Dinka Team – Akot, 2003

We began the year having no churches in our area ever since the work had begun. We had been planting seeds for the past couple of years but had yet to reap and fruit. In January I was approached by a young man, Ezekiel, who told me about a dream he had had in which God had led him to me to help plant churches in Akot. Later that month we had our first Baptist church in southern Sudan amongst the Dinka Agar.

Within a couple of months Wycliffe and I chose five young men that we would begin training using Chronological Bible storying. Each Wednesday Wycliffe would meet with these young men and teach them a story – beginning with the Bible being God’s holy word. By May, when Max Willocks and his wife came and did a two-week leaders training seminar, we had three churches planted. The training that Max did was through CBS and included witnessing and church planting. Max did a terrific job and it was like a jump-start for our team. We sent out invitations to all the churches in the area regardless of denomination and had a very eclectic group of about 25 attend.

In the weeks and months that followed we began to steadily see growth in both our young men and the groups they were leading. There were reports from these new leaders of how the people are so excited to learn stories from the OT – most of them had never heard any of them before. Another new thing the fellowships are enjoying is the interaction that is taking place before and after the stories.

 Both of the medical teams that we had come out brought people to work strictly with evangelism and church planting. Someone from both teams led whole-day seminars for our leaders (as well as for those of ECS, Catholic, and SDA leadership) Each team also used these members for daily evangelism as the medical teams were ministering to the physically suffering. By early November of this year we had eight churches planted with two of those being “children” of our original churches. (second generation).

 In our planning for the medical teams we have intentionally targeted areas for the bush clinics where we felt we could start new churches. We, as well as the teams, are most pleased with the results. As a direct result of the medical teams we now have three and possibly four new churches started. We have heard word by radio that we are now up to ten churches in the district.

One of the exciting aspects for Wycliffe and I is to see the churches picking up on the planting of new work by themselves. Gordon’s church planted a new work at Ponchui and the leader there, Abraham, tells us that within three months they will plant another church from with in Ponchui. If indeed this comes about we will be most pleased.

Another exciting beginning this year is the three recent graduates from the Baptist Seminary in Kenya who are currently in Akot on an “exchange program”. Following their graduation the young men, two Dinka and one Nuer, approached me about returning to their home country and planting churches. I was very skeptical about using them because of all of the “seminary baggage” they would be coming with but could not shake the leading of the Holy Spirit in this possibility.

Over the course of numerous meetings with them we came to an agreement and mapped out a course of action to be followed to return these men to their home areas of Abwong (Dinka) and Leer (Nuer) where they will begin planting Baptist churches. Presently they are in Akot where our leaders there are teaching them how we have been doing church planting using CBS as our core method. They are living in our leader’s homes and are walking alongside them daily. Each Wednesday the graduates are teaching our leaders in Akot about who we are as Baptists. Thus the “exchange” part of the program.

When we return in January of 04 we will debrief everyone, leaders and graduates alike,  assess how things went and make a decision whether the men are ready to return to their respective home areas. If all has gone well I will travel with them to these areas to look at the situations and write up reports. The men will then be on their own to begin the CPing.

After only two weeks in the Akot area the Nuer man has begun a new church for those of his tribe.

One final area of growth that has especially excited me is that of our clinic. We have been seeing between 2000-3000 outpatients each month and had no focused evangelism/pastoral ministry going on. A few months ago the HS led us to a young man with excellent training (also leading one of our new Baptist churches) who is now our clinic chaplain. He meets with each patient, talks with them, consoles them, makes follow-up visits to their homes and makes sure they hear the gospel. This has been seen by the community in a very favorable light and we are confidant will reap great eternal rewards.

Looking ahead at 2004 we can see a big need for discipleship training. We will be introducing a CBS discipleship track beginning in late January – early February (just about the time when most of our original churches will be finishing up the evangelism track). When the returning medical teams come out we will have them focusing their efforts in this area (the ones doing spiritual training).

We are also talking with a couple of churches about doing strictly discipleship/CP training in the coming year. One of the churches is looking at being an integral part of getting our oral Bible school up and running. Each of these churches is committed to long-term partnerships with our team. With the possibility of SBTS coming on board this next year we feel that we will have the nucleus of a good training program to take the Dinka churches to a deeper level of fellowship with Christ.

I am firmly convinced that our work in the Akot district is directly related to the service we are doing at the medical clinic. I do not believe we would be as effective in our work without this presence. The Dinka people have a very real sense that we are holistically concerned about them and not simply one-dimensional. Wycliffe and Janet are highly respected and accepted as members of the community.

As I look back over the year I do not understand why God has allowed the Holy Spirit to pour out His blessings upon our small work. We have done nothing special to merit His favor but we look forward with great anticipation to the year of service ahead.