Concern growing for those left behind in South Sudan

PC(USA) partner says ‘Continue to pray because we don’t know the future’

by Kathy Melvin | Presbyterian News Service

(l-to-r) The Rev. Tut Kony Nyang of the South Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church; Debbie Braaksma, PC(USA) World Mission Africa area coordinator; and Rev. Peter Gai Lual Moderator of Presbyterian Church of South Sudan. (Photo provided)

Although all PC(USA) mission co-workers have left South Sudan, there is grave concern for those who are left behind.

“Thanks be to God. I arrived in Nairobi at 10.30 a.m.,” said Leisa Wagstaff by email. “Let us continue to pray for the people I left behind.”

Wagstaff expects to be in Kenya for a minimum of 2-3 weeks.

Presbyterian World Mission staff worked non-stop for two days and created four possible evacuation routes for Wagstaff before she was able to leave the country Wednesday morning. She was able to leave with Mission Aviation Fellowship even before the U.S. Embassy could evacuate her.

One of those left behind is the Rev. John Yor, General Secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches, a PC(USA) global partner. He said while there is a fragile cease-fire, reports are that people are being profiled and killed based on their ethnic group. “No one’s hands are clean,” he said.

He reported that stores are being looted and there is no food available in the capital city of Juba. About 30,000 troops from Uganda have entered the country, with the stated purpose of rescuing Ugandan nationals, but many in South Sudan fear they will stay and further complicate an already unstable situation. There are rumors that the Republic of Sudan to the north may try to intervene as well.

The Rev. Philip Obang, General Secretary of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, said, “The situation is Juba is better than it has been in the last six days so your prayers have been answered. Continue to pray because we don’t know the future. We do not know how things will proceed for a sustainable peace. Pray that God will intervene so that the two sides can reconcile and stop the war.”

South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church Moderator the Rev. James Par Tap, said the country is being dragged into a leadership crisis. “Ugandan troops have moved in. U.S. intervention is a must to rescue this country and save lives. The peace agreement reached in August 2015 was brought through pressure by Christians. We urge all Christians in the U.S. to pressure the leadership of the United States to put an end to this human suffering and to pray for us.”

Both South Sudanese church leaders said hunger is a pressing issue now. Traders are not willing or able to bring food into the country and the little remaining food has been taken by looters.

The Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations is having high-level meetings to share communication from PCUSA partners in South Sudan. The Office of Public Witness is also engaged in meetings with senior officials at the White House.

“The opportunity for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to bring the concerns of our partners to decisions makers at the United Nations is an important dimension of the Church’s ministry to bring Christ’s peace to the world,” said Ryan Smith of the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations.

Further updates will be available on the Presbyterian News Service and the Presbyterian World Mission Facebook page.