Pastor Idris & the Wedding of His Daughter

When Pastor Idris Nyalos Kida invited Kristi and I to the wedding of his daughter, along with a special invitation to a family luncheon the week before the wedding, I was thrilled! Pastor Idris is the center of my third case study of my PhD research, so any chance to spend time with him is a wonderful opportunity.

We expected the family luncheon to be a simple affair at the home of Pastor Idris and his wife Mary. When we arrived at the petrol station near his home, Idris gathered us up into his vehicle and drove us to the event. When we approached the area of his home and I saw the tents outside, I knew that the event was much bigger than what we had anticipated, but it also felt very South Sudanese. As we stepped down from Idris’ Landcruiser, we were met by Pastor Zechariah who directed us to a protocol person who directed us to another protocol person who seated us near the front. As elder family members and dignitaries arrived, the women ululated and the joy was palpable; we ourselves were greeted with this same joyful response. A young man and a young woman emceed the outdoor event, which was punctuated by traditional dancing led by the family of the groom-to-be, who are of the Acholi tribe. I joined in the dancing, and it was clear that connecting with one’s cultural roots during these occasions brings great pride and joy for the gathered families and community.

The formal occasion did not last long; we were all directed to various local homes where we would eat the special meal. Kristi and I joined a pastor couple and another pastor, all of whom serve the largest Pentecostal church in Juba and who would officiate the wedding the following week. We had a grand time connecting and enjoying the festivities together. Looking after our every need, Pastor Idris took us out from an inner room to an outdoor area where the air was cool and we could feel more comfortable.

At these types of events, one always feels extra special when the host spends time with you. Pastor Idris came and sat with the five of us; we enjoyed hearing stories from the other guests of the many and varied men and women whom Pastor Idris had led to Christ and discipled over the course of three decades and more. One story highlighted a man who had come to faith through the ministry of Pastor Idris, but who had turned away from God and had turned back to alcohol after his wife died. While driving his motorcycle from Torit to Juba, this man heard an audible voice repeatedly saying to him, “If it was not for Idris, you would not be here,” meaning, if not for Idris’ influence in your life, you would not be alive. The man, his name Martin Elijah, was shaken to the core. He immediately turned his life back to God. Today, he plants and leads churches among the Lotuko people of Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan.

Sitting outside with Pastor Idris and other guests

Many other fascinating stories were told that evening as we sat outside of the home of Idris and enjoyed the joy of the occasion. I did not realize it during the event, but the groom-to-be and bride-to-be were not present. The following week we would see them in all of their matrimonial glory. On that day at Juba Christian Center (JCC), while others were going forward to offer well-wishes to the bride and groom, I seized the opportunity to go forward, bend down, place my left arm over my right arm (a gesture of respect), and offer my hand in congratulations to Pastor Idris Nyalos Kida on this great occasion, the wedding of his daughter, Hannah Idris Nyalos.

Bride and Groom 

Bride and Groom and their families ~ 
Pastor Idris in front row, left, tall, wearing beige suit

Sunday worship in Yuai

In March our healing and reconciliation team conducted a workshop in the rural village of Yuai. On Sunday after the workshop, we worshipped with the congregation there, and I want to share a few pictures and descriptions of the congregation here.

Early Sunday morning, we followed the narrow dirt path through the village towards the site where the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SSPEC) meets. The roof of the church had been destroyed in the flooding some time ago, so while they worked to replace it they were worshipping outside. There are not many large trees in Yuai, so they met at 7am while the sun was still low to maximize the shade. Mats were spread on the ground for people to sit and they were nearly full with people when we arrived. A large choir of youth and children sat on one side, and the women’s choir on the other side.

Gathered for worship on Sunday morning

There was an air of excitement at the service because of all the visitors. Pastor John Tut, who started these congregations before going to Juba to study at Nile Theological College, was part of our team. He was eager to reconnect with church members after two years of being away. There were also members of sister congregations in other villages who had come for the workshop and were there at worship that day. And then there was our team of 4 facilitators who came from Juba to conduct the workshop. The congregations in Yuai had felt isolated and forgotten as they suffered attacks by a neighboring community and floods that caused repeated displacement to other areas. Now, they expressed how grateful they were to be remembered.

I appreciated the exuberant worship and the sincere prayers. Several people from those who were visiting took their turn greeting or sharing a word of encouragement. One man from a distant village, Elder Thomas, had sold his own cows to support the building of three different churches over the years. But this day he lamented that he was old now and because of the war he had no more cows to give. But he testified of God’s faithfulness and his joy in serving the Lord.

Elder Thomas shares a word of greeting. He walked for

several hours from his village to reach the church.

It was wonderful to see Pastor John Tut’s care for the members and the generous gifts that he brought to them. With his own money he bought four Bibles in the Nuer languages to give to the churches (one Bible for a whole congregation to share). During the service on Sunday morning he presented the women with several pieces of purple cloth. This is the ‘uniform’ of the women of the church and an identifier that they are part of this church. All women in Nuer culture traditionally wear a cloth in this way, called a lawa. 

Pastor John Tut (center, in white) with some
womenleaders in their new purple clothes (lawas)

At the end of the service, Pastor John also presented the three congregations represented with several large bags of clothes and shoes, donated by an organization in Juba. We were grateful that God provided room on the flight for this extra cargo to reach Yuai, since it is very remote and getting goods there is not easy. It was encouraging to see Pastor John’s care and hopes for the people of Yuai, like a father caring for his children.

The children's Sunday school met after the service inside the shell of their building.

Pray for this congregation, as they seek to be a faithful witness to the love of Christ in a community where there has been much suffering. They are working on re-thatching the roof of their church, but have hopes to build a more permanent structure along with a school. Rev. John Tut finishes his studies in Juba this year and looks forward to returning to Yuai next year, with a vision for discipling people and reaching to more remote villages.

Forum for Reconciliation

Last week I was in Rwanda for a forum and training for facilitators of the Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop. It was so encouraging to hear from facilitators from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan about how they are ministering to people despite many challenges and the creative ways they are conveying messages of God’s healing and reconciliation.

A group photo of all the participants and facilitators of the forum

Two of our facilitators from South Sudan were able to attend, and they were inspired by the chance to connect with people doing the same ministry in different contexts. A major focus for the week was to equip these facilitators to train other facilitators – so it was a training of trainers (TOT). Some of the facilitators have been conducting workshops for years, and others were just trained last year, so there was a wide range of skills and experience with the workshop. But that diversity provided opportunity to learn from each other as we practiced skills for teaching others. 

Meeting as a large group

Abdon (left) and Alex (center) came from South Sudan

One of the meaningful events in the week was doing the cross session of the workshop together. All of the people attended have led people through this central part of the workshop where we have the opportunity to identify pain or burdens in our heart and give them over to God. Several people shared afterwards how meaningful it was for them to have this opportunity provided for them and not be in the facilitator role. One pastor shared that he is often listening to others share their burdens, but feels there is no one to listen to him. So the time of sharing or pain in pairs and praying for each other was a great relief. 

Another highlight of the week was visiting “Unity Mountain”, a community where Rabagirana Ministries has come alongside the community in a holistic way to promote healing and reconciliation. We heard testimonies there from survivors of the genocide who felt marginalized and isolated but how God has brought transformation and change to their community as they found healing and were able to forgive.

A woman at Unity Mountain shares her testimony of surviving the genocide

The green in the fields and the rolling hills were also a refreshing sight! People in Rwanda were complaining about how hot the weather was, but those of us from Juba were enjoying the break from the extreme heat in South Sudan right now. Please pray for a break from the heat in Juba!

A view of the valley during an early morning walk in Rwanda

I am grateful for Rabagirana Ministries in Rwanda and all of their staff that worked hard to host this significant gathering and also is a great example in this ministry of healing and reconciliation. As we return to South Sudan, please pray for God to guide and enable us to share the message of God’s healing and forgiveness in more places. We look forward to seeing what God will do!

Africa Society of Evangelical Theology (ASET)

What a gift and a blessing it was to attend the Africa Society of Evangelical Theology (ASET) annual conference earlier this month with my colleague and friend Rev. Alphonse Andrew Laku of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SSPEC). We joined eighty other members of ASET coming from all corners of Africa, also from Germany, France, the U.K., and the U.S. Excellent, thoughtful, and engaging papers were presented by African and visiting scholars and reflective practitioners on the theme “The Mission of God and God’s Church: Missiology in African Theology.” 

Haile from Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa presents on 
"Integral Mission" (holistic ministry) amongst congregations
of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus

Participants thoughtfully listen and engage the presenters 
with theologically astute questions

We were also inspired and challenged by the keynote speech delivered by Dr. Harvey Kwiyani of the Centre for Global Witness and Human Migration (CMS, Oxford) and writer of a blog which I read weekly. Key themes regarding Africa’s unique contribution to extending the Missio Dei which rose to the surface during our time together include: being grounded in and starting with Pneuma (Spirit), humanizing and dignifying human relationships, being communal and community oriented, non-dualistic, humble as emerging from amongst those colonized, faith mission (especially in the diaspora). 

Dr. Harvey Kiwanyi, originally from Malawi but now 
living in the UK

What gift can the African Church give to the world? Community. What is the future of Christianity for the 21st century? In the next twenty-five years Africa will become a leader in terms of growth and theological thought and engagement. In sum, while challenges are pervasive and our circumstances can be heartbreaking, faith and hope as God’s people, led by God’s Spirit together in community, shaped in the Imago Dei, will enable us move forward with confidence and faith. Amen.

2024 Annual Conference of the Africa Society 
of Evangelical Theology (ASET)

Pouring Water on New Plants

This time of year, Uror county is dry and brown, with small scattered trees. Cows have been taken some distance away from the towns to find grass and water. The dry season is nearly over, so people are preparing their fields for when the rains come. But there is pervasive fear and struggle for hope, because of the fear of being attacked in rural areas. The people of Uror have suffered numerous attacks in recent years by some from a neighboring tribe who steal cattle, kidnap women and children, and sometimes kill people. Many have been displaced in the attacks, even after they were recovering from the war and devastation of 2013.

The central town of Yuai as we are landing on the airstrip

A bore-hole for getting water requires hours of waiting in line

A beautifully decorated tukul (house)

This is the community we stepped into last week to conduct a Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop. I was glad that God provided a good team of mature church leaders who have strong connections in Uror County and real love and concern for people there. We were accompanied by Rev. John Tut, who started the churches in Uror county but is now in Juba in his final year of getting his degree at NTC.

Our team as we left Yuai.

A group of about 8 people walked for 3 hours from their village to attend the workshop. Another group of about 6 people came from the further village of Pieri, about a 5 hour walk away. And within Yuai, the central town where we were based, we had participants from 6 different churches.  

Participants in the workshop

A drama to demonstrate the unity within the Trinity

One of the highlights for me was the experience gained for 2 of our new facilitators. Rev. Michael Char was trained in 2022 as a facilitator, but because he lived in a remote area he did not have a team to work with to conduct workshops. This was a good opportunity for him to return to the area where he was born and to get some practice in teaching. Rev. Yagub was just trained last year and has helped to facilitate one workshop in Juba. They both worked hard to master the content and the dramas and they were encouraged as they saw people grasping these important truths about God’s love and power to heal our hearts.

Michael and Yagub perform a drama about forgiveness

Nailing our pain to the cross

Knowing the deep loss and pain that participants had experienced, it was moving to see them nailing their papers to the cross, representing giving over that pain to God. We stood together in a circle and watched the papers burn, singing and praying our thanks to God for shouldering those burdens from us. The following morning, a few people shared that they had been able to sleep peacefully for the first time in years, or that their heart finally felt at peace. "My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him." I love seeing Psalm 62 come to life!

Blessing each group in the final celebration

As our team debriefed after the workshop, one person said that this workshop was like "pouring water on new plants". It was important for growth, but would require more water and time to truly see the change and the growth. Please pray for the people of Yuai, that God's Spirit continues to bring healing and peace. 

Sunset over Yuai from the stream at the edge of town

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28