Over 25 Years of Service to the People of South Sudan

There are 100 Native Sudanese, ordained Evangelists with college degrees preaching in their hometowns. They take turns today coming to Malek to teach 40 to 60 new Students in their own language at ABC. There are now a total of 160 Evangelists, including students, serving Christ in growing churches in Sudan. Prayers requested!

WHAT NOW?
--Steve Holsinger

Elsewhere in this newsletter there is a picture of a steady stream of Sudanese people walking out of the country in search of safety and a reliable supply of food and water. The scene is the same at every border. The tribal civil war being waged by South Sudan’s political leaders is taking a terrible toll on the people.

Thousands fleeing their country of South Sudan

What is SSAM doing? We have consistently supported ministry in times of war and times of peace. Most aid organizations have been gone from the country for a year or two. The war is definitely affecting us; 80% of the money we send is being spent on food and medicine to help needy dying people. How will we respond to this latest crisis? We are planning to expand our efforts. We are trusting that either a peace treaty will be established that will stabilize the situation, or we will just increase our efforts in spite of ongoing conflict and instability. We plan to raise an additional $100,000.00 over the next 18 months to broaden our base of ministry. It will create a “three legged stool” as an expanded base for ministry. We are already completing our mission office and home base for the mobile medical clinic in Aweil town. Two of our leaders, Santino and Peter have been in Juba because of the fighting in their home regions of Malakal and Bentieu. They have established a congregation in the nation’s capitol. We intend to secure land in Juba to insure that we can have long‐term influence there. In addition to these developments, we have been invited to establish a Bible school in the Gambella region of Ethiopia, just across the border from Maiwut County, South Sudan. This Bible school will train leaders for four congregations that have already been established in the region, as well as preparing evangelists to share the gospel in the Southeast region of South Sudan. If you would like to be a part of this bold step of faith, designate funds to “Expand”.

YOURNEW WOL APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF AWEIL STATE

With no apparent advance notice, President Salva Kiir appointed Yournew Wol, the in‐country director of South Sudan African Mission, governor of Aweil State. Yournew said, “I cannot turn away from this responsibility again. I am trusting that Almighty God is behind this decision.” Yournew recommended that Dr. John Kuot be appointed director of the mission with Ezra and Joseph as key advisors. Please pray for all these men as we go through this transition of leadership.

AND WE GET MAIL...

Dear SSAM:

As a church, we read your May newsletter recently as part of our services. Every month we have a mission report that informs the body of what the current missions that we sponsor are doing. It is with much sadness that it took so long to read May’s news and find out something we should have done a long time ago. We all were very distressed to read about the church’s suffering because of famine and war. It is not something we can even begin to understand here in our nice cozy hamlets and 7 acre buffets, nor is it something we can ignore either.

We read Acts 11 together where Agabus stood up among the brethren and predicted a famine would come to Judea. Verse 29 mentions “the disciples, each according to his abilities, determined to send relief to the brethren”. This really spoke to us as a group that we must do something according to our abilities as well. This is the purpose of this letter and the money that accompanies it (nearly $3,000). We have many brethren praying, but really we want to give to relieve the hunger endured by our brothers and sisters in Christ.

May God bless your continued work in helping the Christians of South Sudan and may they find relief soon from this tribal war and famine.

Sincerely,
The church in Reno, NV

PAUL DOUGLASS RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM ALMA MATER

In 1953, Paul graduated from Midwestern School of Evangelism in Ottumwa, IA. Because of his work with the people of South Sudan, in addition to other ministries, Paul was recently honored along with two others, with a Lifetime Achievement Award at their Midwest Heritage Homecoming IV.

Paul accepting his award from Victor Knowles

1953 Graduate of Midwestern School of Evangelism
Faithful minister of the Gospel of Christ
Committed elder at the Montavilla Church
Diligent teacher in Christian Service Camps
Visionary founder of Sudan African Mission (1989)
"Spiritual father" to many preachers in Sudan
Devoted husband of Marilyn for 65 years

"God is not unjust: he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." (Hebrews 6:10)

Presented at Midwestern Heritage Homecoming IV, June 23-25, 2017

SANTINO REPORTS FROM JUBA

Dear Bev and Steve:

Greetings to you and Sudan African Mission board of directors in the name of our Jesus Christ Amen.

May almighty God bless you abundantly. I’m in Juba and I have communicated with our local evangelists and our local congregation in Malakal is progressing well. They communicated that they are facing some challenges.

Last year was a year of hunger and even this year also. There is a food shortage for everyone in the country; people survive with little food. They are facing diseases, some of the diseases which are caused by malnutrition.

Since I came from Nairobi, Peter and I have been engaged with our church members, some were here in Juba and some came from Ayolo camp.

After we nurture this congregation in Juba and it is established fully I will make plans to visit Malakal and our congregation there.

Yours in Christ, Santino, Juba and Malakal

FREQUENT QUESTION ANSWERED

A question frequently asked is “how do I know that the money we send for food or medicine actually get to the people most vulnerable in South Sudan instead of some government agency.” Because of international banking laws, documentation and receipts are required to show the money sent is being used as intended. In turn, SSAM requires receipts for all money before future money is wired.

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