Bridge Of Hope Missions

INTRODUCTION
If we look into the circumstances which have driven the backwardness of the Southern Sudan and which has also retarded the Christian spiritual growth in Southern Sudan among the contributing factors will be the war which lasted for nearly twenty five years, the others are their diverse traditional culture, the Islamic influence from the North which resulted into war when the blacks resisted. War is a bad element because it destroys even what had all been built and hinders any development, which could eventually take place. The war finally came to an end 2 years ago and the comprehensive peace agreement was signed between the Southern Sudanese people liberation movement.(SPLM) and the Sudanese government. The United Nations awaits six years from the signing of the (CPA) so that the Southern Sudanese people may decide their destiny through a referendum. At the initial stage copies of the (CPA) are being distributed into the administrative centers, shopping centers and all the villages and citizens arte made aware of the contents of the (CPA) so that when it comes to the year of the referendum they may vote wisely and to that matter they may vote for a separate state in the Southern Sudan government.
CHRISTIANITY
Having known what really brought about the war in Southern Sudan is that the Southern Sudanese leader late Col.John Garang saw that the agenda with the government of Sudan was to enslave or oppress the southerners and deny them all the freedom while quoting the Bible that the blacks are supposed to be slaves or servants of the Islamic Northerners (Genesis 9:24-27) was the verse that the Northerners were using to oppress the Southerners. Having amassed the Southerners and entered physical conflict which resulted into bombardment into various Southern Sudanese towns of Kaya, Yei, Maridi, Nimule and Juba and found out that other than juba which the Sudanese government avoided bombing all the other towns were in ruins and completely devastated.
SPIRITUAL VACUUM/RUINS
The same structures which were one day standing to be admitted by the people are these day in ruins. Nobody wants to see them even the reconstruction of them is nearly impossible Demolition of the same buildings and reconstructing of new ones is preferred. When you look at the people from the children to the old ones they are completely devastated by the war, they all look traumatized by the war. Those who were not lucky to cross the border to Kenya and Uganda and experience peace may even not know what we mean by peace. To some people Christianity or the word of God may not mean anything to them. Reconstructing their spiritual being is not very easy. Buildings, roads, bridges, hospitals, army barracks and schools are being rebuilt. As per Isaiah 61:1-4 “God is sending me to act on the poor, to take the good tidings, to heal the broken-hearted and to proclaim liberty to the captives ………………………” When Islamic religion was not able to penetrate to the south, it left many Southerners with no religion. Those who were preaching the Gospel many of them fled the place for their lives. Those who survived the bullet and are still there are back to square one as far as the word of God is concerned in their lives. I made a survey of the town of Yei whose population is about 100,000 and found out that it does not have more than six churches. Most of the church attendants in these churches are foreigners who re-constructing the town. To the most people Sunday or any other day of the week is just the same. A survey we conducted at one school in Yei, we found out that nearly 97% of the children who were in that school join ed the school two years ago when CPA was signed and had not heard the word of God and remained unbaptised.We were made to understand that those were the children whose parents opted not to cross over to Kenya or Uganda and hid in the forest.
APPROACH METHOD
Having found out that these people’s spirits are in total ruins and also all their infrastructures divested all their wealth in terms of animals were either stolen or killed during the war, we are going to deal with people who are treating everybody with a lot of hostility and suspicion we have to try and make friendship with them. If you have to make friendship with a hungry person then you should first feed him. if you have to make friendship with naked person then you should first clothe him. If to a sick person then you should look into his medication. If you look into my profile having looked into all these aspects, I find that they require people who have the ability to change their attitude of hopelessness into a people of hope. We require counselors who have the medication knowledge of preaching the gospel. The United Nations higher commission for refugee may not be offering all the above, but when people on the field may liaise with UNHCR then we may achieve the total objective of feeding the body and spirit.
REQUIREMENTS
1. Personnel – This is a hardship area and if one does not have a c all to save the humanity at heart to de n y him f luxuries in life then this may be difficult place to work. Otherwise we require two categories of people.
  1. Preachers/Evangelist
  2. Medical team
2. Accommodation
  As far as accommodation is concerned tents are the most suitable and cheapest accommodation. For a 12 member contingent it may require the following tents:-
  1. Two big tent for sanctuary to accommodate about 200 people
  2. Plastic chairs about 200
  3. One tent for medical team treatment
  4. On e ten t for stores
  5. On e ten t for kitchen
  6. One ten t for men/toilet cum bathroom
  7. One tent for ladies/toilet cum bathroom
  8. One tent for office/communication
  9. Six tables
3. Transport
  Since this is a missionary team and will b e moving from one village/town to another, planting churches their own transport for personnel and their equipments is mandatory and as such the following truck may be required.
  1. One lorry 7-10 tones and a space made behind the drivers for the five passengers. This can be adequate for transporting the goods that the contingent is carrying the chairs, the tents, medicine, and food e.t.c.
  2. One pick up double cab four wheel drive for small errand s when a contingent is posted at a town at a town or a village
4. Communication
  Their being a world where communication between man to man village town to town, country to country is required for 24Hrs, then this contingent will require mobile phones at least one satellite phone, a radio call. Where applicable a computer laptop fitted with internet may be required.
5. Public address system
  A public address system will be required
6. Electric Generator
  As a source of power for lighting we require a small generator for lighting and because of charging our phones and the computer. Also hurricane lamps are required for the usage where electric power may not be functioning.
7. Water purifying machine
  A simple water purifying machine is required by the contingent since mineral water is either expensive or unavailable.
8. Film projector
  A film projector is very necessary for the teaching of the word of God. Also various films biblical and also as pertains to the people’s heal the may also be necessary so that the hygiene of their body may be taught by the medical team.
9. Bibles and other teaching materials
  Bibles preferable in languages like Arabic, English and other local languages is a top priority. Magazines cassettes and the like are also required.
10. Food/Medicine
  If prior arrangements are made with UNHCR they can give the food and medicine and we can act as their agency in the distribution and in the treatment of people, we also applied for local and international organizations to come up and assist in these mobile requirements.
11. Digital/Video Camera
  In order to cover how the work is being done by our contingent team its in order to have coverage by both digital and video cam era.
The missioner General Rev Patrick Njuguna wishes to thank
1. Rev Raphael Kanji – Juba Christian Centre
2. Brother/Dr. Benjamin Nyabera
3. Brother Ben Akapera – Nigeria
4. Sis Lourdes – UNDP
5. Juba Christian Centre East Africa Brother
6. The South African Sis
For their great support during my tour to Southern Sudan.