The Diocese of Maiwut is located in the far north of South Sudan, on the border with Ethiopia, where many people took refuge during the recent period of upheaval and insecurity. The region is geographically isolated from the rest of the country, with access only by river or by air, and the border with Ethiopia is officially closed, with the result that it is extremely difficult for people to obtain food and basic resources. One conference participant had sold his food parcel to travel from the refugee camp in Ethiopia, and another said people have been reduced to eating grass to survive. Hope is hard to come by and the future is uncertain.

We first sent a Rooted in Jesus team to Maiwut in January 2024. I05 people – clergy, evangelists, mothers’ union members and youth leaders – were commissioned at that conference to lead small Rooted in Jesus groups, and Revd John Jamuth was appointed diocesan coordinator.

By the end of the year John was able to report that 117 groups had been started, most within the diocese itself but some in the refugee camps where they have been planting new churches. All the groups had completed the first two books of the programme, and the group leaders had been called together to share their experiences. They reported that the Spirit of God had been working among them through the scripture memory verses, that many groups were closing their meetings with celebration and appreciation, and on a very practical note that group leaders had been accompanied by nurses who had provided medical treatment for those who had no access to health care.

Group leaders meet together to evaluate the programme; Bishop Peter leads an evaluation session for clergy who had completed Book 2 with their group

We responded to this heartening news by accepting the diocese’s request firstly that we work together to make Books 3 & 4 available in the local language of Nuer, and secondly that the team return to lead a follow-up conference. The translations were duly completed, and a second conference took place in the last week of January 2024.

The conference: a workshop and a practice group session

The conference was led by Bishop Tim Wambunya, formerly Bishop of Butere in Kenya and now Vicar of Slough and Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Oxford. Tim reports:

“In January 2023, I led a team to run an initial conference in Maiwut, the county town of Maiwut County and the seat of the Diocese of Maiwut, which also includes the county of Longechuk. The other team members were the Revd Andrew Goodman, Nadeem Azam, and Dave Ridge. The same team returned at Bishop Peter Gatbel Kunen Lual’s invitation to run a follow-up conference this January 2024. The Diocese had enthusiastically adopted the Rooted in Jesus Programme and made excellent progress, so we were keen to visit again.

“We flew right into Maiwut town’s airstrip and were welcomed in style with much singing and dancing, and after being dressed in robes and garlands, each team member had their feet washed at the nearby cathedral.

“The co-ordinator, John, knew each leader and where they were, which was very encouraging. There was a high level of repeat attendance, and a significant number of new leaders were also trained, with 170 people attending in all.

“The people were in the most difficult circumstances, yet they were generous, welcoming, and hungry for all that we taught. We were truly honoured when we were presented with a goat, a gift of significant value. The commissioning service was a great celebration.

Conference participants outside the cathedral after the commissioning service

“The team thanks all those who prayed for the trip, the delegates and the team, and as the country looks forward, with some nervousness, to the elections in December, we would ask that this young nation remains in your prayers.”

Maiwut is one of the most under-privileged places we have ever visited with Rooted in Jesus; one team member commented afterwards that the poverty was hard to take. As in many areas of the country, violence remains a part of daily life, food is hard to come by, and the elections due to take place later this year bring the fear of renewed political and social turmoil. And yet people continue to meet, to bring their struggles to God, to support one another and to pray together. Please join us in praying with them.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by the Mathetes Trust. We are grateful to the Relay Trust who provided a grant to help cover the conference costs, and to the team of intercessors who prayed daily for both team and participants.