through the same account that our support was sent to, E132192.

May God fill you and guide you as you look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Gratefully,

Bob and Kristi

Farewells in Juba and request for prayer

A farewell gathering with the facilitators of the HHTN workshop

In March we returned to the United States after almost eight years of life and ministry in South Sudan. Words cannot do justice to the manifold ways we have been blessed, challenged, inspired, and changed by our friends and colleagues and the peoples of South Sudan who offered us welcome and hospitality at every turn. The endless cups of tea, the theological conversations, the day-to-day “life stuff,” learning the local Arabic and greetings in several of the 64 languages, full immersion of life in Juba plus travel to various parts of the country, coupled with coming alongside friends and partners in ministry in the realms of healing and reconciliation, theological studies, and spiritual formation fill the unique and unforgettable life experiences we have been privileged to participate in.

A farewell gathering with former colleagues at NTC

Just as we were leaving, the fragile peace in South Sudan was unraveling and tensions were as high as they have been since a peace agreement was signed in 2018. There have been several attacks between the government and some other militia in the last few weeks and many civilians have been killed and thousands displaced. Please join us in praying for South Sudan, particularly that the principal leaders of the country would be willing to dialogue so that peace and stability can be restored.


“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1). On that note, our time of transition has come. Our prayers and our love for our South Sudanese friends and former colleagues will always remain. Our prayers and our love for fellow expatriate missionaries in South Sudan will always remain. We do not know our next steps in mission and ministry, but we are so grateful for the last eight years in such a special place with such faithful and faith-filled people. “Allah kariim!” God is so generous, so good.

 

Most mornings we took an early walk while it was cool.

This is a glimpse of the sunrise in our neighborhood.

Enjoying a quiet morning by the Nile River

On the border of Sudan

 

Participants enjoying the workshop inside the church

Our reconciliation team conducted a Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations workshop last week in the town of Renk. Renk is in the far north corner of South Sudan, close to the border with Sudan and not far from Khartoum. Since the war erupted in Sudan in April 2023, people have been streaming across the border, and a camp of displaced people sprang up overnight. One friend who works in Renk estimates that there are still 5,000 people per day entering South Sudan near Renk, fleeing the ongoing conflict. There is now growing tension between the residents of Renk and these new refugees, as residents resent the relief that is being given to refugees when residents are also struggling.

After giving over our pain to God, the papers are burned

Pastor Peter Nyang serves as the senior pastor for the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Renk. He invited people from several different churches to the workshop, including that people from different tribes in South Sudan and Sudan. There were several pastors who attended the full workshop, and some of them affirmed that this workshop was exactly what they need. The facilitators said that one of the biggest challenges was accommodating the additional people who came to join the workshop the second and third day. We had planned for 50 participants, but by the third day more than 120 people attended.

Laying flowers on the ashes of the papers of pain that were burned

During the time of giving over our pain to Jesus on the cross, we invite people who have lost a loved one in war or were not able to be present for the funeral to commemorate that person. Participants are invited to lay a flower on the ashes of the papers that we have burned of our pain, and to take a moment to remember and honor that person. This opportunity was meaningful for those who had come from Sudan with their lives and families uprooted by war.

People come to lay flowers on the ashes as a sign of remembrance and hope

The time of standing in the gap and confession was also emotional and meaningful. Several people came to confess the harm that their group had done against others in the conflicts that have plagued this region for decades. One Sudanese pastor confessed humbly and specifically the discrimination that the Sudanese people have shown towards South Sudanese people, along with targeted killings. Many of the South Sudanese participants were visibly moved as they heard his confession and then came forward to express their forgiveness. Particularly in this time when tensions are high and localized conflicts between groups happen frequently, seeing this spirit of confession and forgiveness was a beautiful display of how God can break down walls and bring forgiveness.

One man confesses harms done and prejudice shown

by Sudanese people towards South Sudanese

At the end of the workshop, multiple pastors requested that our team return to train some of their people as facilitators of the Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop so that they can conduct workshops on their own. There are thousands of people who are temporary residents of Renk and are trying to cope with the emotional and physical challenges of their homes and livelihoods being destroyed. Training new facilitators is not a simple task, so please pray that God would guide our team and provide the human and financial resources for this need if it is the right thing to do.

On the radio in Juba

 

Our team discusses the process of developing radio programs

A small team of our facilitators has been busy this month creating and revising scripts for putting the healing and reconciliation teachings into radio programs. We have met for hours at a time in the shade of a tree at the SSPEC church offices, discussing how to communicate these important teachings in a way that will be attractive and understandable to listeners through the radio. We are trying to use some of the dramas from our workshops and adapt them for radio, along with the teachings and some testimonies. We have revised and reviewed our scripts repeatedly in both English and Arabic. Last week our first program aired live on the government radio station in Juba. We are grateful for a good start to this new initative!

When Michael, one person on our team, met with the radio station manager to present our idea for the program, the manager said, "this is exactly what our people need. If the government wanted to do what would really contribute to peace, this is the kind of thing that should be done." Another staff person at the radio is also an SSPEC church member, and he invited our team to use his program hour and to also have some time for people to call in live with questions. On this first program, they were surprised at the large number of callers at the end of the program and lamented that we only had a short time for questions.

Michael and Abdon at the radio station during the first program.

Creating and airing radio programs for a weekly program is a big undertaking, so please pray that God continues to guide and enable the process. We are hoping for a diverse team each week with the right skills ton communicate the message. We are also grateful for God's provision of some funding to get this started, and are trusting that God will continue to provide for the next 20 weeks or so of this series.

Graduation for Nile Theological College (December 14, 2024)

Joy overflowing! Truly, joy overflowing! Blessing upon blessing it was to celebrate four batches of graduating classes of Nile Theological College (NTC) today in Juba, South Sudan. “Alif mobruk” (one thousand congratulations) to NTC for pulling off such a remarkable event. 

I love my students, and I could feel their love in return. The highlight was greeting students and their families in person after the ceremony, hugging, taking pictures together, reconnecting and sharing memories. When I told Daniel, one of our graduates, that Kristi and I will miss them as we will be transitioning from South Sudan, he said to me, “South Sudan will not miss you, Ustaz Bob Rice. We will come find you!” Enjoy the various photos from the day below...

Celebrating after the ceremony with NTC graduates

Professor Julia A. Duany, Commissioner of Public Service Board, describes the marks needed for good leadership: integrity, servant heart, humility, desire to help others, good communication, positive, decisive, accountable, adaptable (flexible), and passionate.

Our friend Rev. Peter Yien (Academic Dean of NTC) is rightfully celebrated!

A packed out house in Nyakuron West, Juba

Rev. Dr. Malakal (Principal of NTC) congratulates graduates

Graduates! 

Changkuoth hits his stride with diploma in one hand and his son in the other

Standing with graduate Changkuoth Kulang Luak who finished at the top of his class. I have appreciated Changkuoth's helpful engagement in the classes I have taught. He is an outstanding student, one who appreciates and values his Nuer people and culture , finding ways to live out the Christian faith as a member of his community, thoughtfully and prophetically.

NTC graduate and friend Daniel Alek shares from God's Word, reading from 2 Chronicles 29: 10 - 13

Mama Sarah captures our hearts in worship! This dear, blessed woman exemplifies the spirit of NTC like no other (literally, like no other)