South Sudan’s churches: At the centre of the new nation’s development

Less than two years ago, South Sudan realised a destiny only dreamt of during more than 20 years of civil war: independence from Sudan and its Islamist government in Khartoum. Two decades of fighting that ended with a peace agreement in 2006 was just the latest conflict in a turbulent history that has been ongoing between the Islamist north and Christian south since Sudan became independent from the UK in 1956.

The conflict took a huge toll on the country and its people. In the latest period of civil war, more than two million people were killed and over four million displaced. Now, however, newly independent South Sudan has the ability to become a strong, vibrant and prosperous country, with the church at its heart.

The new government is dominated by those who commanded the rebel army that won South Sudan’s freedom, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, and is struggling to establish its writ across its vast land. Churches, however, reach into every community - tiny rural villages as well as large cities - and the local pastor is often the de facto community leader. The church, too, has been present throughout the conflict, helping and assisting the people of the war-torn region.

Anglican International Development (AID), a UK-based charity, was formed specifically to work with churches in South Sudan, as well as in other developing countries. In its first two years of operation, AID has had a fruitful start that has made a real difference to many people in the world’s newest state, as well as one of its poorest. Concurrently, it has become very clear to those working with AID how urgent and overwhelming are the needs there.

Working in partnership mainly with the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, AID has been helping those at all levels of society. In just over a year, Manna Microfinance, our micro-enterprise development scheme based within Anglican churches in Juba, has directly helped over 200 people (mainly women) with training and small loans to improve their small businesses, with many more indirectly helped. This scheme is firmly identified as a church programme and is currently more successful than any other similar scheme in Juba. Everyone who benefits from Manna Microfinance through training or small loans in turn improves the lives of others - family members, neighbours, employees - in fundamental ways. This could be a meal for the day, children who can stay in school or a roof that no longer leaks. Weekly group meetings start with a time of prayer and worship before training begins.

One of our clients (we call them that to emphasise that we are treating them with respect) is Abua, who farms a small plot with her husband on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan’s capital. Her training has encouraged her to open a stall in Juba’s main market to sell her produce as well as tea and snacks; the loan has enabled her to expand the range of what she can sell. Her children are small, but she rejoices that she will now be able to educate them when they are older. For Abua, the local church has helped her and her family develop both spiritually and socially.

AID wants to expand its work into other areas in South Sudan. We are also helping the church to grow and develop so it can minister to its communities. In March of last year, the Rev Paul Clarke from St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, spent a week in Juba with 50 senior pastors, helping them to preach effectively to congregations that often number in excess of 200. With the backdrop of civil war, many pastors have received only a basic education and rudimentary theological training.

AID sees its future as working in partnership with the church in micro-enterprise development, healthcare, education and agriculture, as well as in developing pastors and resourcing churches. We have exciting plans for the coming year, during which we will be launching a community health programme in Wau, a city close to the border with Sudan, and two agricultural programmes in Yei, a fertile area in the south where the potential is vast but resources are few.

To find out more about our work and to donate, please visit our website at: www.interanglicanaid.org