As a result of South Sudan African Mission, Aweil Bible College was founded and in 2007 with eighteen in the first graduating class. To date there has been over 75 graduates. The Malek Christian Hospital, funded by SSAM, opened their doors in October 2009.

Founder of South Sudan African Mission Dies

Paul Douglass, 96, of Gresham OR passed away peacefully, August 31, 2023.

In October 1988, Paul and his wife Marilyn were sent by International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES) to Khartoum, Sudan. IDES had sent a mobile workshop to Sudan to be used to repair hospital equipment but no
one in the country knew how to operate the machines. Paul was a journeyman machinist, an auto-truck mechanic and paint specialist, a draftsman and electrician. Because of Paul’s abilities and degree, he was accepted by the Sudanese government to teach the native men how to repair hospital equipment in the IDES workshop. Eight Sudanese men worked alongside Paul for nearly two years at the hospitals in Khartoum while he taught them how to use the equipment inside the workshop. One of the men working with Paul
was Yournew Wol Kuot. Through the teaching and example of Paul and Marilyn, Yournew was baptized into Christ in September 1989. Soon the Sudan African Mission (later to be known as South Sudan African Mission) was formed with the sole purpose to support South Sudanese who attend Bible College and their ministries. To date over 35 churches have been established in South Sudan and there are over 500 baptisms each year. Malek Christian Hospital has been built along with a mobile medical vehicle that goes out to the remote villages to tend to medical needs.

Paul and Yournew

Paul is survived by daughters Bev (Dale) Meyer of Rochester, MN, Joyce (Gene) Penn of Scottsbluff, NE and Jim (Leona) of Ansonia, OH. Thirteen grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, daughter-in-laws Mary Ellen Jones, Janet Douglass and Yournew Wol Kuot of Aweil, South Sudan along with 100’s of South Sudanese who call him Father Paul. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 65 years, daughter Barbara, sons Gary and Stanley.

Memorials can be made to:
The South Sudan African Mission,
PO Box 8396, Rochester, MN 55904

Your memorials will help to further the Aweil Bible College in South Sudan.

Matt Douglass, grandson of Paul, preached part of a grandfather’s funeral service. To quote Matt, “If there is a section in heaven that is singing praises in the Dinka language, Grandpa is joining in with them.”

Grandson Matt Douglass

Dear all,
We the South Sudanese have heard the passing of Paul Douglass, Paul Douglass was our Moses the man of all times, he was the first person to preach to us the good news. The church was moved with tears as I announced his death to the congregation on Sunday 3rd September, 2023 at Malek Church of Christ. Indeed Paul Douglass was one of us despite his white skin, race and geography. Paul was one of us. He contributed, prayed, and stood with us in times of need. This is because earlier in 1988, Paul risked his life to come to Sudan hoping that something bigger could be done, something bigger could be achieved. God used him to support and pray for the wishes and welfare of the South Sudanese people in refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya and the vulnerable communities back home. He prayed that there would be peace and freedom for the whole Sudan in particular general and to South Sudanese.
— Joseph Wel Ajiing

Paul's Family Who Attended His Service

It was on 31st of August 2023, when I sadly got the news of the passing of Paul Douglass. I was so devastated and shocked to learn on the loss of a person so dear to my heart and the people of South Sudan.

Paul Douglass was a person God called to the bring spiritual and social transformation to the disadvantaged human societies around the world, and especially among the South Sudanese communities. I am grateful to God for connecting me and other South Sudanese to a true man of God.

In 1988, Father Paul arrived in Khartoum, Sudan at the height of the civil war in the country. Paul recruited a number of South Sudanese to study outside the country to support the mission and their communities. Paul believed that South Sudanese must be part of the solution to spread the gospel to their own and participate in rebuilding their country when peace returned.

As we reflect on the friendship Paul built with me and the people of South Sudan, he leaves a legacy that many of us will forever cherish. Truly the mission has lost a champion of peace and love which can be emulated for ages. May God continue blessing his great family, SSAM, friends and the church community in the U.S.
— Yournew Wol Kuot
Co-Founder, South Sudan African Mission

Today, we mourn the loss of our dear father figure, who has left us at the age of 96, but his memory and legacy will forever remain alive within us.

Words seemingly fail us in times like these. The news of his passing has left us speechless, overwhelmed with a profound sense of grief and loss. How do we encapsulate in mere words the impact this extraordinary man had on our lives? Through his unwavering dedication, he led us towards the path of faith, and we came devout Christians under his guidance. His vision for our country was grand, and he worked tirelessly to make it a reality.

His love for the people of South Sudan knew no bounds. It was a love that ran deep in his veins, a love that fueled his every endeavor. He invested his heart and skills into making a difference in the lives of the South Sudanese people. With selflessness and compassion, he devoted himself to our welfare, leaving behind a legacy of love and service.

But beyond the larger picture, he touched us on a personal level. He believed in me so much, and in each and every one of us, supporting us unconditionally in our triumphs and failures. In our darkest moments, he stood by our side, when I lost my dad at a young age he provided me solace and strength. He mourned the loss of our loved ones, and he sought us out, extending a comforting hand and a shoulder to lean on. He saw the potential within us and nurtured it, helping us become better individuals, Christians and leaders.

We stand here today, forever indebted to him for the profound impact he had on our lives. He taught us the true meaning of love, compassion and missions. He showed us the beauty of faith and the power of unwavering belief. His presence may no longer grace our lives, but his teachings and memories will forever be etched in our hearts. I as well fondly remember Father Paul as a great mechanic and inventor - for the practical tools he made during his missions to our nation.
— Ronald Ruay Deng

Click on "Mission News" to see more