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South Sudan

Beyond the Headlines: Faith and Conflict in South Sudan

By eVitabu, South Sudan

Daniel Deng Bol lives in Aweil, an isolated South Sudanese market town sitting astride the potholed dirt highway that connects Wau with the Sudan border. It takes Daniel several days of uncomfortable and dangerous travel south by bus to get to Juba, South Sudan’s capital city. But despite his remote location and the country’s desperately poor infrastructure, Daniel, and Saints Revival Committee, the para-church organisation he leads, are fast becoming one of APF’s most dynamic and enthusiastic partners. Daniel’s latest update paints a vivid picture of mission and ministry in the world’s youngest country, marked equally by encouraging achievements and formidable challenges.

Daniel Deng Bol

Lately, we have held eVitabu conferences in many places: Bhar el Ghazal state, Aweil, Warrap, Wau, Rumbek and even some parts of the Equatoria region. At these events many Christian leaders, government members, NGO workers and teachers learnt about eVitabu.

Now, pastors and bishops are using the app as their main library, reading theological books, evangelism commentaries and leadership materials. Because of this, other NGOs, schools, groups, and individuals have asked to have their organisations included in the eVitabu app.

This training has really inspired many leaders and given new hope to pastors who have been serving, some for many years, without any formal training.

Another exciting outcome from the eVitabu conferences is that the Christian Theological Bible School based in Juba has decided to use books on the eVitabu app to help teach their leadership and theology courses. This decision came after one of their lecturers saw the resources available on the app and appreciated the work, committing the school to teach from eVitabu.

The spread of eVitabu in South Sudan is good news but I need to also report to APF supporters that at this time the general situation in my country is very tense. Many parts are experiencing rising conflict. This has badly affected many ministry activities, with churches burned by rebels and government bombardments happening. Because of this, gospel missions and conferences cannot always go smoothly.

Young South Sudanese soldier
Attribution: CC BY-NC 2.0 Steve Evans

Meanwhile, I see several other new registrations being automatically approved on the eVitabu management system, but these new app users are from Christians living in Cameroon. As Victor is training on-campus in Kigali, Rossa Wanjiru, in Nairobi, Kenya, is delivering an online eVitabu induction for Baptist pastors in Cameroon.

Warrap state is one area that has seen many deaths due to fighting in the community. In the Upper Nile region, civilians faced a deadly attack by rebel groups allied with the Vice President. Children have been killed, and others died from diseases. There are even reports of chemical weapons being used against civilians.

Churches are being burned by rebels, and many pastors and evangelists are even now held as hostages in the bush. I am ashamed to report that many rapes are also being carried out by rebel groups.

Outbreaks of diseases like cholera and illnesses linked to malnutrition are big challenges for displaced people and host communities alike, especially affecting children, women and the elderly.

In recent weeks, this conflict has stopped our plans for two eVitabu conferences in Warrap state. We turned back on the road because it was too dangerous to continue.

We are asking all APF supporters to pray with us that God would bring lasting peace in South Sudan. We also ask for prayers for those who lost family members in this terrible situation. Some Christian members and their churches are being threatened, killed, tortured or held in the bush by rebel groups. We need to pray together for them so they are freed and reunited with their families.

South Sudanese women
Attribution: CC BY-NC 2.0 Steve Evans

We would love to start a peace project, bringing Christian youth from all ten states for peace training and teaching about how peace helps communities meet their needs without fear. Strong missions are needed, especially in Upper Nile and Warrap, so people can hear that God’s way is one of peace not war.

Congregations with burnt-out churches especially need our support in these two regions. If village chiefs, youths, pastors and local authorities are trained together on peace, they can become peace ambassadors in their areas.

In South Sudan, we are asking partners and donors to keep supporting APF. Both the eVitabu app and APF Bible grants have truly changed many lives, especially now that Bibles are hard to find and very expensive – one copy can cost 60,000 South Sudanese pound (about £10).

Also, the APF bicycle grants are so helpful for pastors here. They use the bicycles to reach ministries far away and to help their families. Since 82% of people don’t have good transport or roads, bicycles are vital for pastors to do evangelism, get to farms and take people who are sick to the hospital. We really pray for continued partnership so we can keep sharing eVitabu and providing bicycles and Bibles.

Sponsor an eVitabu user in Africa
June 30, 2025
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Around Africa

By Liberia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

News from Liberia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Liberia

Revd Aberdeen Gargli (on left in photo above), Principal of the Evangelical Theological College of Liberia and Revd Clinton Gbawah, Legal Representative of the Evangelical Church Network of Liberia, met to talk about eVitabu at the college in Monrovia. The two men have been connected through their shared links with APF and eVitabu.

South Sudan

APF partner in South Sudan, Saints Revival Committee, distributed Bibles to pastors from over twenty denominations in rural Aweil South County with support from an APF local language Bible grant.

Tanzania

10Giving contacted APF recently wondering if we could help them distribute spare copies of the brilliant children’s book The True King by Nancy Guthrie and Jenny Brake. APF partners Love and Care for the Child Ministries, Faith Babies Home and Walubu Jude were able to distribute hundreds of copies to children in central Uganda. The book, written for children aged 3 to 7, is beautifully illustrated and introduces children to the big story of the Bible — the story of the True King who rules over his people in perfect goodness and a kingdom that will last forever.

Zambia

Bike grants were received by eight pastors in Zambia. Also, Lawson Limao from Word of God ministries received a grant to install solar lighting in the homes of pastors without access to electricity.

Uganda

Revd Esomu Francis (in pink shirt)is pictured here with local pastors from Karamoja Region in northern Uganda. Francis is the founder and principal of Atirir Bible School in Teso Region. APF supports ABS trains pastors and church leaders in theology to certificate level, and also helps Francis travel to remote regions to run workshops with untrained rural leaders. Francis told us:

“These native pastors are an active and vibrant part of the ministry in Abim and Otuke Districts of Karamoja. They are pastoring rural churches, doing extensive evangelism outreach into unreached areas and planting churches to expand the Kingdom of God. Since these church leaders make their living through farming, many struggle to meet the financial needs of their families, theological education for themselves and fees for their children. Ministry travel expenses and food are also challenging factors.”

Kenya

While Dave was in Kenya in April, he was invited to talk about eVitabu and Digital Theology at the Baptist Convention of Kenya’s general assembly. This is the denomination’s largest annual gathering where around 2,000 Baptist Christians come together.

July 1, 2024
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Around Africa

By Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia

News from Malawi, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia and Tanzania.

Malawi

Central Bible School in Malawi was spotlighted here. The college’s library facilities are in need of improvement so a digital tools and training grant has been approved. This grant will equip each of the eight faculty members with a suitable smartphone, allowing them to install and utilise eVitabu as a valuable addition to the college’s physical library. To help the effective use of the platform, Dave or Geoff will be conducting online training for the faculty later this year.

Zambia

Pastor Lawson Limau is spearheading the development of an introductory course in theology and pastoral care, drawing from resources adapted from the eVitabu library. Recognising the potential impact of this initiative, APF has awarded Lawson an Africa Training Partner annual grant. This grant will enable him to deliver the pilot course to rural pastors throughout eastern Zambia during 2024.

Tanzania

Due to the ongoing demand for their teaching ministry, Heavenlight and Kesiah Luoga (pictured above with Victor Imanaturikumwe) have been awarded an African Partner Training grant for 2024. This grant will help them to conduct training workshops throughout the year, both locally and regionally. Recognising Heavenlight’s desire to expand his reach, APF has also approved funding for video recording equipment so Heavenlight can record training videos for social media and eVitabu. This includes a high-quality camera phone, basic lighting equipment, and a tripod.

Rwanda

The Let There Be Light solar project continues to shine brightly in Kigeme Diocese, Rwanda. By providing reliable light to clergy families and parishes, the project offers numerous benefits: brighter living spaces, opportunities for studying after dark, enhanced security, and even income generation opportunities. We recently sent additional funding to ensure the project’s sustainability by replacing batteries for some of the beneficiaries.

Our prayers continue for Rev. Victor Imanaturikumwe, the Legal Representative of Église Évangélique de la Bonne Volonté au Rwanda and a passionate advocate for eVitabu. Victor has a plan for competency-based training that complies with Rwandan government regulations for faith-based leaders. He is seeking funding to deliver this training programme and he is also assisting APF in finding a venue for a conference in September.

We also pray for Victor’s predecessor, Pastor Japhet Matugoma, who faces an urgent need to relocate his family home due to recent flooding and landslides (pictured above).

South Sudan

In recent weeks, APF approved a grant for the Saints Revival Committee in Aweil district to procure and distribute 600 local language Bibles. Also, Alex Sokiri of New Nation Church in Juba writes seeking support for the church school (pictured above). Founded for orphaned and underprivileged children living near the church, the school currently serves children in three classrooms. However, the classroom block front façade remains incomplete. With rainy season approaching, Alex is urgently seeking assistance to complete the front part of the school building to ensure the safety and well-being of the students.

April 4, 2024
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Refugees Returning Home

By South Sudan, Uganda

For many of the millions forced to flee their homes due to conflict, returning home concludes an often traumatic time in exile. But often, rebuilding lives and livelihoods is far from easy. Huge challenges await many returnees.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but life in the world’s youngest country has been marred by internecine warfare, atrocities against civilians, ethnic cleansing, sexual violence and the use of child soldiers. Since 2013, when President Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup d’état, a conservative estimate places the number of people killed in the fighting at 400,000. The actual number may be considerably higher.

The conflict displaced over 4 million people with about 2 million fleeing to neighbouring countries, especially Uganda. Fighting in the southern agricultural heartland led to famine and 6 million facing starvation. According to the IMF, real income has halved since 2013 and inflation peaked at well over 300% per annum. In February 2020, Riek Machar was sworn in as first vice president of the new unity government by President Kiir, formally ending the civil war. For

Pastors Alex and Harriet Sokiri oversee New Nation Church, a small network of South Sudanese Pentecostal congregations. We were delighted to hear that earlier this year Alex and Harriet had been able to leave their refugee camp in northern Uganda and return to South Sudan. Rebuilding their lives, however, has not been without some serious challenges, as Alex explains:

“It was in 2016 when the war in South Sudan reached our area and we fled to Uganda. We lived in Morobi refugee camp for three years. An agreement was signed between pro-government forces and the rebel militias and some peace has now come to our country. So, we have left the camp and returned to South Sudan.

“But coming back to South Sudan has not been an easy thing for us. Last December, our child Josiah became sick. He was having seizures in the night. So, instead of going directly back to South Sudan, we first travelled to Uganda’s capital city Kampala to seek medical advice. APF gave us a pastoral care grant which helped us with the cost of travelling there and getting a good diagnosis. Josiah is now being treated for epilepsy.

“We finally reached South Sudan in January 2020. When I visited our church in the capital Juba, however, I saw that the building was badly damaged. The roof sheets and timbers had been stolen. We worked hard, raised some funds locally, and rebuilt the church structure.

“But soon after this work was completed, the owner of the land told us that he did not want our church on his land anymore. He gave us until the end of June to leave or buy the land from him. We are praying for a solution.”

New Nations Church has congregations in Juba, Kajo Keji, Yei and Wudu in South Sudan and Morobi in northern Uganda. Whilst many of South Sudan’s refugees are glad to be returning home after years living in camps, returnees like Alex and Harriet often find living outside the camps brings new problems.

Please pray

For Alex and Harriet readjusting to life and ministry in South Sudan.

For an accurate diagnosis and treatment for Josiah.

For practical needs, like church building and infrastructure to be resourced.

For other returning refugees recovering from trauma and starting afresh in South Sudan.

Giving thanks that the political situation in South Sudan has improved.

That the fragile peace would hold and a long term and sustainable political settlement would bring lasting peace.

April 2, 2020
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