Tis the Season...for Baptisms!

 During the Christmas season in South Sudan, many congregations celebrate baptisms. It seems a fitting connection, that as we remember God leaving his glory to be born as a human and suffer with us, we also celebrate people declaring that they repent of their sin and join Christ in his invitation to new life in Him. This weekend, we were invited to worship with one of these congregations celebrating baptisms, and it was truly a joyful celebration. 

More than 15 children were baptized, along with around 10 teenagers and adults. What struck me as remarkable is that this is a new congregation, less than 1 year old. This is the first time they have celebrated baptism in the congregation, and the number of people is a sign of the strong growth they have experienced. 

Some of the children and their parents lined up for baptism

The lead pastor of the congregation, Rev. Samuel Jock, began the church as an Arabic-speaking congregation several years ago. They have moved around to various locations and in 2022 finally built their own building next to the offices for SSPEC. They discovered that in the neighborhood around their new building there are many Nuer people. The congregation worshipped in the classical Arabic from Khartoum, which many of their neighbors did not understand. So they started a second service in the Nuer language and assigned one of the Nuer members to lead the service. As a practical service in the community, they started offering classes in the evenings, teaching people to read and write in the Nuer language, because many were not able to go to school, and children today only learn to read Arabic or English. The Nuer service has grown dramatically, and now has an active youth choir and a children's choir. Pastor Samuel assigned a young man, Moses, to be the primary one leading the activities of this Nuer congregation. Another young man, Lony, has taken the responsibilty of leading worship and directing the choirs, including teaching some of the members to play the keyboard! As Pastor Samuel recounted this progression to me, he rejoiced at how God has opened this door and that the congregation is obviously meeting a need.

The adults and teenagers who were baptized,

along with the pastors and deacons who facilitated.

We praise God for giving new life, and celebrate baptism as a sign of spiritual vitality in that new life. Next week we plan to visit another congregation in Juba also planning to do baptisms - on Christmas Day! Please join us in praying for the Holy Spirit to continue the work of transformation and renewal in these people and congregations as they celebrate their new life with Jesus.  

Differences we appreciate in Juba

 We are looking forward to returning to Juba in a few weeks, particularly reconnecting with friends and colleagues. Beyond the people, we wanted to share a few things that we enjoy or appreciate about life in Juba that are very different from life in the U.S.:

1. Easy and available public transport. No apps, cards, registrations, or monthly fees. Just flag down a rickshaw or bus and go!

2. Greeting people (even strangers) along the road as you walk or while in the market

3. Venders who walk the road selling their wares. Need a broom, some peanuts, a suitcase or a new pair of underwear? Just wait for someone to walk by selling what you need. Definitely not an easy business to do, as these venders have to keep moving. We appreciate their hard work and ingenuity.

This young man is selling shoes

(photo taken through the bars of a veranda on the road)

One girl's basket of roasted peanuts and sesame cakes for sale.

4. Tea shops along the road. Watch the world go by as you have your tea. These shops might be just a few chairs by the side of the road, but can be an important place for neighbors or friends to connect, play chess, or hear the neighborhood news. And, of course, when it is hot in the afternoon, one way to cool down is to drink hot tea! :) 

Mary, preparing tea at her stall in our neighborhood.

5. The expanded view of time. We admire that South Sudanese are rarely 'rushed' like Americans are. I have been asked "why are you walking so fast?" as I try to save time. Yes, sometimes a 3-hour long church service is tiring, but we do appreicate that they savor the time in worship and connecting. As they say, "Americans have watches, but Africans have time."

6. The Nile River - The Nile passes through Juba on its long journey north through Sudan and Egypt to reach the Meditteranean. The Nile provides water for much of the city of Juba, and we often see the water trucks loading up near the river. The lush green trees and the shorebirds near the river provide a refreshing place for a quick recharge in Juba.  

We hope you are inspired by some of these differences. What stands out to you? Any questions about other aspects of life in Juba? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Visiting Churches and South Sudanese Diaspora in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska

What a gift to visit Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, last weekend! We are grateful for Pastor Melodie Jones Pointon and Eastridge Presbyterian Church for hosting us, and thankful for opportunities to visit Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lincoln and the Nuer Union gathering which met at Nile Church in Omaha.

Sebit teaches on fasting and prayer and the 
significance of the season of Lent at 
Nuer Union gathering (Omaha)  

For me (Bob), it also felt like a homecoming, as my grandfather was born and raised in Broken Bow, western Nebraska, near the Sand Hills. Somehow the landscape feels native to my soul.

 

It also felt like a homecoming as we were able to visit and connect with South Sudanese Diaspora. Praying and worshiping with Nuer friends and their family in their home in Omaha felt like a slice of heaven. The family of Rev. James Guek and Mama Sarah Kuac, whom we visited, are vitally connected to the late Rev. Pastor Moses Kuac, the first Nuer pastor in South Sudan, who serves a central part of one of the case studies of my PhD research. It was a gift to hear more stories from his Sarah daughter, and to meet all their children.

Rev. James Guek and Mama Sarah Kuac and family 

Mama Sarah and Pastor James with 
Kristi and I 

On the road again...

In early August, Bob's strength and energy had returned enough that we could resume our travels in the U.S. We were very grateful for prayers and encouragement from many people and for God's grace in healing Bob's body. We headed to the West Coast for six weeks of reconnecting with family, friends, and several churches. Since Bob was still recovering his energy we scaled back in how much we did, and we lament that there are people we missed seeing.

Hiking the coast of Whidbey Island

First stop was Whidbey Island, Washington, where Bob’s family converged for some precious days together. We enjoyed walks in the woods and along the beach, making meals together, and celebrating some significant birthdays. Then off to Olympic National Park for a few days on our own to explore in a camper van! We marveled at the mountains and the tall trees and the crisp clean air. We were reminded of the verse, “God’s righteousness is like the mighty mountains, his justice like the ocean depths.” We managed a longer-than-expected hike to a waterfall, with several stops along the way to rest and soak in the quiet of the forest.

Reconnecting with family over bountiful meals on Whidbey Island

Bob braved the cold clear waters of Lake Crescent in Olympia National Park

The campervan was a fun and easy camping experience.

Our hike to the Sol Duc Falls in Olympia National Park

We road-tripped with Bob’s parents down from Washington to the San Francisco Bay Area, with a joyful stop to see Aunt Judy and family along the way. In California we enjoyed some encouraging visits with several churches and good friends. Bob visited some old haunts, like the halls of his high school and the park where he played baseball. We walked along the water often, watching shorebirds, kite-boarders, and even the occasional seal. We were amazed to see the new hydrofoil technology, that makes it look like people are flying above the water on a board. The traffic, buildings, and high pace of everything in the Bay Area was a little overwhelming, but we were grateful for the people.

An evening of exploring the gardens and live music at Filoli

John Knox Presbyterian Church decked out

with flags for their "international month"

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, we were in awe again at the power of the waves and the steep cliffs that plunge into the ocean. We drove the windy road down the coast near Big Sur for a short but sweet personal retreat at the New Camaldoli Hermitage. The monastery is perched on a mountainside looking down on the ocean, and is a great place to disconnect from the world – no wifi, no phone coverage! We were grateful for the hours to sit in awe of our Creator, soak in God’s love, and be still.

Looking down on the fog over the ocean from the monastery

The rugged coastline in the Carmel Highlands

Our last stop was Arizona – from the ocean to the desert! The church we spent the weekend with encouraged us with their great interest in South Sudan and what God is doing there. Then we got a few days with some good friends who treated us to some of the gems of Phoenix, including walks in the desert and some delicious food. Who knew that a musical instrument museum could be so fascinating? And a walk through the desert garden at sunset was a wonderful way to cap off our visit.

A wonderful time of sharing and connection

over breakfast in Green Valley, AZ

Hiking in the desert with friends

We feel so grateful for the blessing of being able to enjoy precious time with people and explore some beautiful places. To those who gave us a bed or a delicious meal or met us along the way, thank you! Truly, each day is a gift.

Sunset over the desert garden

Nothing For Us Without Us

Theologian Harvey Kwiyani named “Nothing for us without us” in a recent newsletter as the ‘first rule of mission in the twenty-first century’. As an African, he exhorts those of us from the West to welcome the leadership and vision of Africans when we seek to join in God’s work in Africa.

Bob and I both worked under strong, faith-filled African supervisors when we first went to Rwanda and that gave us an awareness of how much we had to learn and gain from the wisdom and experiences of African Christians. Since that entry into Rwanda twenty years ago, we have repeatedly been humbled by the gift of working alongside incredible men and women of rich faith and wisdom in Africa. But still, how many times have I slipped into the Western cultural perspective which says I know the best approach or that it would be better if we could just move forward on our own to ‘accomplish something?’ Repeated trial and error have showed us that being willing to listen deeply, supporting the indigenous leadership, and being willing to not go at our own pace always produces more effective results.

In July I attended the Sudan/South Sudan Mission Network, a collaboration of congregations, presbyteries, and other groups in the U.S. who are involved in Sudan and South Sudan through relationships with churches and people there. Most of the Americans present have made multiple visits over 10 or 20 years, and they have also welcomed into their homes the colleagues from Sudan and South Sudan. I appreciate the deep relationships and mutual respect built up over many years. Several South Sudanese Americans have joined and become more active in recent years, and their bi-cultural perspective helps to remind those of us who are European-Americans of some of the local realities of cultural issues we might be overlooking. The network makes the effort to hear directly from South Sudanese in pursuit of living by that principle – “nothing for us without us.”

This year I introduced the mission network members to one session of the Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop. We broke up into ethno-cultural groups and looked at the losses that each group has experienced. It was a good opportunity for us as European descent Americans to identify the losses our communities have experienced, like loss of our cultural roots and the loss of respect for one another. We also discussed some of the blind spots and deceptions which have resulted from these losses, like our perceived cultural superiority and extreme individualism. Taking time to name and discuss some of those losses and weaknesses reminded us how much we can benefit from the influences of people outside our culture, like our Sudanese and South Sudanese friends.

One group at the mission network discussing their losses

Sudan and South Sudan are still experiencing war and instability. People are suffering. This is one reason that we accepted the invitation to accompany our friends in South Sudan, praying and working for peace. But the South Sudanese leaders are the ones to drive the peace process. Lasting change will come only when it is initiated from within. While in the U.S. I have been asked, “who is doing your work when you not in South Sudan? Does it continue?” If you know us well, you know that we work with capable South Sudanese colleagues and that they continue on when we are not there. As the motto says, “nothing for us without us.” We are grateful to participate and partner together, praying that God will work through us.

At the mission network meeting in 2019 with
some of the South Sudanese and Sudanese members

Celebrating Cultures

Teaching again this last semester, February to May 2023, after taking a semester off for personal leave, has been a great joy. I am grateful to learn with such wonderful students, the new Senior Class of Nile Theological College (NTC). I was blessed to teach Introduction to African Traditional Religion (ATR), a course I have wanted to teach since 2019 when I sat in on this class with students at NTC.

As I taught this course, I encouraged students at the beginning of each class session “to take a kind, sympathetic, loving look back at our peoples, our ancestors, our forefathers and foremothers.” With love and curiosity, we sought to better appreciate how they lived, how they understood themselves, how they understood their world, how they understood their God. In our final lecture we assessed “the meeting place” between ATR and Christianity, noting similarities and differences.

Please enjoy the pictures and descriptions which follow, most of which capture our final group presentations, offering glimpses into the histories of the peoples of the Greater Upper Nile, Bar el Ghazal, and Equatoria regions in South Sudan. As the eminent scholar and church historian Lamin Sanneh of The Gambia has winsomely written, the ‘One’ Gospel of Jesus Christ is mediated through the many “refractions” of culture (Sanneh 1993: 136ff). May we know and value these cultures and thus find those glorious ‘refractions', pointing us to the 'One' Gospel of healing and ultimate hope!

Two Nuer student join a Murle student singing a song honoring Sultan Ismael, a well-known figure in Murle lore who was gracious and forgiving to those who wronged him and generous to all peoples, also the "helper of women"

Students imitate Chollo people who have come to see and honor the king. They kneel in respect

Sarah Jacob gives a rich description of the Pojulu and the different places they came from (Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa); the majority of Pojulu people now live in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan

Dinka students from Bar el Ghazal Region present a drama of a diviner whose help is sought to find two lost goats

Nen shares the rich and proud history of the Anyuwaa people, who were divided by the British administration across the borders of Sudan and Ethiopia, an event which significantly weakened their kingdom. He also described for us the large scale violence that broke out against Anyuwaa people starting in 1991 in Ethiopia, spanning into the 1990s and 2000s

Changkouth shares about the Nuer prophet Ngundeng, and also about the centrality of the ritual of initiation (markings) for Nuer boys, the rite performed to become a man

Students demonstrate the significant ritual of Gumparedi of the Maadi people, which must be performed after divorce and before remarriage

Students enact the central role of the rainmaker for the Bari people of Central Equatoria, South Sudan

Together with Senior Class (final day)

Detour

 In early June, we landed in the U.S., weary from a busy season in Juba but excited about the prospect of visiting churches and friends in the U.S. to share about how God is at work in South Sudan. But it has not worked out exactly as planned.

Bob has not been feeling well since before we returned to the U.S. After resting and seeing a doctor in Illinois, we decided to start traveling on our six week ‘tour’, hoping that he could rest and recover along the way. Unfortunately, after several days of travel, it became clear that Bob was not getting better and that to continue trying to travel and visit people would hinder his recovery. We made the hard decision to turn back and return to Illinois where Bob could rest and we could pursue more medical tests.

Traveling - using the rest stops to really rest,

in addition to sleeping in the car

The loss of these much-anticipated visits and the discouragement of being sick have challenged us to lean into God and wait on Him. Yesterday one verse that came up was Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” We meditated on Jesus’ call to give up everything to follow Him, and the life that we find in Christ is not like anything the world can offer. Our motivation to be productive in raising awareness of the work and needs in South Sudan is strong, but we realize we must also open our hands to wait on God. We need God to teach us and enable us – and after all, God is the only one that can do the work that will last.

Visiting Mt. Gilead, Ohio

Bob is still recovering, so we appreciate your prayers for healing, strength, and a return to “normal.” We also ask for prayer for wisdom for the days and weeks ahead. We hope and pray that Bob will recover strength and that we will be able to resume our visits and travel. Thank you for your prayers. We are grateful for the encouragements and support that we have received, and we are grateful to know that God is in control.

War in Sudan!

In mid-April, violence erupted in Khartoum and across Sudan as two sides with powerful forces fought against each other. Hopes that the violence would end are diminishing, while more than 500 civilians have been killed and more than 100,000 have fled the country.

This map shows Sudan and South Sudan,

with the location of the capitals

We live in Juba, South Sudan, relatively far from the conflict but also the country next door. Life in Juba feels relatively ‘normal’. But Juba is already feeling the impacts of the conflict. This week I talked to one friend here in Juba, who is worried about his elderly father and sister in Khartoum and is trying to convince them to come to South Sudan. “They do not want to leave,” he said, “They say ‘we fled from the war in South Sudan in 2016. Now there is war in Khartoum. We don’t want to flee again.’” Our friend explained that civilians are not being specifically targeted, but that the bombs can fall anywhere and people are killed in the crossfire. In addition, it is nearly impossible to find water, food, and fuel for power. To stay is very risky.

A house destroyed by recent fighting in Khartoum. AP photo. 

Many of our friends and colleagues in Juba have relatives in Khartoum, some of whom are now coming to South Sudan, and specifically to Juba to escape the war. A church leader we know moved his wife and children to another part of Sudan to escape the war. There was already a financial crisis in South Sudan along with floods in rural regions that made many people in a desperate, fragile situation. Now, residents in Juba are hosting relatives fleeing war or looking for funds to help their relatives leave Khartoum. This week it was reported that more than 50,000 people have entered South Sudan from Sudan because of the conflict.

There are many churches in Khartoum, even though it is a majority-Muslim country, and they are particularly vulnerable in this conflict. This article describes some of the impact on the Christian community, and some of our partners are quoted in the article.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, barely 12 years ago. The people of South Sudan have a long and complicated relationship with the government of Sudan and the city of Khartoum, in particular. Most South Sudanese leaders, including church leaders, were raised or educated in Khartoum. South Sudan’s primary source of revenue is its oil, which is exported through Sudan. Political leaders from Sudan helped to negotiate the current peace agreement in South Sudan, and now leaders from South Sudan are working to negotiate a cease-fire and resolution between the conflicting parties in Sudan. Even though we are not in the midst of war here in Juba, we expect the tragic consequences and impacts of the war to be increasingly felt here in South Sudan in coming days.

Please join us in praying for the people in Sudan. We offer this prayer by deacon Noha Kassa in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Bahri, Khartoum, which was damaged by munitions fire last week.

For the families displaced from their homes, unable to return.

For the sick and injured who cannot find medical care.

For the poor and those trapped inside, lacking food.

For those who lost a loved one, to have God’s comfort.

“Pray for all of this to stop soon,” said Kassa. “And for all who have lost hope, that they might find it again.”

Photo source: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/apr/30/us-conducts-1st-evacuation-tfp/

A Festival to the Lord: the 2023 Vision Convocation of the Presbyterian Mission Agency

Currently I am teaching the course “Introduction to African Traditional Religion” at Nile Theological College in Juba, South Sudan. A recent lecture and discussion focused on the role of rituals and festivals within the African Heritage. Together we discussed the role of festivals and the multiple functions which they serve. Festivals often last many days; they can even last up to one month and sometimes longer. Festivals can be a time of ritual worship, and they provide a source of entertainment through special food, music, and dancing. Festivals bring people together and they provide an outlet for thoughts and feelings to be expressed in the context of community. According to African cosmology, festivals bring together and unite the visible world with the invisible world of the spirit. Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, festivals renew the life of a community, strengthening its religious and social values.

Last month we gathered as the Presbyterian Mission Agency for our first ever Vision Convocation. We were an assembled gathering of more than two hundred staff across eight inter-related departments/ agencies:

1) Compassion, Peace, and Justice

2) Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries

3) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)

4) Presbyterian Hunger Program

5) 1,001 New Worshipping Communities

6) Theology, Formation, and Evangelism

7) Office of Public Witness

8) Presbyterian World Mission

This was the first time all agencies came together under one banner. It was also the first time that all Presbyterian mission-coworkers serving across the globe were gathered in one place. 

Presbyterian World Mission, all of us (almost!) gathered together
as one body perhaps for the first time

The theme of our time together was “One Band/One Sound.” We were led by Rev. Dr. Dianne Moffett, our humble and courageous leader who serves as President and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA). In my most recent reflections on our week together, I was struck by how this gathering reflected the value of a festival according to the African Heritage. There was entertainment throughout, highlighted by music, drama, and good-natured humor. 

Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director 
of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA)
Photo Credit: The Presbyterian Outlook 

We were led in a fun storytelling drama! 

Being led in song by Reverend Alonzo Johnson! 

We worshipped together each day, and we were able to spend time reflecting together on our social values or “culture code.” We were able to listen to one another, learn from one another, and simply be together “in-person” after three years of the pandemic stress of being separated physically. Over the last three years, we have known each other “in boxes” on a screen (Zoom). Now, we had a chance to all be together in one room, in the flesh. It was a fully orbed, inculturated, incarnational experience. I remember helping lead the liturgy on our first day of worship. I recall looking deeply into the eyes of a brother sitting near the front as I spoke words of confession and feeling an immediate bond of kinship with him, being united in that moment with my brother across race and generation, joined together in that consequential moment across the divides which our society constructs to separate us. I was deeply moved. Such experiences usually do not happen on Zoom.

The Reverend Gregory J. Bentley, Co-Moderator of the 224th General Assembly (2020)
of the Presbyterian Church (USA) gave a rousing, Spirit-filled devotional message 
each morning

Partaking of the Lord's Supper together 

I will be honest and share that I initially had misgivings about participating in the Vision Convocation due to various concerns. Yet, I am so glad that we were able to attend! Following the wisdom of our African ancestors and the African Heritage, I believe that such gatherings are necessary to renew the life, vision, and values of our community. Rev. Dr. Dianne Moffett and the other leaders within the Presbyterian Mission Agency were determined to bring everyone together, and for that I am eternally grateful. To God be the glory!

Other fun photos from our time together - 

Our Africa Team!

Praying together!

Learning together! (as the Africa Team)

Learning from Reverend Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of
the Center for the Repair of Historical Harm of the Presbyterian Mission Agency,
 who came and shared his heart and vision with our Africa Team

Jeff and Christi Boyd, friends and colleagues from our
time in DR Congo

With Africa Team colleagues Rev. Cheryl Barnes and 
Rev. Paula Cooper, also Ryan White, a friend from seminary
who lives and serves in Germany with his family

With Destini Hodges, our courageous leader of the 
Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program 

Our "White Mission Co-Workers Confronting Racism" group 
which has been meeting virtually since July, 2020
(this was our first time together in person!) 

Tested positive for Covid-19 upon return to Juba;

thankfully it was a mild case!