Mission to Juba, Sudan - Day 6

Listening to the Gospel message.

Praise the Lord for a fruitful day. One team went to the fire brigade and spoke to the staff there. Although it was a small meeting, they were very warmly received and shared with them how important that they have been rescued by Christ, just as they rescue others from fire.

Another team visited the large prison in Juba, both the men’s and the women’s section. Over 1500 men were seated in the walled compound, under the sweltering sun. A foxfire team and Stephen Lungu ministered, and over ¾ of the audience indicated they wanted to receive Christ! The interpreter, Joshua, a faithful local pastor, said that he noticed in the audience a man who had attended his church, but had recently gone missing. Joshua recognized this man in the seated crowd of prisoners before him and greeted him. He noticed that the man was one of those who raised his hands to receive Christ – at last receiving Jesus through his ministry, even though whilst in prison!!

Two AE women evangelists shared with the women’s section, in the narrow hallway lined with neatly made beds (surprisingly clean for an African prison). Over 30 of the 50 women came forward to receive Christ into their hearts, just as the woman who was bleeding went forward to touch Jesus’ garment in faith so many years ago.

While the Lord was working in the hearts of those in prison, He was also working the hearts of children at a remote primary school — so far out that we were convinced we’d missed a turn off. This school was established recently, and the Headmaster warmly welcomed us, explaining that he considered this to be an important part of the children’s education. A foxfire evangelist shared a powerful testimony of being saved from a rebellious and destructive lifestyle through the witness and love of her Christian school friends and the Foxfire dances and songs had the kids in much laughter.

Keith Cook ministers to primary school children.

Then the children heard from partner evangelist Keith Cook from “On the Go” ministries who has joined the Juba mission as part of the “Mission Africa” initiative in the lead up to the Lausanne Congress. Keith used some students as a visual illustration of being pulled in two by the temptations of sin, and shared how even one sin will separate us from a holy God. He explained how Jesus had died on the cross to take away our sins, so that we can be children of God again. Almost all over the 120 children present raised their hands and joined in the prayer that Jesus would be their Lord and Saviour.

Elsewhere in the city the Lord was also at work in the main police barracks. This was a dusty compound staffed by solemn, partially uniformed police people who would eventually break into bright smiles when you greeted them. Apart from a small group, the officers remained spread around the compound, reclusing on their verandahs, but it was clear that this noisy group of chorusing, dancing Christians was attracting their attention.

The heat was significant and people were feeling a bit sluggish, but all were aware that this was a wonderful opportunity. A Malawian evangelist shared about the importance of law enforcers in protecting the community, and the importance of being empowered by Jesus to do so. Almost all the officers seated before us indicated that they wanted to respond to the Lord in some way (we suspect some were already believers), and the field commander, Emmanuel, thanked us very much for coming to share the Word of God with them. A team will go back again tomorrow, so please pray that many more hearts will turn to the Lord during that time.

Dance group performs at one of the day's rallies.

The evening rallies in seven venues around the city are all running smoothly now, with increasing crowds and hundreds of people responding to the Lord. At one of our smaller venues, over 300 people turned to Christ, and it would be fair to say, without the official numbers yet, that over 1000 people are coming into the Kingdom each day. We all sense a great hunger for the gospel of Jesus here in Juba – beyond what we had expected and even prepared for!

Tomorrow we continue with stratified evangelism, before the Closing Rally on Sunday. We are just so thankful to be involved in what the Lord is doing in this city and pray we would continue to be sensitive to his leading.

- Vanessa Khlentzos
(Pan African Communications,
African Enterprise)