Liwolo

We are really grateful to the individuals, churches and team who have enabled SOMA to serve in South Sudan again this July. It is only a few short weeks ago that we found out we had lost the funding for putting on this conference. Our UK team felt an inner conviction that we should carry on, but had to continue to steer a path of faith as changes to the team, insurance, visas and other issues all threatened to destabilise this mission. A significant boost was when the Liwolo diocese came online just a few weeks before the mission, thanks to their partner diocese in Blackburn. This enabled us to hear direct from Bishop Joseph Aba and strengthened the resolve of all to deliver this conference.

While we have had to wrestle with insurance costs (£15000pa to continue to operate globally including a substantial premium to operate in South Sudan), conference costs, team costs, final day dealings with insurance brokers and last minute visas (Tibz got her Uganda visa at 05:22 on the morning of departure as the team were on the way to the airport), our friends in Liwolo and Morobo have dealt with life and death.

Much of the diocese of Liwolo was destroyed when people fled in 2017 across the Southern border into Uganda. It was only a year ago that the bishop and church leaders felt a call to come back and rebuild. What they have done in that short time is remarkable and down to the power of prayer.

Team Leader, Paul Harcourt writes:

“Physical restoration is needed urgently, not just spiritual restoration. We see the scars of war everywhere, as well as signs of continuing instability, but the Bishop is proclaiming a day of renewal and rebuilding, encouraging people to return from the camps in Uganda. Their stand in Liwolo is bringing peace but the neighbouring diocese of Morobo, from which participants have also come, is still experiencing violence.

Liwolo itself has been a centre for many of the wars, from 1955 to the present day. Many of the buildings we have seen were destroyed in 2017 when participants fled to other countries. The people lived in exile for 7 years before feeling that the Lord was calling them to return. It is amazing to see what they have achieved in the last year.”

Above: Destroyed clinic and rebuilt guest house. The team also visited a ransacked school. The diocese is slowly rebuilding, and recently hosted an open air revival gathering on the site with over 4000 people seeking God.

Bishop Joseph is a great inspiration to many. If you want to hear more of his story and the story of this diocese it is worth hearing his message to our friends at Flame International on their 20th Anniversary in 2023. In 2025 the story has moved on, and it is humbling to see the impact of this senior team investing in praying for revival, healing and hope in the South Sudan.

Bishop Philip North (Blackburn) and Bishop Joseph Aba found themselves to be kindred spirits at the Lambeth Conference in 2022. They have a new partnership together following Bishop Joseph’s visits to England and Bishop Philip’s intended visit to Liwolo. It is a huge joy to see their shared love for their people and the gospel, and all that God might do through this partnership, and for SOMA to be able to report back to Blackburn Diocese on all we have seen and heard.

Many of the participants for the SOMA conference travelled 100km on what should have been a 6 hour journey, to be in Liwolo, crossing the border from refugee camps in Imvepi, Uganda to rejoin their diocesan homeland. Sadly, on the road home, when the lorry tipped dramatically in a hole, one lady panicked and jumped off, breaking her arm. She has been taken to the Diocese’ own Jehovah-Rapha clinic which is in exile across the Uganda border. Thank God she wasn’t more seriously injured and please pray for her rapid recovery. Their journey back to the camp probably ended many hours later than planned.

If you would like to support future work of SOMA around the world please do donate to enable us to continue with missions such as these.