Update on Sudan pastor training
Here’s an email we just receieved from Pastor Steve at liberti church here in Philly, where Karyn and I have been worshiping recently.
Brothers and sisters,
Greetings from Yei, Sudan,
Four flights and 59 hours after leaving terminal 4 of Philly International, we touched in the hot, green town of Yei, Sudan. Thank you for all of your prayers– God has really guided us and given us strength.
We are immersed in a world of different sight, smells and sounds all week— this is a land of great contrasts. There is abject poverty all around, yet sincere friendliness and smiles. We have been to worship with our Sudanese brothers and sisters, and also been with people mourning at a burial.
We have been exposed to about 5 different african languages during the trip,–as I write this I hear some drums and singing in the distance.
I have put off writing this email to you— I knew I would be at a loss to begin to describe what life is like in Sudan. There are many more things that David, John, Prabhu and I will like to describe in person.
During the past 21 years of civil war, many church leaders have been killed> and life has been completely disrupted. This is one of the reasons why there is a great hunger for basic pastoral training. I have never had such hungry, eager and humble students.
The pastor’s training conference that we are teaching at is being put on by ALARM (Celestin’s ministry– the Rwandan who spoke at our church) and the SEA– the Sudan Evangelical Alliance. The SEA is seeking to bring the church of Sudan together to address the most pressing needs of this part of the country. Pastoral training is one of those most pressing needs. 80
> pastors from about 12 denominations were registered (there was a limit because there was only a certain amount of money for their food, etc)— then about 120 people showed up!!! No one was turned away. But there are about 70-90 people present daily, because some need to go to work.
Pray for the remaining day of the training– that God would continue to give us strength and love from Jesus Christ. (every one on the team except John has had to battle through some physical malady– but God has helped us)
We have been humbled and melted by the love our Sudanese brothers and sisters have shown to us
Put it this way, my brothers and sisters of liberti, we have been privileged by God to now have sister churches in Sudan. We will be exchanging prayer requests throughout the year. There is also a great need for more people to come to do medical trips, and teacher training. There are many building projects to do. There are many kids who need basic medical care. There are many orphans who have never been told of the redeeming love of Jesus, and who have many basic needs. It’s one thing to see a picture of children orphanedby Aids, — it’s completely another to hug one while they mourn and pray for them.
We are praying that many who receive this email will be brought into what God is doing in southern Sudan. The need is great, the opportunity is ripe, and Jesus is Lord. We have had so much joy in Christ this week– even while our heads spun and our hearts broke. I know that all of you who end up coming here would be blessed by Christ as you love his people and learn from
them. I am convinced that there is a great opportunity to partner with our brothers and sisters in Sudan– I say partner because we have so so much to learn from them.
Pray for God’s Kingdom to come, for His Name to be loved and revered, and for his ways to be done in Philadelphia and Yei, just like in heaven. I need to go now– but am going to send this before the generator operating the satellite internet system is turned off (the only one in several
hundred miles)
The Lord’s peace be to you,
Pastor Steve
Share on Facebook
December 14th, 2004 at 1:04 pm
I wish the American Church would focus its eyes on these churches. Our bitchy little problems would fade away in the harsh light of carrying out the Great Commission!
December 16th, 2004 at 4:27 pm
I am encouraged to hear brothers and sisters are in Yei doing training. I was privilaged to visit Yei with a group of 8 others in July. Each of us was greatly impacted in Yei and have continued to spread the message of Sudan to the American church (most recently, Marshall Evangelical Chruch). Bishop Elias has become our hero, here on earth!
Encourage those training that there are 9 young people in Texas praying for them regularly!
January 15th, 2005 at 10:15 am
Thank you for the news on Yei. I have an interview on Wednesday with my church for a two-year position in Yei to help with teacher training. Your letter is an encouragement that I have been taking the right steps toward heading there.
January 15th, 2005 at 10:18 am
Glad that encouraged you Jennifer. I would love to hear more about your work once you get over there. As my church’s involvement with Sudan continues, I’ll post here what we’re doing.
February 18th, 2005 at 11:26 am
Hi dear
Iam very Glad to hear about yei in sudan . Iam writtin from holland my parent’s they are from yei please keep sendin the news for me that I can know how to pray may God bless yei and all the south Amen
kenyi
February 18th, 2005 at 1:42 pm
Kenyi,
Are you from the Sudan? I’ll be glad to pass on anything further that my church does in that regard.
April 9th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
Hi sudan mission
This is kenyi again if u are still wondering about my nationalaty Iam a sudanese my father and mother are from yei my father is clement kenyi Goya of the colled him sometime “kamola Goya”and my mother is martha lipo
Asow she know as “Lipo” please if u get this massage let me know and pass my greeting to the yei church , may God bless u all.
Bido c.kenyi
July 10th, 2005 at 7:19 am
I think its excellant that people are taking the time out to focus on problems in Africa. The oppressed people of the southern Sudan really need the spotlight to be turned on them. Jennifer, you’re really brave to be going into Sudan. Not because its very dangerous (I’ve heard that its not all that bad actually, the Sudanese being a very open hearted people) but because you are going into unchartered territory. Good for you.
BTW, I knew a Jennifer Hubers a good 10 years ago. Have you ever lived in Bahrain?
December 27th, 2005 at 5:30 pm
I just came across this site again. I wanted to reply to Javanmard. Yes, I did live in Bahrain. Did you go to Bahrain School? I’m sorry, I don’t recognize your name. To Foolish Sage and everyone else, unfortunately, I did not end up in Sudan. I made a trip there in March and had an amazing time and feel very drawn to the Sudanese people and the rebuilding efforts. I will, insha’allah, end up in Sudan in the next few years. Thanks for the encouragement, nonetheless. I hope your church is still involved with the church there.