South Sudanese Pastors Fellowship Launched in Keny… | Projects

Church leaders from South Sudan have initiated a Pastors’ fellowship in Kenya to enhance unity, love and collaboration amongst their congregations. This noble idea is being fronted by His Grace The Most Rev. Moses Deng Bol, Archbishop of Northern Bahr El Ghazal Internal Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Wau together with Bishop John Jock Chol of the Diocese of Akobo,

The first meeting was held at St Luke’s Parish on 9th June 2018 to share the idea and agree on how the fellowship can be organized. The idea was welcomed by all the Pastors who attended the meeting because they all acknowledged that South Sudanese congregations attend prayer meetings in their mother tongues and so there was no opportunity for people from different tribes to meet and fellowship together. “This has made it very difficult for South Sudanese to know one another and to build trust, confidence and unity among themselves,” said Archbishop Deng.

The meeting resolved that all South Sudanese Pastors to be attending a Sunday Service in one of their Parishes on the first Sunday of every Month in order to promote unity among pastors of different denominations and tribes with a hope that such a unity will trickle down to their congregations. Rev. Wesley Natana was nominated as Coordinator of the fellowship assisted by Rev Samuel Mabith Madut.

The first fellowship took place at a Dinka congregation on Sunday 1st July 2018 at ACK St Gertrude Parish, Kasarani and was attended by Most of the South Sudanese Pastors in Nairobi. The fellowship was also attended by Karobia Njogu and Lucy Ochieng from CMS-Africa. The preacher was Bishop John Jock Chol and the sermon was based on love in John 3:16.

The second fellowship took place on 5th August 2018 with Nuer congregation in Donholm and was also attended by most of the South Sudanese Pastors in Nairobi. Karobia Njogu and Henry Mwiniki from CMS-Africa were also in attendance. The Preacher was the Most Rev Most Deng Bol and the sermon was based on the principles of Equality in Geneses 1:26-27.
His Grace’s sermon spanned the themes of justice, fairness equity and forgiveness based on the great commandment in Mathew 22:37-40 and the Lord’s Prayer in Mathew 6:12 respectively.

The third such forum brought together South Sudanese Pastors Fellowship and South Sudanese Christian Youth Fellowship at ACK Holy Trinity Parish in Kibera on 2nd September 2018.
Archbishops Stephen Dokolo (Amadi Internal Province) and Moses Deng Bol (Northern Bahr El Ghazal Internal Province) together with Bishop Thomas Tut Gany (Diocese Ayod in Upper Nile) graced the event.
 

Bishop Thomas Tut Gany preached on the themes of reconciliation and he gave an example of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the Well in the book of John 4:7-20. The Bishop demonstrated how Jesus was able to overcome the hatred and bitterness that was between the Jews and the Samaritans which could not allow the woman to give Jesus water.
“This service elicited excitement, happiness and unity as people from three different regions of South Sudan living in Kenya came together for fellowship.

It was the first time for the Youth of Nuer and Dinka to share a bus hired by CMS-Africa as a way of enhancing unity and reconciliation amongst the South Sudanese,” observed Rev. Wesley Natana.

After Sunday service the Nuer youth leader, Morou youth leader and Dinka youth leader held a brief meeting on how to coordinate youth activities within Nairobi
“The movement of pastors and Bishops to different congregations has already created a sense of unity among South Sudanese in Nairobi. We are therefore hoping that this fellowship will soon be started among the South Sudanese congregations in other towns of Kenya such as Nakuru, Eldoret, Kitale and Kakuma and Dadab Refugee camps,” observes CMS-Africa’s Cross Cultural Manager Karobia Njogu.

South Sudanese youth and women in Kenya have also organized themselves into South Sudanese Christian Youth Fellowship and women’s Prayer Group respectively.
The South Sudanese Pastors’ Fellowship requests for prayers for peace, reconciliation and unity in South Sudan as well as for the wellbeing of the South Sudanese in Kenya.
“We are trusting God for the provision of funds to enable movements of various participants in these monthly South Sudanese Pastors’ Fellowship in various places within Kenya” says Moses Deng