Team prepare for South Sudan
A team made up of members from SOMA UK and the newly launched SOMA Kenya will continue the Youth Missions for South Sudan this autumn at the invitation of Archbishop Justin Badi and coordinated by Archbishop Samuel Peni. Once again we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Relay Trust for their key part in facilitating this, both with expertise on the ground through the excellent ministry of the Anglican Discipleship Program and through their sponsorship of the two conferences we will run.
This is part of a major investment into South Sudan by Relay Trust and an ongoing strategy for discipleship and training for adults in ministry. The Anglican Discipleship Programme builds on the SEAN training under the watchful eye of Revd Francis P. Lado and his team. Last year the SOMA UK team was lead by Paul and Becky Harcourt who came back with stories of a hunger for God and remarkable instances of divine intervention in the country. The SOMA team supplements the ADP programme already in place, facilitating encounters with God that equip and envision in mission and evangelism.
Jonathan, Richard, Apela and Alice at their first online team briefing.
The team will arrive in Juba on 4 November and lead a conference in Central Equatoria 5-7 November followed by Eastern Equatoria 8-10 November. The teaching that has been requested will focus on leadership development in the power of God’s Holy Spirit and will look at examples from the Scripture for best practice on living a faithful and faith-filled life to the end. Delegates have been chosen to come from across the all the archdeaconries in each Internal province and can then take the material back with them to their Alcoa churches and youth.
We are delighted to have such experienced missioners from SOMA Kenya in Rev Alfred Apela and Rev Alice alongside Richard and Jonathan. Both the Revs serve in Nairobi Cathedral and have been recommended by SOMA Kenya’s new National Director, Tom Otieno for their expertise with mission, youth and ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jonathan is a pilot who joined the team after hearing some of our SOMA Stories at a town-wide gathering of the churches in Aylesbury. He has always wanted to go on a MAF flight and brings a helpful attention to detail, a lively faith and a compelling story of God’s grace to the team. We are praying for wonderful breakthroughs.
Map of South Sudan… our focus this mission is in Central and Eastern Equatoria.
