{"id":1649,"date":"2008-03-24T21:55:39","date_gmt":"2008-03-24T21:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=1649"},"modified":"2010-12-22T12:27:12","modified_gmt":"2010-12-22T17:27:12","slug":"6183","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2008\/03\/24\/6183\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudan: Visitors See Both Challenges, Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"

MALAKAL, SUDAN (March 24, 2008) \u2013 Orientation, training, project development and an assessment of ongoing needs was the focus of a recent trip to Sudan by three individuals representing the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
\n
\n\"Procession\"The group, which visited the headquarters of the Evangelical Covenant Church of South Sudan and Ethiopia (ECCSS\/E), included James Tang, short-term missionary for Sudan\/ Ethiopia; Byron Amundsen, the mission department\u2019s director of administration and finance; and Pete Ekstrand, regional coordinator for Africa.<\/p>\n

Ekstrand describes the meeting with ECCSS\/E leadership as a time of mutual encouragement, continued orientation to the Evangelical Covenant Church, training in organizational development, project development, and assessing needs.<\/p>\n

To see additional photos, see Sudan Visit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although much of the activity centered around Malakal, the weeklong visit included visits to other ministry areas including:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0A five-hour boat trip (lower photo) on the White Nile River to visit the village of Fangkok. \u201cThere we looked around and had a service the Covenant Church,\u201d Ekstrand reports. \u201cThe return trip down river only took three and a half hours and we arrived just after the sun set.\u201d
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Another day the group rented a 14-passenger van and took the ECCS Executive Council on an excursion an hour out of Malakal to visit the Covenant church in Obel. \u201cAfter a wonderful service, which was also attended by several choirs from the nearby Presbyterian Church, we paraded and sang our way to the Presbyterian Church where we had another short service before returning,\u201d Ekstrand recalls.<\/p>\n

\"Class\"The group shared Bible studies and biblical training, while also training ECCS leaders in the management of projects and attendant finances. The group also reviewed small business operating practices in preparation for implementation of a Covenant World Relief micro enterprise project. The center photo shows Amundsen at right teaching one of the classes.<\/p>\n

Another area explored in conversation is the relationship between the Department of World Mission and Covenant World Relief \u2013 specifically how the two organizations collaborate to achieve ministry goals. Future ECCS projects and needs of that ministry also were reviewed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe three churches we visited – Malakal, Fangkok and Obel – were encouraged by our presence and we were encouraged by their vitality in worship,\u201d Ekstrand says. \u201cWe were honored to visit these churches, by their reception and the washing of our feet, a custom for special visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe extreme poverty and hand-to-mouth existence\u201d of so many people left a deep impression on Amundsen, as did \u201cthe intensity of the sun, the oppressive heat, the omnipresent dirt and dust, and the inescapable need for water.\u201d He also was moved by \u201cthe sacrificial manner in which the church leadership are giving of themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amundsen made special note of the church\/ministry center that FOWM (Friends of World Mission) provided, describing it as \u201can oasis of blessing. Its congregation of 500 people and their efforts at providing children\u2019s education using only volunteer teachers is admirable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Boat\"Another aspect of life that impressed him is the vibrancy of and commitment to worship. \u201cThere is no anonymous Christianity in these settings,\u201d he observes. \u201cBrightly colored clothing with prominent white crosses are worn, and significant processions (top photo) with loud beating drums and hymns greeted us and led us in unorganized parades to their churches – sometimes walking for a quarter mile along village paths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sudan is a difficult place to work, says Ekstrand. \u201cIts sheer size is overwhelming – Sudan is the largest country in Africa. Long distances between conferences of the ECCSS\/E make travel and communication difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are trying hard, but there are many struggles and obstacles including very little opportunity to have gainful employment,\u201d Ekstrand continues. \u201cThere appears to be much potential for agriculture, but periodic cycles of droughts and floods have restricted efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, there is much joy in the smiles and faces as the choirs sang and people worshipped. There was much joy evident in the services we attended.\u201d Ekstrand had considerable praise for Tang\u2019s ministry amidst such difficult circumstances. \u201cJames is outstanding in fulfilling his responsibilities in what is a very demanding job. He is passionate, perceptive, visionary, creative, has initiative and connections everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see numerous opportunities for Covenant members and churches to come alongside the ECCSS\/E,\u201d Ekstrand concludes.<\/p>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MALAKAL, SUDAN (March 24, 2008) \u2013 Orientation, training, project development and an assessment of ongoing needs was the focus of a recent trip to Sudan by three individuals representing the Department of World Mission of the Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSudan: Visitors See Both Challenges, Opportunities - Covenant Newswire Archives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2008\/03\/24\/6183\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sudan: Visitors See Both Challenges, Opportunities - 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