Tag Archives: The Mathetes Trust

Rooted in Jesus Conferences in South Sudan

South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, and now considered to be the poorest. A recent World Bank report states that 92% of the population live below the extreme poverty line (up from 80% in 2016) with a projection that in 2025 the country will experience universal poverty. It is a challenging and yet rewarding context for ministry, and despite the inevitable challenges we are delighted to be invited to continue to support the church there. South Sudan, we feel, is the kind of place where Jesus is to be found at work.

In the first quarter of 2025 two Rooted in Jesus teams travelled to South Sudan, visiting three dioceses for the first time and returning to a fourth to conduct the first Rooted in Jesus Junior training for Sunday School teachers.

The Dinka people of Cuiebet & Rumbek

The Dioceses of Cuiebet and Rumbek – David Archer reports

“Invitations from Bishop Elijah Mateuny, Diocese of Cueibet and Archbishop Alapayo Kuctiel, Diocese of Rumbek, were the basis for a team leading 4-day introductory Rooted in Jesus conferences in each diocese. Both dioceses are situated in Lakes State in Eastern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province (EBGIP), located centrally in the country. The team was led by Revd Dr David Archer with members Revd Canon Geoff Maughan and Mr Dan Head. We were accompanied by Revd Paul Madit, EBGIP Mission Coordinator during both conferences.

“We received a warm welcome in the Diocese of Cueibet, with many of the women getting on their knees to wipe our shoes which had become extremely dirty from our journey in very dry and dusty conditions. The food was simple and very limited in scope – Cueibet felt to me the poorest diocese I have yet visited – and we were told that church members routinely don’t eat for several days at a time. Transport was very limited, even to the extent that only one or two bicycles were visible. A minority of delegates have a mobile phone.

“Engagement with the programme was good throughout the duration of the conference, with around 140 delegates attending. Morning teaching sessions were received enthusiastically and there was a clear willingness to engage with the materials in the small group sessions. The conference finished well with a joyful Commissioning Service with +Elijah presenting certificates and the Leaders’ Introduction to around 140 delegates.

Conference participants in the Diocese of Cuiebet

“The second training conference, for the Diocese of Rumbek, was run within the cathedral complex. A little over 150 delegates attended the conference – the majority from Rumbek diocese, but at the invitation of Archbishop Alapayo small delegations of about 10 people had been invited from other dioceses along with their bishops to receive training in Rooted in Jesus. In addition to the Diocese of Rumbek, the following dioceses were represented: the Area Diocese of Rumbek, the Diocese of Pacong, the Diocese of Akot, the Diocese of Maper, the Diocese of Malek Rup and the Diocese of Wulu. The Diocesan bishops who were in attendance for part of the conference each expressed strong interest in Rooted in Jesus conferences being run in their own dioceses in due course.

“As in Cueibet engagement with the programme was very good throughout the duration of the conference. Morning teaching sessions were received enthusiastically and there was a clear willingness to engage with the materials in the small group practice sessions.”

Conference participants in the Diocese of Rumbek

Conferences in the Dioceses of Maiwut and Bentiu – David Ridge reports

We had been invited to return to the Diocese of Maiwut by Bishop Peter Gatbel, who has placed great emphasis on the importance of grassroots discipleship. Rooted in Jesus is coordinated by Revd John Jamuth.

“The team, consisting of Bishop Timothy Wambunya, Revd Andrew Goodman, Nadeem Azam & David Ridge had visited Maiwut twice before in Jan 2023 and 2024 to run the Introductory and follow-up conferences. This third visit in as many years was to introduce the Rooted In Jesus Junior Course to the diocese, which covers a large area made up of the counties of Maiwut and Longochuk. Some delegates had walked 4 days to get to the conference, taking one of the well known long distance walking routes and spending the nights in churches. We didn’t dare ask what they did for food on the journey, as one team member said ‘the answer might break our hearts’. The adult course has been eagerly adopted by the diocese and enthusiasm was high for the Junior Conference. 150 delegates attended the entire conference and were awarded certificates.

“The team were once again humbled by the very enthusiastic welcome that they received on landing at the small airstrip near the cathedral. It is not an area that sees many visitors, and without a functioning road to the capital city of Juba it feels very isolated.

“Despite the extremely difficult conditions in which people live the conference was marked by vibrant worship and passionate prayer – a challenge to those of us in the West with much more comfortable and safe lives. Each of the ministry sessions had a huge response with many encouraging testimonies shared at the end of the conference.

“The team were able to stay for the Sunday church service after the 4 day conference which had taken place from Wednesday to Saturday. As often happens the service was very long but enthusiastic throughout the proceedings, with a very large number of people present. Since it was the 3^rd visit there for the 4 of us it was wonderful to hear testimonies of progress with the adult programme, and to meet friends again.

Conference participants in the Diocese of Maiwut

The team continued to the Diocese of Bentiu, where the conference was hosted by Bishop John Jal Deng.

“Bentiu City has suffered much from the wars, the floods, the waves of internally displaced persons and refugees arriving to an already stressed location and, most recently, the cholera outbreak. Once person spoke of the repeated traumas ending with ‘and then Cholera came’. 90% of the city is still underwater and the hotel was just one of countless visible examples of the damage the war had caused. And yet another rapturous welcome awaited us, with large numbers of people singing as we descended the plane steps. We were honoured with robes and garlands and after greeting the crowds we were driven to meet the Governor of Unity State. He referred to the history of violence and the current tensions and said that he welcomed us as ‘only the church could bring the reconciliation that the country needed’.

“The Bentiu conference was also marked by attentive delegates who again worshipped passionately. Once again we had a lot of testimonies of how the ministry sessions had impacted people – even in the short time before we left. 150 certificates were given out to those who had attended the whole conference.”

Conference participants in the Diocese of Bentiu

South Sudan continues to face an uncertain future, and it is hard to see how life will become any easier for our brothers and sisters there. We have received additional invitations from other dioceses to provide Rooted in Jesus training, and we know that only personal and collective discipleship will help people build the faith they need to keep going. In a country largely forgotten by the Western world and dominated by political and social conflict it is hard to see how anything other than the gospel will bring about the transformation the country needs.

We are grateful to the team members who raised the money for their own fares and faced the challenges of travel and ministry within South Sudan with faith and courage. We are grateful to all those who prayed for the conferences each day. We are grateful for the hospitality, care and determination shown by the four diocesan bishops, who themselves live and work in exceptionally challenging circumstances. And last but not least we are grateful to the Relay Trust who provided each diocese with a grant to enable the conferences to take place.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.

Rooted in Jesus goes to Namibia!

Until now, Rooted in Jesus had been adopted by Anglican dioceses in 19 African countries. We are proud to share that in 2024 that number became 20, thanks to the ministry of Growing the Church, which oversees Rooted in Jesus in South Africa under the direction of Revd Bruce Woolley.

We have just received their latest newsletter, in which Ven Amenlenge Alleta Shikwambi reports how the first Rooted in Jesus training conference took place in the Anglican Diocese of Namibia.

Until now Rooted in Jesus has been used in Namibia by a small number of groups trained and supported by Dignity International, where it is used in the Lozi language. We are delighted that the Diocese of Namibia will now also be able to plant new discipleship groups – and look forward to praying for them as they take the programme back into their parishes.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. To find out more about its implementation in Southern Africa visit the Growing the Church website.

Posted March 2025

Remarkable growth in the Diocese of Gogrial, South Sudan

In January 2024 we sent a Rooted in Jesus team to the Diocese of Gogrial, one of the largest Dioceses in the Northern Bhar el Ghazel Internal Province and located near the border with Sudan. Spread over a huge area, it has 12 Archdeaconries, 24 Deaneries, 72 parishes and 150 sub parishes. 117 group leaders were commissioned to lead groups in their communities.

A Rooted in Jesus group meeting, Diocese of Gogrial

One year later, we have received a highly encouraging report from Revd Albino Akeen Akoon, the Diocesan Coordinator, who says that “All the group leaders and the diocesan administration met together last month to share their experiences and evaluate the programme. The groups that were formed have been going from strength to strength, though facing many difficulties. The Rooted in Jesus programme has not only provided Gospel outreach, it is now contributing to peace building in our communities, as we are visiting some far places that were inaccessible before.”

He continues: “The following are some of the achievements of RinJ in the Episcopal Diocese of Gogrial:

Group members in the Archdeaconry of Gogrial receiving their certificates and Book 2

“All the group leaders that were selected from archdeaconries and parishes are still leading their groups successfully.
Both women and men are involved equally. This means the program has been embraced by everybody in our community.
The programme has reached Christian and non-Christians directly and indirectly.
New groups have been formed and the programme has been extended to local churches outside town.
Books 1&2 have been completed and certificates have been awarded to some of the participants.
RinJ has led to the conversion of many souls; the boy in the picture was a dangerous boy in the community but is now a Christian.

Sharing testimonies, and meeting for evaluation and planning

The Episcopal Diocese of Gogrial has managed to open 7 churches this year through the help of the Rooted in Jesus training programme
The Episcopal Diocese of Gogrial has revived some of the dead churches as a result of the Rooted in Jesus training programme
Rooted in Jesus has improved the church activities in the churches in the sense that we have attached all the students undergoing this training program to many churches
This training program has helped some of the participants who were not good at reading
Now with the help of this training program, the Episcopal Diocese of Gogrial is going to create some archdeaconries because of some dead churches being revived and opened.
Rooted in Jesus has boosted and promoted the work of mission and evangelism in the Diocese.
The Diocese celebrated official opening of 4 churches in December. It was a very colourful celebration shared by the Diocesan bishop.
The help of RinJ led to open air preaching in Pan-Chum village last year”

Enjoying open air preaching; and a RinJ group meeting

South Sudan is a very challenging place in which to live and work – and yet God is clearly blessing his people there as they strive to follow Jesus. They plan now to provide additional training; they need Books 3 and 4, they need Bibles, and above all they need the peace, security and climate stability which sometimes seems such a distant hope. We continue to pray for them.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by the Mathetes Trust. The training provided in 2024 was made possible by a grant from the Relay Trust.

Posted 12th February 2025.

‘Rooted in Jesus is invading our diocese’

Antsiranana, Madagascar – a report from Odilon Rafanomezantsoa

The Diocese of Antsiranana held its first Rooted in Jesus conference in October 2024. 124 people were trained and commissioned as Rooted in Jesus group leaders, and Odilon Rafanomezantsoa and Didier Manamboatra were appointed as Diocesan Coordinators. Odilon has just sent his first detailed report on how things are going so far.

Odilon (far right) and Didier (centre) with the priest and leaders from St Matthew’s Cathedral

The Diocese has 21 parishes, including Antsiranana itself. 55 groups have started in 20 of these parishes; the other has been waiting for the appointment of a new priest.

Some of the 124 certified leaders are working together, others leading a group on their own. Nearly every group includes people who are thought to have the potential to become future leaders, thus ensuring the growth of the programme. Given the high rate of illiteracy in the rural areas, this is a considerable achievement.

One of the five groups in Anivorano Nord, and one of the two groups in Ankaramy.

In the towns most of the groups meet at the weekend, as people are busy at work during the week. These usually meet in the church, whereas those in remote rural locations which as yet have no church meet in the open air – a challenge for the leaders who have to travel there. The parish of Manambato is so remote that it is not served by bus, and it would take Odilon four days to walk there. Much of it still has no mobile network coverage, so keeping in touch with the leaders is difficult. But there is at least one group meeting in this parish.

One of two groups meeting in a rural part of the parish of Vohemar

Some of the leaders trained in October have not yet started groups, but have pledged to do so in January, and Odilon plans to visit one parish every Saturday in order to support and encourage them.

His closing comment? ‘Four months after the Rooted in Jesus conference, we can say that Rooted in Jesus is invading the Antsiranana Diocese’!

News from DR Congo

We’ve also been encouraged recently by reports from the Dioceses of Aru and Bukavu.

The Diocese of Aru

In the Diocese of Aru, Revd Emmanuel Etsegeri reports that there are now 73 active groups with more than 600 members. Some are working through Book 1, others through Book 2, and some are about to move on to Book 3, which is already available in French and Lugbara. Translations into Kakwa and Alur are in progress.

A group in Aru parish completes Book 2 of Rooted in Jesus, December 2024

Writing in French, Emmanuel says that they are proud to be part of the Anglican Communion, and grateful to be able to help people become true disciples of Jesus, particularly as they are surrounded by false doctrines which threaten to lead them astray. He says that many group members have shared personal testimonies and said how happy they are to be able to deepen their own faith and learn to minister to others.

The growth of discipleship in Aru is all the more remarkable in that the initial training was done while Covid was preventing travel, most of it by CMS missionary Peter Wyard along with a team of local trainers whom he had recruited and supported. It is this team which continues to provide the energy and commitment to sustain and grow the programme in the parishes.

The Diocese of Bukavu

Bukavu is another diocese which held its first training conference during the period of Covid – this time led by Canon Jacob Robert and a team of facilitators from Tanzania, who focussed on the missionary area of Lake Tanganyika, where missionary Bishop Elisha Tendwa is helping prepare for the launch of a new diocese. A second conference was held in 2023, this time led by Revd Amanda Johnson with a multinational team from the UK and from Burundi.

The most recent report comes from Ven Minduli Mulanda, coordinator in Lake Tanganyika, and also a trainer elsewhere; he joined the team to Burundi in 2022.

Internal training for Group Leaders in the Deanery of Uvira, September 2024

Ven Minduli says that they have 47 groups with 503 members, in 24 parishes – some on Book 1, some on Books 2 and 3, and a few on Book 4. Thanks to a donation from a parish in the UK they have been able to give Bibles to group leaders who previously lacked them, and in September and October Ven Minduli organised additional internal training for the leaders of the archdeaconries of Uvira and Bangwe. As in Antsiranana, it’s not easy to keep in touch with the group leaders, many of whom live in far flung places and do not have mobile phones. Ven Minduli has therefore appointed local coordinators in the deaneries.

In 2024 two Rooted in Jesus group leaders got married!

Looking ahead

In the next few months we have teams going out to South Sudan, Kenya and Malawi. We are grateful to all those who underpin this ministry in prayer and to those who support it financially.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. To find out how you can support Rooted in Jesus visit our website or get in touch by email. We’d be delighted to hear from you!

Posted 9th January 2025

Eight years on: A new impetus for Rooted in Jesus in the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, South Sudan

Rooted in Jesus was first introduced to the Diocese of Kajo-Keji in October 2016 at the invitation of Bishop Anthony Poggo – just before a renewal of the civil war which has taken such a deep toll on the people of South Sudan. The cathedral was burned down, violence led to famine, and by January 2017 95% of the people had been forced into exile in neighbouring Uganda. When we asked how we could best support them, Bishop Poggo’s successor Emmanuel Murye replied: ‘The believers need Rooted in Jesus at this time of distress and spiritual need. Rooted in Jesus is the only tool and way forward to nourish the Christians and make the newly born Christian grow.’

Eight years have now passed, and we were delighted to be invited back to Kajo-Keji by the current Bishop, James Lule. Continuity of vision and leadership has been maintained between successive bishops despite all the suffering and disruption – James originally oversaw the translation of Rooted in Jesus into the local language of Bari.

The Rooted in Jesus Conference, 29 Oct to 1 Nov 2024

The conference took place in the cathedral of Kajo-Keji, where 163 people were trained and commissioned to lead Rooted in Jesus groups. The team was led by Revd Mike Cotterell, with former CMS missionaries John and Cathie Rutter, the RinJ coordinator in the Diocese of Northern Uganda Revd Geoffrey Opiyo, and Andrew (AJ) Nankivell, who has worked with RinJ in South Sudan before. Revd Isaac Kenyi was appointed as Diocesan Coordinator.

Bishop James and Mama Mary with the team and the Bishop’s Chaplain

Mike Cotterell reports:

‘Even the wind and the waves obey Him’, the astonished disciples remarked! As I look back at the Conference, we saw various answers to prayer and many things just working out well – it was not a coincidence! Unseasonal rains were a potential threat, and coming as they had would have caused havoc, beating on tin roofs and upsetting outside kitchens and eating arrangements – but it only rained at night. Travel and visa arrangements can go wrong or become difficult – but they happened. The Bishop’s invitation to people from far rural places to come together could have been wrecked by any number of things – unrest, criminal activity, fear, floods – but the Conference was protected and blessed.

People came from all over the Diocese and from the refugee settlements in Moyo, Uganda. We saw the Lord at work in all this. The participants were enthusiastic, quick to learn and engaged; practice small groups went well; worship in song, dance and quiet reflection was joyful and deep. Faith was refreshed for some, new focus given to others and lots of learning, fellowship and fun were had. Everyone, clergy included, were subsistence farmers – eating what they grow. It was a rare treat for them to get together for a week with good food provided. The land, its people and infrastructure have mostly not returned to normal after the 2016 widespread unrest. Many local people remain in Uganda; returning would mean breaking their ground again and rebuilding their home from ruins.

The conference was held in the Cathedral

Reflecting, memories flood back: waving to people along the dirt roads, seeing their faces light up and wave back – it wasn’t necessary, but it said, ‘Hello, I see you, you are important’. Offering condolences to a mother waiting for her student son’s body to arrive from Juba, and have a member of the team preach the next day at the funeral. Seeing 40 become Christians at a Confirmation Service for Refugees, where 150 were confirmed. Preaching, praying, meeting people while on a kind of walkabout along a village street where bandits had traumatised the community recently. Seeing a woman who had come to the bishop’s home for help delivered of powerful evil spirits that at first refused to leave, confusing her mind and blocking her responses. She eventually asked Jesus for help and turning to him found freedom. The next morning she was a different person. Please pray for her, that she will get the pastoral care that has been planned and stand firm against the spiritual attacks. Her name is Elizabeth.

Participants get to grips with the material

Now, we have left, they all have returned home and so the real work of Rooted in Jesus in small groups really begins. It will be a quiet for a bit, little will have seemed to have changed, but in the coming months as people use this tool to help them and their groups explore and apply Scripture, and things will begin to change in Churches and communities, transformed by Word and Spirit going deep into people’s lives.

Kajo-Keji needs many programmes and resources but Christian discipleship – the application of scripture and live faith – is foundational to everything: ‘No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ’.

Team member AJ writes:

The conference was a joy. It was a privilege spending time with worshipping Christians who openly rely on God. We were hosted with care, generosity and great honesty. Around the conference we were invited to engage in the church’s wider work: praying in markets, joining an ecumenical prayer meeting and speaking at a funeral. This was a privilege and helped the team understand a little more of the pressures facing the diocese and surrounding neighbourhoods. Prayers were answered with rain being restricted to night time – until after the conference. Many participants travelled considerable distances from northern Uganda where they live in refugee camps having settled there as a result of violence in 2016.

Small groups led by participants meet to practise under the trees

Team member Revd Opiyo Geoffrey writes:

I am tremendously thankful for the trust and recognition bestowed on me to be part of the Rooted in Jesus team to handle training in the Diocese of Kajo Keji, South Sudan. The eagerness of all the trainees to get Rooted in Jesus to go and form groups right away was so encouraging. May the Lord bless Bishop James Kenyi and Mama Mary Kenyi so that they may remain blessings to many for their humility and servant leadership. They sat together with the participants and insisted on being distributed in different RinJ groups as trainees. Bishop James also ensured that the RinJ team got interwoven with the Leadership and community of Kajo Keji Sub-County; he took us to pay a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Kajo Keji, took us to mourn, to share the word of God and also to pray with the business community of Leikor where some members were attacked by unknown thugs some weeks before our arrival; he distributed the team in different churches to preach; I preached at Emmanuel Cathedral, Romogi and later to the mourners during the burial of one of the community member. All these gave us fertile ground to talk about the Rooted in Jesus discipleship programme, and to invite people to be part of it. We look forward to sharing testimonies and challenges, encouraging and praying together for effective implementation of RinJ in our two Dioceses.

A conference workshop; meeting with the suffering community

Finally…

Bishop James Lule reports: ‘The training came at the right time and I witnessed the Spirit of God working in the lives of the participants. The conference went very well and the entire clergy of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji promised to support the programme.’

He also tells us that during the feedback session at the end of the conference, the following statistics were collected. How many:

Enjoyed the conference?                                                         ALL!
Aim to start a small group                                                       At least 70
Heard God speak in a new way                                             10
Made a renewed commitment                                               35
Received physical healing                                                      40
Received spiritual healing                                                       15
Were already planning who to invite to their group        50
Were feeling nervous about leading a group                    7

Bishop James has also shared the following testimonies:

“I was hurting from previous issues. But when I arrived, and heard the teaching, my heart received peace. It was like the Holy Spirit pouring over me like water”.
“When I saw the drama about the farmer and the seed, I realised I was like the seed smothered by the weed. I had allowed a complaining spirit in me to stop my growth. I have now repented and feel renewed.”
“The picture of a goat tethered to a stake, without freedom, really spoke to me. This training was a blessing, which helped me personally. I am going back a changed person who can change the lives of others.”

163 participants were given certificates and commissioned to lead groups

We are hugely grateful to all those in the diocese who worked so hard to ensure that the conference was a success, to those who supported it so effectively in daily prayer from home, to the Diocese of Northern Uganda who printed the books for us, and to The Relay Trust who provided the diocese with a grant through the ECSS Provincial Office to enable the conference to take place. And above all, to God who calls, equips, sends and blesses his people – even in the toughest of circumstances.

Rooted in Jesus is used in the local language of Bari

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust – to find out more about the programme visit our website.

Posted 14th November 2024.

New Rooted in Jesus conferences in Madagascar

Rooted in Jesus in Madagascar: a brief history

There are 6 Anglican dioceses in Madagascar, which is part of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean. In 2011 Bishop Gilbert Rateloson of the Diocese of Fianarantsoa and Bishop Todd MacGregor of the Diocese of Toliara hosted the first Rooted in Jesus conferences in the country. They hoped that as a grassroots discipleship programme Rooted in Jesus (known as Mamaka in the Malagasy language) would help both church and lay leaders to evangelise and teach the Christian faith to ordinary believers and not-yet believers in a way that had not previously been possible. In 2021 Bishop Todd was succeeded by Bishop Samitiana Jhonson, who has continued to prioritise mission and discipleship across the diocese; both dioceses have continued to provide ongoing training and support for group leaders.

The Dioceses of Antsiranana and Toamasina

Following the 2023 conferences we were delighted to receive invitations from Bishop Jean Baptiste Jaomandiny and Bishop Jean Paul Solo to introduce Rooted in Jesus to the Dioceses of Antsiranana and Taomasina. Antsiranana lies at the far northern extremity of the island, and Toamasina on the east coast. As always in Madagascar, both dioceses cover a vast area, most of which is poorly served with roads, transport and other infrastructure. And yet, as elsewhere, the persistent ministry of the clergy and catechists is leading to church growth. For this growth to be meaningful, the bishops wish to train and equip both clergy and lay leaders with the materials necessary to enable them to teach people to become not just churchgoers, but confident disciples of Jesus who will become active in ministry to others.

The team

The Province and Rooted in Jesus are working together to build a team of national trainers who will be able to support the Rooted in Jesus programme in Madagascar. Each diocese appoints one or two Rooted in Jesus coordinators, and they in turn are supported by a network of district coordinators who maintain close links with the group leaders in each parish. This year the training team (right) consisted of two members from England, Revd Dr Alison Morgan and Revd Dr John Eldridge, and two members from the Diocese of Fianarantsoa: Revd Jean Flobert and Miss Keziah Rateloson. Revd Flobert is the diocesan coordinator for Fianarantsoa, where he has more than 10 years experience of the programme; he was a member of the training team last year in Toliara. Keziah is the daughter of Bishop Gilbert Rateloson; a university student, she acted as one of our translators last year and leads a Rooted in Jesus group in her home diocese, where she is also a Scout leader. We enjoyed working together, each bringing our own experiences to the team and rejoicing in our complementarity and diversity.

Antsiranana: the first conference

The first conference took place in St Matthew’s cathedral, Antsiranana (below). Bishop Jaomandiny had invited 150 leaders from every parish in the diocese. Just over 40 of these were clergy, and 110 were lay leaders, including catechists, evangelists, Mothers Union, Fathers Association and Youth leaders.

The atmosphere in the conference was exceptional. Often people arrive feeling a bit shy, and uncertain what to expect. In Antsiranana they threw themselves straight into the conference, listening attentively, sharing their responses and asking questions, participating fully in the group activities and frequently bursting into vibrant and heart-warming worship (enjoy this on Facebook). Bishop Jaomandiny opened the conference and was present for most of the sessions; the Dean arranged to borrow plastic chairs from another church so that people could divide easily into small groups; a small gathering of dedicated women led by the Bishop’s wife Neny Victorine conjured generous meals out of the improvised outdoor kitchen; and participants emerged smiling each morning from their accommodation in the outbuildings of the cathedral compound.

The conference followed the usual format. Each day began with a short morning devotion, leading into a plenary teaching session. These were followed by practice groups in which the participants were divided into 15 groups to try out the material for themselves; the team began with a demonstration of the first lesson and then provided feedback to the volunteer leaders who led subsequent sessions. After a lunch break we offered three workshops, repeated daily in rotating groups so that everybody was able to attend all three: one on how to lead a RinJ group, one on pastoral care and one on prayer. This was followed by a time of ministry, because we think it important that each leader should be equipped not just materially and didactically but also spiritually for the task ahead. A final session was led by the coordinators, who helped everyone work out what support and accountability would be provided and required once they got home.

The conference ended with a commissioning by Bishop Jaomandiny, who asked each person present to commit to leading a group in their church or parish, and required lay leaders to formally state their willingness to do this; the clergy, of course, had already committed themselves to following his leadership. All 150 delegates were then given a training certificate and copies of the Leaders’ Introduction and Book 1. Books 2, 3 & 4 will be provided as they are needed.

Bishop Jaomandiny appointed two diocesan coordinators: Local businessman Odilon Rafanombzamtsoa, a local businessman (above R), who will be assisted by Didier Manamboatra, an English teacher (above L).

For the team, the next few days provided the opportunity to visit both the Montagne d’Ambre National Park, where we were joined by the Bishop and his family and the Diocesan Chancellor; and the coast, where we were able to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Indian Ocean. On Sunday we were invited to visit the parish of Anivorano Nord, where the parish priest is Revd Joavula, brother to Revd Flobert and one of the two representatives the bishop sent to the conference in Fianarantsoa last year to find out more about Rooted in Jesus. Miles of unpaved roads led us to a small building which doubles both as a family home and as a church (below); here we were greeted by about 50 members from two of the seven churches in the parish who had come together with a great air of festivity for the occasion. Alison was invited to preach, a meal of rice and chicken was provided for all, and happy chatter, worship and dancing continued for most of the afternoon.

Toamasina: the second conference

On Tuesday morning we flew, courtesy of MAF, direct from Antsiranana to Toamasina, where we were greeted by the Diocesan Administrator and taken straight to a Chinese restaurant, where Bishop Solo explained that the proprietor was an Anglican whose business they wished to support. After a magnificent meal of fish cooked in two different ways and beautifully presented, we were taken to the Palais des Roses, a hotel owned by another Anglican, where we enjoyed exceptional comfort for the next week.

The conference began on the following morning: held not in the cathedral but a half hour drive away up in the hills, where the diocese owns a 200 hectare plot, most of which is still forested. Here there is a small church, a modern training centre with three spacious classrooms, a school, and various other buildings which provided accommodation for those participants who did not live locally. Despite the startling peacefulness and beauty of this central location, many participants had had to travel for three days by bus and on foot to come to Toamasina, from the same kind of scattered rural locations and over the same variety of unpaved roads and tracks as their colleagues in Antsiranana. All had arrived smiling, and all, as in Antsiranana, threw themselves straight into the conference with unfettered cheerfulness and an openness to whatever it was that the Lord had prepared for them. Due to an unfortunate hold-up with the funding, invitations had been issued only very recently, so we were relieved that 117 people had nonetheless been able to join us, including 13 from the cathedral.

The conference followed the same pattern as in Antsiranana, with workshops taking place in the training centre and the practice groups mostly outside under the protective shade of the trees. Participants ranged in age from a retired priest in his 70s to a pair of smiling identical twins who looked to be in their early 20s. All were equally engaged with the conference, and all promised to start groups back at home – including one Youth leader who said he came from a parish with 7 churches led by 7 catechists, none of whom had been able to travel to Toamasina; he planned to invite them all to join his group, and expressed his confidence that they would accept.

The catering for the conference was ably managed by Bishop Solo’s wife Neny Danielle and their daughter Daniella, who had come to stay for a week specially for the purpose. Generous quantities of rice, chicken, fish, salad and fruit appeared at regular intervals, served on tables decorated with fresh flowers or covered with a single leaf as a tablecloth, and ending with an open air picnic where everybody sat in parish groups on mats on the grass.

Bishop Solo closed the conference with a formal commissioning, in which he too invited every delegate to raise their arm and make a prayerful commitment to start a group when they got home. Many were young, and few have done anything like this before, so the ongoing support of the two coordinators, Revd Jimmy Fridels Randranasolo and Revd Marlin Fety (above right) will be very important.

On Sunday we were pleased to be able to attend worship at St James Cathedral, where Alison was again invited to preach. The main service takes place at 6am, and the cathedral was full – with between 450 and 500 people present. Bishop Solo asked the 13 group leaders who had attended the conference to stand, and explained that they would be inviting the first 150 people to join groups very soon. After the service we were honoured to be taken out for lunch by members of the Cathedral committee.

Giving thanks

After another day of rest, we left for the capital Antananarivo the following afternoon, Flobert remaining to spend time with family members. Keziah was met at the airport by her sister, and John and Alison left the next day, having been delighted in the meantime to have breakfast with Fr Darrell Critch, a Canadian who is about to be installed as the bishop of the Diocese of Mahajanga. We hope that once he has settled in and when the time is right, we may have the opportunity to serve there too.

We are hugely grateful to Bishop Jaomandiny and Bishop Solo for making all the practical arrangements for the conferences, and to them, their families and the church members who offered us hospitality during our visit. We are also grateful to those who translated for Alison and John, to all those who prayed for us each day during our stay, to the Relay Trust who provided each diocese with a grant to enable them to hold the conferences, and to Revd Donné and Neny Vero of the Diocese of Toliara who printed the books. Last but not least, I would like to thank John, Flobert and Keziah for their unstinting commitment to making both conferences a success.

Alison Morgan, Director, Rooted in Jesus

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. To find out more visit our website at www.rootedinjesus.net.

Posted 7th October 2024

Revd John Jamuth reports from the Diocese of Maiwut, South Sudan

The Diocese of Maiwut is located in the NW of South Sudan, on the border with Ethiopia. Rooted in Jesus was introduced to the diocese in January 2023. By the end of the year 117 groups had completed the first two books, and all the group leaders had met together to share their experiences and evaluate the programme. This led to a request for a follow-up conference, which was held in January 2024 and attended by most of the existing leaders along with 50 training for the first time.

The Rooted in Jesus team, January 2024

The groups have gone from strength to strength, and we are delighted to pass on the following report just received from Revd John Jamuth, the Diocesan Coordinator:

“The Rooted in Jesus programme has not provided the Gospel outreach only, the team has provided a lasting friendship for both children and adults. Everywhere I visited, the people kept asking where the Rooted in Jesus team is. I smile beautifully knowing that a strong connection has been made. The group leaders and those attended the conference were still had a memories of the training and stories shared during the conference.

A Rooted in Jesus group now working through Book 3

“The coordinator team are busy visiting group leaders and encouraged those who had difficulties. Further to this, the translation team has finished the translation of the Rooted in Jesus Junior book 1 (a course in Christian Discipleship for children). The translation team has now started book 2.

Achievements:

166 group leaders are still leading their groups successfully
Rooted in Jesus Junior Book 1 – translation for children has finished
Church and community: both women and men involved equally
The programme has reached Christian and non-Christians directly and indirectly
New groups have been formed well
Books 1&2 have been completed and certificates have been awarded.”

A RinJ Womens’ group and a RinJ Youth Group have also moved on to Book 3

This report was prepared by Rev. John Jamuth Pathot, Diocese of Maiwut, Rooted in Jesus – Coordinator

Approved by: Bishop Peter Gatbel Kunen Lual, Diocesan Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Maiwut

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. We are particularly grateful to The Relay Trust for sponsoring the conferences in Maiwut.

Posted 29 July 2024

Rooted in Jesus news

We have continued to receive encouraging reports and ongoing requests for prayer from those using Rooted in Jesus. Recent news includes:

Uganda

In the Diocese of South Rwenzori coordinator William Musisi has sent a video report from St John’s, Kishenga, where 268 Sunday School children (below) recently completed the first book of Rooted in Jesus Junior and were awarded certificates. We have posted William’s video on our Facebook page.

In the Diocese of Northern Uganda, which held its first RinJ conference in January, Simon Cawdell reports: “The Rooted in Jesus course is growing across the diocese, and some groups are now moving on to book two which is very encouraging. We are also receiving requests for training from those that missed out this time around which is an encouragement. The co-ordinator, Rev Opiyo Geoffrey is presently touring the diocese to support groups and ascertain progress. We are reconvening the translation group to start on book three so that we are well prepared for the next stage in discipleship development. It was great to hear from an archdeacon on one of the visits I did that the course was transforming the life of his parish and more people are coming to church as a result.”

South Sudan

In the Diocese of Nyamlel coordinator William Tong reports: “We have already finished book one in April; now we have distributed book two. The groups are stronger and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday I was in Langic archeaconry for the group Rooted in Jesus. It was great! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is going well in Langic archeaconry (photo below). Rooted in Jesus will be number one in Nyamlel diocese because I am encouraged by Bishop Peter Garang Akuei. And now we have started book two.”

In the Diocese of Gogrial Bishop Abraham Ngor reports: “The ‘Rooted in Jesus’ conference has positive impacts in the the Episcopal Diocese of Gogrial due to the fact that it has led to the opening of four new churches and many new converts.”

DR Congo

In the Missionary area of Lake Tanganyika, Diocese of Bukavu, Coordinator Minduli Mulanda reports that the archdeaconry and deanery coordinators continue to provide support to the group leaders in each parish. “Some are on book 2, others on book 3, and a few on book 4.” Uvira Deanery Coordinator Ezekiel has been visiting groups and offering ongoing training. He writes that two RinJ group leaders in the parishes of Kigongo and Kalonge have married one another!

Elsewhere

We have also received recent news from Madagascar, Burundi and Mozambique.

Bibles have been given to group leaders in the Diocese of Zambezia, Mozambique
New training is planned in the Diocese of Niassa in August, with books being printed for the first time in Swahili for those who need them.
Book 2 in Kirundi has been printed in Bujumbura for those leading groups in the Dioceses of Rutana and Buhiga.
Adult and Junior groups are going from strength to strength at St Mark’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Fianarantsoa, Madagascar, where the number of children attending has increased from 20 to 70 and the adult group (right) has completed Book 2. And the Team Manual has now been translated for the first time into Malagasy in preparation for the conferences to be held later this year.
In many places, translators are continuing to work on new local language versions of the leaders’ booklets so that everyone can follow the programme in their mother tongue.

New Malagasy edition of the Rooted in Jesus Team Manual

We are looking forward to a new series of conferences currently being planned for the autumn in Madagascar and South South Sudan.

Posted June 2024.

Rooted in Jesus Annual Report 2023

We are pleased to say that we have just published our annual report for the year 2023.

It’s now 21 years since Rooted in Jesus was created for the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. During that time we have facilitated more than 200 training conferences for over 100 Anglican dioceses and denominational networks in 18 African countries. Rooted in Jesus has been translated into 50 languages, and Rooted in Jesus Junior into 10 – and more are on the way.

Over the years we have faced many challenges – how to finance it, how to staff it, how best to support it once it has been introduced. Demand for Rooted in Jesus seems to increase year on year, and we now find ourselves ministering in increasingly challenging places. In 2023 we were asked to run conferences in South Sudan, DR Congo, Mozambique and Madagascar – all countries scarred by conflict, afflicted by famine and often subject to devastating floods and cyclones.

It is, and has always been, a huge privilege to be able to make a small contribution to the lives of ordinary people in these often forgotten places. We could not do this without the support, prayer and active participation of many people – and as we head into another year we want to take this opportunity to say thank you: for all that is past, and for all that is yet to come.

The report can be downloaded here. And to catch up with other recent news visit the Mathetes Trust blog here.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.

Travelling to forgotten places : The Diocese of Maiwut, South Sudan

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 2023. 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.

Rooted in Jesus in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal Internal Province, South Sudan

As part of an ongoing commitment to bringing Rooted in Jesus to all of the dioceses of the Internal Province, three Rooted in Jesus conferences were held in January and February:

An Introductory conference in the Diocese of Gogrial, hosted by Bishop Abraham Ngor Mangong and held in Kuajok Cathedral

An Introductory conference in the Area Diocese of Tonj East, hosted by Bishop’s Commissary Revd Peter Aleu Kok and held in Romic Church

A hybrid Follow-up conference, with some Introductory elements for new leaders, in the Diocese of Nyamlel, hosted by Bishop Peter Garang Akuei and held in Nyamlel Cathedral

The conference locations in the Northern Province relative to the capital, Juba

Team Leader Barry Blackford reports:

‘The bishops had sent out invitations to church pastors and evangelists, leaders of the Mothers Union, Sunday School and youth groups as well as the students from the ECSS Colleges in Gogrial and Nyamlel. Across the 3 conferences we commissioned 331 new leaders as well as recommissioning 27 existing leaders in Nyamlel.

The teaching was provided by two visitors from the UK, Revd Barry Blackford and Revd David Wood, working alongside two experienced South Sudanese Rooted in Jesus Coordinators, Ven Yosefate Datiro Minaye from Nzara and Revd John Akok Akok from Aweil. The final team member was Revd Joseph Uyu, the Internal Province’s Adult Discipleship Programme Coordinator, who joined us in Gogrial.

Rooted in Jesus Coordinators were commissioned in each Diocese: Revd Albino Akeen Akoon in Gogrial; Revd Peter Aleu Kok in Tonj East; and Revd William Tong Atak in Nyamlel. The Rooted in Jesus group leaders’ books were all printed to a high standard in South Sudan in the primary language of Dinka Rek.

History

‘South Sudan is the newest nation in the world, having become independent from Sudan in 2011 after decades of fighting. Since independence, the country has suffered from a protracted civil war, a major famine and, more recently, severe flooding and the effect this has on the food supply. Whilst the security situation has improved there are still inter-tribal conflicts with over one hundred deaths in Warrap state alone, which includes Gogrial and Tonj Dioceses, in the first five weeks of 2024. The problem has been exacerbated by the influx of a large number of displaced persons fleeing the Sudanese civil war, adding to those internally displaced by the flooding.

The Episcopal Church is a relative newcomer to the Greater Bahr el Ghazal area, but has experienced rapid growth, especially since independence. Under the leadership of Archbishop Moses Deng Bol it has grown from a single diocese to seven dioceses, with another five Area Dioceses which will in the future become dioceses in their own right. Archbishop Moses is a visionary leader who has long recognised the need to create disciples rather than just converts. A few years ago, he decided that Rooted in Jesus would be the main programme for developing individuals in their faith and for evangelism – an approach which is strongly supported by his bishops.

The Conferences

‘On the way in from the airport to Kuajok Cathedral, Bishop Abraham had said that the people of Gogrial Diocese were really excited by our visit as it was the first time that somebody from Europe had come to teach and encourage them since the establishment of the Diocese. Nothing quite prepared us for the demonstration of that excitement and the welcome that we were going to receive. We were still nearly about a kilometre from the Cathedral when we saw a procession coming down the road. This was the welcome party led by the most colourful processional cross that any of us had seen. It was not possible to continue in our vehicle and so we walked at the head of the procession for the remainder of the distance to the Cathedral where we were welcomed and spent time in worship. Despite some attendees not being able to make the journey due to the tribal troubles that were occurring across Gogrial Diocese, the joy and the desire to learn more about following Jesus and how to share their faith were far greater than we had seen before. This joy and desire was reflected in Tonj East and in Nyamlel, where the welcomes were just as warm and enthusiastic, albeit without the procession!

Delegates at Kuajok Cathedral, Diocese of Gogrial

The 4-day Introductory Conferences in Gogrial and Tonj East followed the same pattern. For the first three mornings we started with Worship followed by Teaching through the use of plenary sessions, illustrative demonstrations, discussions and times of prayer. We concluded the morning with a Group activity. On the first morning, after a light-hearted demonstration of how not to lead a group, the team led the groups to demonstrate this new approach to teaching that some of the pastors initially found difficult to adjust to. On the following two mornings, attendees were selected by the bishop or his commissary to lead the small groups of ten to twelve members. The final morning concluded with a Commissioning service after the Teaching session. In the afternoons there were Workshops on leadership, pastoral care and prayer and these were followed by a Ministry time of Bible reflection and prayer.

The 3-day Follow-up Conference in Nyamlel followed the same basic format as the Introductory conferences. The Introductory Conference had been held in November 2022 and a mango tree had been planted to commemorate the introduction of Rooted in Jesus and a reminder that if we are rooted in Jesus then we will grow and bear fruit. Yosafate, David and Barry went to inspect the tree with Bishop Peter.

Conference delegates after the Commissioning in Romic, Diocese of Tonj

Reflection

‘The enthusiasm of the participants and the vision of the bishops left the team feeling very encouraged that the Rooted in Jesus training was so enthusiastically received and plans made to implement Rooted in Jesus groups in the parishes. It was reported back to us that the weekend after we left Nyamlel saw the launch of nine new Rooted in Jesus groups.

These three dioceses are all, essentially, missionary dioceses with very little by way of resources but they all have one great resource which more than overcomes any deficit: the people. Their love of God, warmness of heart and generosity towards others was the greatest resource one could ask for. Speaking of their generosity, in Tonj East they had clubbed together to buy the team a farewell present: a goat and two chickens!

The team were very grateful for all those who had willingly given their time to help make these conferences such a success and we all came away feeling that we had a bit of our hearts behind and that part of each of the dioceses will be in our hearts. We would also like to thank those who had been praying for us, especially when we had a few problems along the way.’

The Rooted in Jesus tree and the gift of a goat and chickens in the Diocese of Nyamlel

Barry’s UK colleague Revd David Wood was interviewed on Cumbria Crack radio on his return, available on their website here.

Feedback

We have been encouraged by the responses to the conferences, both from participants at the time and from the host dioceses afterwards. Please join with us in continuing to pray for them.

May I take this golden opportunity to thank Rooted in Jesus as a Christian organisation for reaching places which have never been reached in the world. No missionaries have ever come to this place therefore people are thirsty for the gospel. The Bible says a sick person is the one who needs the doctor. Rooted in Jesus is the doctor!
Bishop Peter Yuol, Diocese of Tonj

We really thank and appreciate your support and commitment of sending your Rooted in Jesus team to come and facilitate the conference in our Diocese. The conference was so colourful and many Christians who attended the conference got transformed.
Revd Albion Akeen, Diocesan Coordinator, Diocese of Gogrial

We had a wonderful conference and many of our Christians enjoyed the training as well. We were very much impressed for the work done by your team. We thank God for this partnership between the leadership of Rooted In Jesus and the Diocese of Nyamlel
Bishop Peter Garang, Diocese of Nyamlel

We are grateful to the Relay Trust who provided a grant to each diocese to help with the conference costs, and to all those who prayed daily for the team while they were there. South Sudan is not an easy place in which to work!

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. For more information about Rooted in Jesus visit our website.

Rooted in Jesus Northern Uganda

The Diocese of Northern Uganda held its first Rooted in Jesus conference from 30^th January to 2^nd February. The conference was opened by Bishop Godfrey Loum, and hosted by Preb Simon Cawdell. Simon, who is himself an experienced Rooted in Jesus leader, is now serving with CMS as the Diocesan Holistic Discipleship Officer.

The conference was held at Gulu Primary School, a church day and boarding school located within the diocesan compound in Gulu, and was attended by 245 participants, including a group from the neighbouring Diocese of Nebbi and a representative from the Diocese of Kitgum. Teaching was provided by three visitors from the UK working alongside Simon, three members of staff from Archbishop Janani Luwum Theological College (of which Sarah Cawdell is the Principal), and the Head of the Vocational Training Institute.

Revd Geoffrey Opiyo was appointed as Diocesan Rooted in Jesus Coordinator, working with Revd Zachariah Otto who is the Head of Mission. He will be supported by a team of 9 archdeaconry coordinators who in turn will work with a local coordinator in each parish. The conference closed with a commissioning service and a rousing address by Bishop Godfrey.

Members of the translation team (Revd Caroline Aber, Revd Zachariah Otto, Revd Geoffrey Opiyo)

History

Northern Uganda has an uncomfortable history. From the late 1980s the whole region was subjected to a period of violent armed conflict as the so-called Lord’s Resistance Army engaged in guerilla warfare against the national government, committing atrocities against local people, raiding schools and villages and abducting children to serve as child soldiers. After more than 20 years of suffering during which nearly 1.7 million people were forced into refugee camps, peace was finally restored to the region – where the process of rebuilding shattered lives is inevitably still ongoing.

The gospel is not new to this part of what is now Uganda. It was first shared by CMS with the Acholi people who are the majority here in 1903, leading to the creation of a strong Anglican presence in the region. The Diocese of Northern Uganda was created in 1961, and in 2021 Bishop Godfrey Loum became its 8^th bishop, quoting 2 Timothy 2.2 and committing himself to ‘preach the Word, to be prepared in season and out of season, to correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.’ This was the charge which he now repeated to those training as leaders of the new Rooted in Jesus discipleship groups, welcoming the programme as part of the diocesan vision and reminding them of the great commission with which Jesus left his closest followers: to ‘make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’

The conference

None of the pain which people still carry within them was visible on the surface as 250 people gathered joyfully in the open, grassy centre of Gulu Primary School under eight marquees elegantly decorated with white and purple cloth. A large red-flowered terebinth tree provided a living demonstration of how a tree with deep roots can produce leaves, buds, flowers and fruit. The Theological College had closed for the week so that all the students could attend the training; Simon had already introduced them to Rooted in Jesus, and 14 had volunteered to lead participants in small groups through Module 1 Lesson 1 of the programme.

Over the next few mornings the team offered plenary sessions on the nature of discipleship, on the resources provided to us by the Holy Spirit, and on the realistic expectations of ministry as explained by Jesus in the Parable of the Sower. As ever, the teaching was interspersed with small group discussion, practical illustration and times of prayer, and followed by small group practice sessions in which participants began to experience the Rooted in Jesus programme for themselves.

In the afternoons participants were divided into 9 groups for workshops led by the visiting team and the college staff on how to get going as a group leader, on pastoral care and on the life of prayer. Classrooms were used for some of these, with others carrying their chairs to shady locations in the ample school grounds. Each day finished with a time of Bible reflection and ministry.

In between all that, generous and tasty meals were provided by a team working from the open air school kitchens, and people took advantage of the opportunity to get to know one another in the first gathering they had had since the restrictions of the Covid pandemic had come to an end. It is difficult, it turns out, to stop the Acholi people from dancing, and spare moments were soon occupied – in the relentless 35 degree heat of the dry season – by vigorous and joyful expressions of dance and song. On the third day an Alur speaking participant named Joy shared that she had received the words and melody of a Rooted in Jesus song as she had been praying that morning. She taught it to the entire conference, and it was sung at the closing ceremony (listen to it here!).

Language was interesting, with the majority of participants speaking Acholi but a sizeable minority speaking Alur. A third group will use Rooted in Jesus in Lugbara. All of these are Nilotic languages, and sound quite different from the Bantu languages of the south. The Acholi translations were done by a team from this diocese; those into Alur and Lugbara had already been completed by a team from the Diocese of Aru in DR Congo. The books were printed locally to a high standard.

Books were printed in Alur, Acholi and Lugbara

Reflection

This was the largest single conference we have ever run, made possible only thanks to the committed and active participation of the college, school and diocesan staff. The conference itself had been preceded by a diocesan-wide roadshow, with every archdeaconry being visited, prepared and invited to send a participant from each parish. Mattresses had been hired, food bought, registration was carefully recorded, and certificates awarded to those who committed themselves to starting a group (which in the event was all of them). The blended visiting and local teaching team enjoyed working together, the college students rose magnificently to the task of translating the sessions into Acholi and Alur, and everyone went home with a smile on their face. For the UK team – Alison Morgan, Roger Fenton and Hazel Aucken – it was a great privilege to be part of the ministry of this dynamic and ambitious diocese for a few days, and wonderful to be given the opportunity to visit Murchison Falls National Park on the way home. We remain hugely grateful to the team of people who committed themselves to praying for the conference, and are glad to hear that, just one week later, groups have already started and plans for follow-up are being put in place.

Conference participants and facilitators

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.
To find out more visit the Rooted in Jesus website.

Posted 13th February 2024

The Diocese of Maiwut

Much of the ministry of Rooted in Jesus over the last few years has been in South Sudan, the youngest country in the world. The most recent conference was held in the far north of the country, in the Diocese of Maiwut, at the invitation of Bishop Peter Gatbel.

Coordinator John Jamuth explains:

“Gaining independence in 2011 brought more freedom of worship, fellowship and discipleship to entire Christian populations in South Sudan. Maiwut diocese was born as the result of freedom of religious expression and worship. It’s one of the youngest Dioceses in the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. Because of its location the Diocese has very limited connection with church and international partners to support the ministry and development of the diocese.”

We were therefore delighted to be able to send a Rooted in Jesus team to help the people of Maiwut establish their programme of Christian discipleship. The team was led by Tim Wambunya, formerly bishop of the Diocese of Butere in Kenya, which has been using Rooted in Jesus for some years; Tim now leads the multi-cultural church of St Paul’s, Slough. The conference was opened by the Hon. James Zan Chol, Deputy Commissioner of Maiwut county, and attended by church leaders from every archdeaonry in the two counties which make up the diocese.

The team (Nadeem, Tim, Dave and Andrew), Bishop Peter and Mrs Gatbel, Coordinator John Jamuth

Team Leader Tim Wambunya reports:

“One hundred and five people attended the conference, including about ten from other denominations in Maiwut. They were clergy, evangelists, mothers’ union members and youth. All one hundred and five received certificates and books. In addition, we had about two thousand people attend the Sunday service. This included the government Deputy Commissioner and some denominational leaders.

“The training was very well received. Participants were consistent in attending every day and keen to return to their churches to begin small groups. By the end of the conference, the delegates had nicknamed me ‘mot matut’, which means ‘small groups’ in the Nuer language. There was singing and dancing at the graduation, and the Rooted in Jesus coordinator sent a conference report to the UK team just one week after the conference – a remarkable achievement given the challenges in communication and finding a computer and internet. So it seems the diocese has got off to a great start and a strong foundation laid for Rooted in Jesus.”

Worship and teaching

What next?

One month later John Jamuth was able to report that he had been visiting group leaders in their own locations. He writes: “It was a blessing for me as they accepted Rooted in Jesus discipleship training in Maiwut centre, bomas and villages.” John has now told us that seventy-five groups have completed the first book and are moving on to the second book.

We look forward to continuing to support the ministry of Maiwut. “We have achieved very little,” John explained, “because we have no resources, and war and floods have greatly affected the community. The bishop and clergy have no salary and other means of support. We request the Rooted in Jesus team to return to Maiwut, we felt your wisdom, love and discipleship will change our community.”

That is our prayer too.

In Maiwut, Rooted in Jesus is used in the Nuer language.

Can you help?

If you would like to help us provide ongoing support to the Diocese of Maiwut, please make use of the short cuts on the right hand side of this page, or visit our support page where you will find and a gift aid / standing order form and the address to which to return it. We hope to return to Maiwut in 2024.

Photos by David Ridge and John Jamuth.
Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.

Rooted in Jesus Annual Report for 2022

We are pleased to let you know that we have now published the Rooted in Jesus Annual Report for 2022; it can be downloaded here.

The ending of the Covid19 travel restrictions led to a very busy year, with a record 23 Rooted in Jesus conferences taking place in 8 African countries. No fewer than seven of these were in South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, where Anglican churches are placing an increasing emphasis on discipleship as a tool for both consolidation and growth.

We remain grateful to all those who have given their time and resources to make this possible, and look forward, along with our partners in Tanzania and South Africa, to continuing to serve our brothers and sisters across the continent in the coming year.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. To find out more click here.

The Crocodile was kind to me…

“The crocodile was kind to me, I stopped swimming and he continued down stream. I used to get beaten everyday for being late for school – boys were not allowed to use boats, I had to swim across the river with my books above my head… This is where I started school; we just wrote the alphabet with our fingers in the sand and the teacher would put a tick in the sand.” Bishop Joseph Mamer of the Diocese of Wanyjok had taken us to the area of his birth and early years, team leader Mike Cotterell writes; there was no bridge then, nor was there a market, nor displaced people in temporary shelters. Visits to places and stories about lives are so powerful.

Life in South Sudan has not got easier. The Rooted in Jesus team ministering in the Diocese of Nyamlel, Aweil and Wanyjok faced difficulties caused not by crocodiles but by the touch-and-go nature of local flights, by flooded roads, damaged buildings, hungry people and a lack of electric light. Many participants had walked miles through swamped fields to attend the conferences, despite the devastation caused to their homes and crops; but prayer was heartfelt and worship vibrant. One man gave thanks for the healing of his feet, which had swollen after he had spent three days walking and wading through floods; a woman who had been unable to stand found after prayer that she was able to walk alone.

One Province, two weeks, three conferences

First stop for the team – Mike Cotterell, Luka Lual, Andrew Nankivell and Leslie Siu – was the Diocese of Nyamlel, founded only three years ago and part of the Internal Province of Northern Barh El Ghazal. Bishop Peter Garang, who was present throughout the four day conference, had written: “It requires more training in order to equip and empower church leaders such as lay readers, evangelists, pastors, elders and youth who must be able to do mission and evangelism properly in their respective parishes across the Episcopal Diocese of Nyamlel.”

A hundred people attended the conference, including three women who arrived and announced “We were not selected to come to the conference, we walked all day to get here and waddled through water waist deep, we don’t want a certificate, we will eat our own food and sleep somewhere, we just want the training.” They received both the training and certificates! Afterwards Bishop Peter wrote: “It is my prayer that those participants who received the basic biblical knowledge and skills during Rooted in Jesus Conference have been touched by the power of the Holy Spirit to start Rooted in Jesus small groups in their respective parishes across the Diocese of Nyamlel.”

Next stop was the Diocese of Aweil. This was a return visit, a follow-up conference for those who were trained last year. “Our journey from Nyamlel to Aweil was uneventful in local terms,” writes team member Leslie Siu; “having to stop and weave our way through herds of cattle, long stretches of dusty tracks with bumps that mean I’m unlikely to complain about potholes in British roads ever again, and seeing many people walking for seemingly endless miles in the baking hot sun.” 84 people turned up to the conference which was hosted by Canon William Aguer and Coordinator John Akok, as Bishop Abraham was receiving medical treatment elsewhere. John reported that many of the 60 groups initially established in the parishes of Aweil town had been interrupted by the recent flooding, and the hope is that the impetus provided by the conference will help them resume once the waters go down.

John Akok with one of the Rooted in Jesus groups in Aweil

The third and final conference took place in the Diocese of Wanyjok – another newly formed diocese. This too was a return conference, providing encouragement and support to those trained last year, and offering training to 50 additional leaders. This is Luka Lual’s home diocese, and he reported that 100 groups had been established after the introductory conference last year, and all had been making good progress, with many of them working through the second book – though once again many had been forced to suspend meeting due to the long period of extensive and unusual flooding which had made roads impassable, and caused crops to fail, people to be cut off or displaced, and houses to fall down.

Lesli Siu writes: “Our time in Wanyjok was a brilliant final stop to the trip. The conference largely took place under a huge tree Christians have been gathering under for many years. Situated next to a local church school, we regularly had school children coming by to see what was happening. Once again, our gathered times of worship were punctuated by the lively demeanour of the older women who often led the way in joyful song and dance.”

Worshipping beneath the tree in Wanyjok

Afterwards Bishop Joseph Mamer, who was present throughout the conference, wrote: “Everyone was touched, I felt that the Holy Spirit was moving during the conference. I remember one woman got healed as she confessed, another woman whose six children died also gave her life to Christ after many years of following and consulting witchcraft, spearmaster, many evil things, those are very significant. Young youth were also challenged, their lives got changed. We remain grateful and it is our prayer that this program will continue, as I have realized that it’s one of the best tools to bring about transformation and change in our youngest growing diocese of Wanyjok. We pray that this program will flourish into bigger development and growth.”

Filling the gaps

In between the conference sessions, the team were able to spend time engaging with the local children, who were on holiday from school. In Nyamlel, while participants worked in small groups, Mike and Andrew played with a group which began with just a few children but soon grew into a crowd of 40. The next afternoon they ran an impromptu session of gospel teaching with actions, stories, drama and games, and in Wanyjok they led a session in the church school and visited the Bible College.On Sundays they were invited to preach at the cathedrals and in local churches. The mission concluded in Juba with a meeting with a number of bishops who were gathering for their annual conference, and a debrief session with Archbishop Moses Deng.

Luka Lual teaching the children; the Nyamlel Mothers Union; Bishop Peter Garang awarding certificates

Afterword

Mike Cotterell reflects: “South Sudan is often not a comfortable place to live in. But, WOW didn’t we meet loads of people who were hungry for teaching and very welcoming! The Bishop of Aweil was not with us, due to hospitalisation abroad, but the involvement of the other Bishops at nearly everything was very valuable along with senior clergy, who were also engaged and often willing to lead small groups. The most exciting and excitable group at each conference were those from the Mother’s Union, who sang and danced the loudest and longest. The times of meditation and prayer were often extremely still and often long, as people waited on God and prayed and listened to him, often reluctant to finish.”

But perhaps the last word should go to Bishop Peter Garang, who closed the conference in Nyamlel with a powerful reminder to those joyfully receiving their certificates: “The devil is not frightened of a certificate; you need to actually do the work!”

We have committed to praying for them as they do so.

Left: The team – Andrew Nankivell, Mike Cotterell (team leader), Luka Lual and Leslie Siu
Right – click to read Leslie’s detailed report

We hope to return to South Sudan next year, but this will depend not just on the local situation but also on our financial resources. If you would like to help support the ministry of Rooted in Jesus in South Sudan you can do so by clicking on the orange CAF button in the right hand margin of this page – or just follow the link here.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by the Mathetes Trust, a UK Registered Charity.

Rooted in Jesus returns to South Sudan

Of all the countries where Rooted in Jesus has been adopted as the primary strategy for teaching Christian discipleship, South Sudan is the most challenging in which to minister. Created only 11 years ago after more than 20 years of civil war, South Sudan is the world’s youngest country. The Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) was quick to plan for the future, and over the next couple of years Rooted in Jesus was introduced to the Anglican dioceses of Nzara, Wau and Yambio. Groups were established, and hopes were high.

The first RinJ conference in South Sudan, Diocese of Nzara, March 2012

But in 2013 a new civil war broke out, and over the next 5 years tens of thousands of people were killed or displaced. After a prolonged period of negotiation a peace agreement was signed in 2018, and whilst South Sudan remains a difficult country to visit, we have been able to continue our support for the Anglican church there. The ending of the Covid19 travel restrictions last year made it possible to accept invitations from the Dioceses of Aweil and Wanyjok, and in May this year we were able to send a team to the Dioceses of Maridi and Yambio. In October a further team led by Barry Blackford ran conferences in Wau and Tonj, and in November Mike Cotterell took a team to offer follow-up conferences in Aweil and Wanyjok, and an introductory conference in Nyamlel.

This report covers the recent conferences in the Dioceses of Wau and Tonj.

The Diocese of Wau

As we prayed for Barry, Derreck, Diana (from the UK), John and Yosefate (from Aweil and Nzara) we became increasingly aware of the difficulties posed by the lack of many of the things we take for granted. South Sudan has few roads, so internal travel has to be by air – and flights are hard to book and liable to change at short notice. Electricity is a bonus, accommodation basic, and clean drinking water not always available. Most people speak and teach in Dinka (into which the leader’s booklets had been painstakingly translated), but not all can read it. Food insecurity is a constant problem, recently exacerbated not only by the suspension of the UN food aid programme following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but also by serious flooding which had washed away almost all locally grown crops.

Despite these difficulties, 85 people turned up to the first conference, which ran for four days. A lifetime of civil war isn’t good for morale, pastors are not paid for their ministry, and food insecurity zaps the spirit. The team sensed spiritual weariness and a sense of pervasive passivity. But by the second day something of a breakthrough had been achieved, with a powerful sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Barry wrote:

“As we were praying the Spirit down after the morning teaching it felt right to ask Bishop Peter to give his testimony. It was very powerful & the Spirit poured down in power. During the afternoon Workshop on prayer, a lady was given the verse about Jesus cursing the unproductive fig tree, and she was in tears because he said he wanted the tree to bear fruit – and she’s the tree, and he wanted her to bear fruit. This continued into the evening ministry session where we shared words given to Barry and Diana. People responded to both of these, and one lady was convicted by God and poured out a prayer of repentance. We told her that she is forgiven and then prayed for her deliverance and she was transformed. Most were touched by the Spirit and praised God out loud, often in tongues.”

Smiles all round as delegates receive books and certificates in Wau

At the end of the conference 79 people were commissioned to lead groups on their return home.

The Diocese of Tonj

The ECSS is experiencing a period of sustained growth and expansion, and within the Northern Province six new dioceses have been created – one of which is the mission diocese of Tonj, led by Bishop Peter Yuol Gur. The arrival of the Rooted in Jesus team marked the first time Europeans had visited the diocese to teach, and they were given a huge welcome by Bishop Peter and the diocesan leadership team. 100 people had been invited to the conference, but over 120 turned up. The conference was held in the cathedral, with group work taking place outside under the trees.

But here too, the long shadow of the civil war loomed, as the news came in that fighting had broken out in another part of the diocese. Bishop Peter’s nephew had been shot, and two of the delegates learned that family members had been killed. Meanwhile team member Yosefate received the news that back at home in Nzara two of his friends had been attacked by a man with a machete, and one had died. Barry writes:

“One of our interpreters received a message to say that her favourite uncle had been one of those killed in the conflict. She insisted on continuing to interpret for us. When she had finished her stint, I had a chat with her. She shared what had been happening in her life. She had been nursing her sick father, who had died 2 weeks earlier, and she had just been informed by her school that she could not return to complete her education because nursing her dying father was not sufficient reason for missing school. As a result, she was no longer going to be able to sit her exams and go to university. In just 2 weeks she had lost: her father; a very supportive uncle, who was taking her father’s place as head of the family; and her future aspirations of an education and career. Her response was to forgive those who had done these things to her and to say that she knew that God was there with her and would help her through it.”

The result of all this was that the times of prayer intensified. The team learned that the local custom was that people would come for prayer no matter what was happening – if the clergy were in the church, people would just walk in, come to the front and ask for prayer. And so they did – for reassurance, for physical healing, for release from oppression. Worship continued unabated – and was at times, Barry reports, difficult to stop!

“As soon as we finished some teaching, they worshipped; and before we started, they worshipped”

At the end of the conference 105 people were given certificates and commissioned as Rooted in Jesus group leaders, the team were showered with gifts, and Diocesan Secretary Zechariah Dut was appointed as diocesan coordinator. In Wau his counterpart John Awer will undertake this role, and Revd Joseph Uyu will serve as Provincial Coordinator. Archbishop Moses hopes to persist with his plan to introduce Rooted in Jesus to every diocese in the Northern Province over the next decade.

In conclusion

It wasn’t easy – but the team were much encouraged by their experiences:

“Going on these conferences always challenges my faith and spiritual perspective. They inevitably lead to a realigning and recalibrating of my faith as a result of being exposed to the faith of those we have the privilege to minister to. This trip as with the others will impact upon my parish ministry, and not just with a fund of new sermon illustrations! The sense I got of the South Sudanese Church being dependant upon the daily miraculous was both humbling and inspiring in equal measure.” – Derreck Lee-Philpot

“The wanderers have returned with stories to tell and blessings to share. Despite some of the problems that we faced along the way, we feel greatly blessed by what we have seen God doing in the dioceses of Wau and Tonj. The people of South Sudan are really great and it was so good to have two of the South Sudanese Coordinators with us. John and Yosefate were a great asset and up for anything. But most of all a really big ‘thank you’ to all of you for your love and prayers, especially when the times were a Iittle testing. We were really aware of your prayers when the going got tough.” – Barry Blackford

Conference participants with the bishop and team, Tonj

Finally, a request for your help

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust. We will not beat about the bush – ministry in South Sudan is not only challenging but expensive. If we are to continue to work there, helping Archbishop Moses fulfil his vision for growing discipleship across this needy Province, we need your support! If you would be willing to make a donation to enable us to continue this ministry, we would be immensely grateful. And if you would like to join our prayer team, we would be delighted to hear from you too. To make a donation just click the CAF button, or for other ways of giving visit our website. For more information or to join our prayer team, click here.

News from South Africa

We were delighted to receive the latest Rooted in Jesus news from Growing the Church, our partner organisation in South Africa, and would like to share a couple of items with you:

Reflection on the Rooted in Jesus Training held in the Diocese of Umzimvubu

A Rooted in Jesus conference was held in Umzimvubu, a diocese in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, with 65 people attending from 11 parishes. Canon Luthando Xhamlayo writes:

“Spiritual Hunger and Thirst

“Generally speaking, one the clear indications that something is physically wrong with someone is when they lose their appetite. It is the same spiritually. To hunger and thirst for God is is the very root of our being. It is just the way God made us. Because this hunger and thirst is very basic to human nature, we constantly find ourselves seeking fulfilment somewhere else rather than in God. Unfortunately the replacement object leaves a void in our lives.

“This spiritual hunger and thirst manifested itself in the number of priests that we had at the training. We had about 11 priests who attended the event together with their congregants.

“The other sign of people who are hungry and thirsty for God manifested itself in the manner in which all attendees carried themselves. They participated fully and actively.”

A Tribute to Estelle Adams

For more than a decade, Estelle has served as the Provincial coordinator for discipleship in the Province of Southern Africa, and she has been at the hub of the ministry of Rooted in Jesus ever since. It has been a huge privilege to work with her during that time. Estelle began her well-earned retirement earlier this year, and we want to add our voices to the chorus of appreciation for her unstinting service and commitment to the ministry of discipleship.

Trevor Pearce writes:

“Estelle Adams retired from Growing the Church (GtC) on the 31st of July 2022, after 14 years of faithful service. She will always be remembered for her cheerful demeanour and excellent service towards all who engaged with the GtC office.

“How will I, and many of you remember Estelle?

As a faithful, Spirit-filled servant of God – such a gifted lady, yet so humble and unassuming.
She was a “Mama Hen” who always drew others under her “wings” when they were hurting or discouraged.
She was a team player who was always willing to draw others in and “grow” them.
Estelle played a significant role in helping GtC and AA make both a regional and global impact.

“From all across our dioceses we say, “Thank you Estelle!” May our Lord grant you a happy, meaning-filled and restful retirement. We all send you lots and lots of love.”

We join Revd Bruce Woolley, the director of Growing the Church, in welcoming Ketha Dube as Estelle’s successor.

To find out more about how Rooted in Jesus is used in South Africa visit our website. Growing the Church offers training and support for Rooted in Jesus and other ministries to find out more click here.

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.

A fresh impetus in the Rwenzori region of Uganda

We have just received a report from Team Leader Ben Beecroft on the recent conferences held in the Dioceses of East Ruwenzori and South Rwenzori in Uganda. Uganda was particularly badly affected by the Covid restrictions, which remained in force for many months and prevented churches from meeting together – so it was particularly good to be able to hold refresher conferences in both dioceses.

A workshop in East Ruwenzori, against the backdrop of the Ruwenzori mountains

The Diocese of East Ruwenzori

The team was composed of members from the UK, Uganda and Kenya. They travelled first to East Ruwenzori, where Rooted in Jesus was introduced in 2019. Over 170 leaders were trained then, and groups had been established – until the pandemic hit.

The conference was held in a local school and attended by 80 leaders, mostly new to the programme.

Ben reports that the hospitality shown to the team was outstanding, and that the teaching was very well received. One team member wrote that for him the most memorable part of the visit was ‘the attentive/appreciative look in the eyes of most participants.’ Another team member particularly valued the change to talk and pray with a pastor whose experience very closely matched his own – ‘ I think God clearly brought us together.’ The prayer times were characterised by healing and deliverance. One man who had been suffering from an ulcerated digestive tract for fourteen years found that by the following day all the pain had gone, and he was able to eat and drink freely. Many others received healing, insight into the issues which had been troubling them, and anointing from the Holy Spirit.

All those attending were given books in the local language of Runyankore. The conference closed on a high note, with participants singing the East Africa revival song at the final commissioning.

The Diocese of South Rwenzori

Rooted in Jesus has been running in South Rwenzori since 2008, with both the adult and the Junior programmes in regular use there. But Bishop Nason Baluku is new to the diocese and places a high emphasis on discipleship, and Coordinator William Musisi has recently returned home after several years away for theological training. The time seemed right to inject fresh impetus into both the adult and the children’s groups – not least to enable the programme to reach out into those areas which are experiencing rapid population growth.

The Rooted in Jesus Junior conference in South Rwenzori

Two conferences were held, running alongside one another, each supported by three team members. Attendance was impressive, with a mix of existing leaders coming for refreshment and new leaders coming for the first time. The adult conference was attended by 99 pastors and lay leaders, and the Junior conference by 78 Sunday School teachers. All those attending were given books in the local language of Lhukonzo.

The team

As always, team members felt that they received far more than they gave. Team leader Ben wrote that although they had begun as strangers, ‘they all gelled together quickly, a testament to God’s grace, answered prayer and their Christian maturity.’ Team members themselves reflected:

For me it very much felt I was part of the body of Christ doing discipleship together, supported by the intercessors at home. I received more from the trip than I gave, even though I gave as much as I could.

I personally had a tremendous spiritual uplift and blessing, something that had been missing in the past few years, and I want to thank God, the team and the participants for that

The visit was amazing. It exceeded our expectations and we felt that God had planned this mission for us with specific moments over the last 30 years. In some ways it was the culmination of a lifetime’s calling.

I felt so challenged seeing what the training does in the lives of the individuals – beginning with me! I left with one main challenge, to use the skills I obtained through the leadership, team spirit, humility and love of each member.

The team and coordinators with Bishop George Turyasingura in East Ruwenzori

What next?

The team came home with a great sense of optimism for the future in both dioceses, under the leadership of their bishops George and Nason, and with the commitment of coordinators James, Philip and William. An early encouragement came from Byesembu parish in South Rwenzori, where the Sunday School immediately started following Rooted in Jesus Junior. They sent this photo of the children, who are enjoying the programme and have already completed the third lesson.

The Rooted in Jesus Junior class in Byesembu

We are hugely grateful as always to all those who prayed for the team, participants and dioceses before, during and following the two conferences. Both dioceses ask us to continue to support them in prayer, with Bishop Nason requesting: ‘I pledge to do my best in ensuring that both the implementation and sustainability of the groups are registering growth in South Rwenzori Diocese. Kindly join us in prayer that many more people will be trained to reach out to the increasing population.’

Rooted in Jesus is published and supported by The Mathetes Trust.

The Dioceses of Cuiebet and Rumbek – David Archer reports

Conferences in the Dioceses of Maiwut and Bentiu – David Ridge reports

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Antsiranana, Madagascar – a report from Odilon Rafanomezantsoa

News from DR Congo

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The Rooted in Jesus Conference, 29 Oct to 1 Nov 2024

Mike Cotterell reports:

Team member AJ writes:

Team member Revd Opiyo Geoffrey writes:

Finally…

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Rooted in Jesus in Madagascar: a brief history

The Dioceses of Antsiranana and Toamasina

Antsiranana: the first conference

Toamasina: the second conference

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Uganda

South Sudan

DR Congo

Elsewhere

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Team Leader Barry Blackford reports:

History

The Conferences

Reflection

Feedback

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History

The conference

Reflection

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What next?

Can you help?

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One Province, two weeks, three conferences

Filling the gaps

Afterword

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The Diocese of Wau

The Diocese of Tonj

In conclusion

Finally, a request for your help

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Reflection on the Rooted in Jesus Training held in the Diocese of Umzimvubu

A Tribute to Estelle Adams

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The Diocese of East Ruwenzori

The Diocese of South Rwenzori

The team

What next?

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