Our Goals
1. Church Building
God says: Build My House (Haggai 1:4-9)
Building the Church of God in the Episcopal Diocese of Panrieng means the sign of the establishment of God’s Kingdom in Ruweng Land. It is the existence of God’s word in the hearts, minds and lives of people in that particular land. This is the restoration of hope in people’s daily lives which gives the full meaning of the salvation of their souls. Once again the physical building of the Church is a sign of God’s presence as King Solomon prayed in (I Kings 8:28). Physical Church building has the spiritual and developmental meanings. Up to now no Church built in concrete in the whole Area of Ruweng. The semi-permanent Church building which was serving us was knocked down by the strong wind in June last year, its roof was blown off (on June 12th 2022) and the remaining wall could not bear with the heavy rains. This Church was in our Headquarter in Panrieng Town. Therefore, we call for the support to rescue the situation of God’s house in Ruweng Land (in our diocese).
2. Evangelism
Evangelism is the heart and the core center of all what we are doing. Jesus said to his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV).This is what is called the Great Commission in the Bible. We are commissioned to reach out to the World and preach the Good news of Salvation to the unreached ones. Ruweng, where the Diocese of Panrieng is situated is fertile in terms of evangelism. The area was allocated to Roman Catholic Missionaries during the Colonial Period, until when war broke out in Sudan in early 1980s; when many people fled for refuge or for better security and joined the Anglican Church (become Anglican Faithful).
We need means and tools for the outreach such as Jesus’ Film, talking bibles, Music equipments and seminaries. In this way many people can be converted to Christ and receive him as their personal Savior. Doing it in this way, many Church centers shall be opened and many will follow Christ. And therefore, we would have fulfilled the Command of our Lord Jesus Christ about the Great Commission. Evangelism is our main target and the heart of all that we are doing as we mentioned it above and it is also clearly stated in our vision and Mission statement.
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Theological training
Theological training is the backbone and the grantee for the life and the future of the Church. Without such training the Church has got no future and it is easy to lose the direction in terms of doctrine, and effective evangelism. So it is in our plan and our prayer also to send some students every year to theological schools (trainings) of different levels of Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor and Masters Levels. Therefore scholarship matters. It is our pray for God to make it possible and practical
3. Education
Education is one of the key principles that through it, the Church can contribute in the community development by sending many children to school. Church education has got much of the good impacts to the society. Much is needed about the Church education in this Land of Ruweng because of two reasons:
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Education is the grantee for the future of the Country and we as the Church have to contribute in doing so.
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Church education is evangelism by itself because of its moral, biblical and spiritual discipline.
In Ruweng, many children are not going to school simply because the government schools are not enough to accommodate the pupils. Therefore, there is need for the Church to open schools in order to play its role in the current and future development of the Country. We have one Primary school in Panyang Payam called: ECSS- St.Micheal Primary School (Panyang Archdeaconry).
We have pre- School Classes also in Panrieng Town, the diocesan Headquarters and a proposal of a full primary School to be in the same place. Then from there we will move to other two Archdeaconries (Areas) of Jamjang and Abiemnom as parts of the plan.
4. Peace program (Reconciling the people of South Sudan)
In addition to the spread of the gospel, the Church is committed to reconcile the people of God which is part of its mandate as the Country is engulfed and devastated by the current conflict. This conflict has created unnecessary human destruction, displacement, death and an enmity among the citizens of one nation, leaving them in a desperate situation. Therefore, we call upon all our people, friends and the well wishers to stand with us and join hands with us to build peace amongst our people of the Church of God (Diocese of Panrieng). So we are praying and seeking for partnership. The Church cannot have a peaceful environment to preach the gospel unless the Country is in total peace.
5. Women Empowerment Program in the Church
In South Sudan women are the backbone in the life of the Church. This is the vital group within the Church as well as within the society and, without them the Church would have a lot of wider and unfilled gape. They are more in terms of numbers and the most active group within the Church. Therefore, they deserve empowerment and this can be in the area of some skills training. After the trainings are provided many are assumed to would have gained skills and be of great help both to the group and the individuals. This is because they can be able to support themselves economically and also they can support the Church. Many of them are not educated and the life is too hard for them, so the Church must do something to elevate poverty. Among them many widows are found as the Country has been in war for a number of years. The Church must bring change to the life of these women which shall restore their hope. This is both evangelism and a humanitarian support. Empowering women in the Church is empowering and developing the Church itself and the community at large.
Here are some of the areas women in the Church need trainings:
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Tailoring
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Handcraft
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Micro loan
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Christian education (literacy program)
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Family planning
With these projects there will be always spiritual, economic, educational and morale positive impacts.
6. Health Program
Health program is one of the most important sectors or departments in the Church. Health care is at the heart of human needs and it is the support that the Church should render. It is one of the daily basic cares which cannot be avoided. Therefore, as a Church we have to give medical services as another physical support. Without good health and physical comfort, even the spiritual part cannot be perfect. As the Church in the situation where many people around us are not getting enough medical services, we felt challenged by such condition as local medical centers; are being overwhelmed by the situation of the local population within the locality where our Church is operating. During his worldly Ministry, Jesus himself could give many people physical healings as part of evangelism and good care for humanity. This is an evidence for the Church to do the same (Luke 6:17-19).
7. Agriculture
The Land of Ruweng where the Diocese of Panrieng is coming from has a very rich and fertile soil which is very good for cultivation. “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it, God said to Adam to till the ground from which He was taken. Genesis” (2:15; 3:23 NKJV). So agriculture is our hope to elevate the diocese from where it is now economically to another level. In this land many crops are subject to succeed when planted. Therefore, we need prayers in this area to get means of having modern machines which are useful and match with the modern agricultural means of cultivation (tractor). Improving agriculture is an improvement of food security whereby our diocesan priests and other Church workers would have food on the table for their families. Having secured that this man power of the Church will do the work of evangelism without hesitance. We must cultivate the land to get food. God has given us a heart to work and a good soil to produce food from it, only tools are needed to utilize the God given resource (land).
8. Youth and Sunday School Ministry
Our Church is a Church of youth and children which sends a great hope and brighter future. It is necessary and most important to invest on them as they grow up physically, mentally and spiritually. If we have Church schools, such young and energetic people could be taught in Church schools where they will have better minds which will give them moral education; and become better and an enable people in the society. Church music, bible study, sports and other social and spiritual gatherings which are provided by the Church arena need a lot of support to be achieved. When such activities are offered, it will attract the youth and young children to keep coming to the Church and will give them unity and strength as they grow up together. These activities are not easy to be funded, but by faith and prayer God is able.
9. Orphanage Programs (Support)
This is another angle of challenges in the community as many children who are orphans missing either fathers or mothers or missing both parents suffer on daily bases. Many children are victims of the long war in the Country when Sudan was still one and even the internal conflicts within South Sudan; this made many children vulnerable and victims. This group needs urgent support as the hungry stomach and the preparation (education) for the future could not wait. Jesus cared for the needy when he was on earth and that was why he fed 5,000 people with five loaf of bread and two fish
(Matthew 14:13-21). Jesus used what was available to support the needy at the time. We need your prayers for God to open many ways for this humanitarian project to be supported and make it alive.
10. Conclusion
Finally we call upon all our Christian brothers and sisters across the globe, or wherever they are and especially for those who have the willing hearts to support this religious and humanitarian ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Panrieng. It is our hope and prayer that people who will be reading this document will turn out positively in supporting the mission for the extension and the establishment of God’s Kingdom in this part of the land. Therefore, we ask all our friends whether individuals, groups, Churches, or any other institutions which will be reached by our document to hear our voice. Your smaller or bigger contributions will have a great positive impact. Pray for us and pray with us for God’s abundant blessings to be upon us.