February 7, 2010

Today I preached at the Yambio Church here in town. There were about 100 people; I'd guess 30 of them were children. I took some videos, and I will try to get them worked into countdowns that we can use before the services so you can get a feel for how the Christians here in Sudan worship. This is one of the more "developed and refined " churches.

I talked with two men yesterday who summarize the state fo the church here in Sudan.

The first was one of the students, Philmesio, who's tribe lives on the border intersection of Sudan, Congo and CAR. He said that over the Christmas break, rebels from Congo came into the village, raided it, and took some of the men, including his older brother. They took them into the bush and shot them. He said that they were anti-Chrsitians supported by the north. Philmesio's story dramatically shows the danger that Christians here in Sudan still face. Yet they remain faithful to Christ in the midst of this persecution.

The second man is named Mellow Oman, from the tribe of Anyauk, region of Pachella, in the east central part of Sudan along the border. He says that they are so remote that there are no roads in. To get out, you must catch a flight that occassionally comes in. He is an "evangelist" there. An "evangelist" is what we would say as a "deacon" without the training. He said a pastor once flew in to train him and another man for 1 week. He serves essentially as the "pastor" but cannot do the sacraments. They use the Small Catechism as the main teaching tool, of course, besides the Bible. He is here to report to the Bishop of the ELCS about the status of the church. He says that there are 2 churches about an hour walk from each other, and both worship over 200 people each Sunday. That is a huge number for the churches here. He says that he has 80 people who need and want to be baptized, but they have no pastor to do it. He is here to plead the ELCS to send a pastor to them. (I will try to get Mellow to tell me his story on video so you can see and hear it for yourself!) Mellow's story captures the great need Sudan has for pastors. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few in this fourth largest country of the world. By helping to train pastors, we at Trinity are maximizing our efforts.

The pastors here in training at the seminary will go on vicarage this fall, and then afterwards will be pastors. Thank the Lord! They are the salt of the earth --- wonderful men full of the Holy Spirit and eager to serve the Lord. They are even expecting the next class to start in January, and they anticipate 20+ more students to begin their seminary route to ordination!

Keep praying for this struggling church body!!!