South Sudan Update

These are critical days for South Sudan. Tomorrow (22nd February) is the deadline set for launching the new Government of National Unity. The same characters are once again struggling to work together, but there are signs that intense pressure to bring the six year civil war to an end may be enough to forge a new beginning. In this latest war 400,000 people have been killed, well over one million people have fled as refugees, the land has been laid to waste and hopes dashed.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar have just agreed to form a unity government with Mr Machar as Vice president once again. The rival military forces are being integrated and the cabinet replaced. The last time these two leaders governed together it lasted 3 months. South Sudan needs your prayers.

The Church is the place people turn to for practical help and a sense of belonging. Through the Church, the damaged fabric of society is rewoven as people come together in prayer and worship and to seek forgiveness, reconciliation and renewed hope.

The Church has suffered and struggled but held on in faith and dogged determination to serve in Christ’s name. One practical demonstration of this is the Yei Vocational Training centre (which you can read more about in Billy's blogs!).

Please pray in earnest that there will be genuine change in the hearts of the political leaders that they will seek truth and justice for all.

‘“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.’

Isaiah 58:9-10