BGC Prayer Partners Update

Dear Bishop Gwynne College Prayer Partners
We have been buoyed up by your prayers and we are very grateful to you all.
Tina and I returned from Juba yesterday restored by the sunshine and the amazing spirit of the people we have met. Despite all their problems (caused by the failure of people in key places) so many people are ready to make South Sudan work. Generations have been traumatized and damaged and it is this that leads to the outbreaks of violence by men with guns, often drunk and out of control.

The people we met are humble (but by no means powerless) Christians close to God. They, too, are traumatised, but they are open to the healing balm of God's presence. The Spirit flows freely like blood in their veins as they work for justice, peace, reconciliation, and healing in their torn world.

BGC is recognised as a key element in the task as young and dedicated students are trained to be in the forefront of the work of God in every corner of South Sudan and beyond (we have a student from the Nuba Mountains too.) These children of generations of civil war need more than humanitarian aid and resources to help them help themselves, they need our prayers and our love. Thank you for giving them that.

Find attached a fuller report of our visit.

Trevor Stubbs,

International Consultant

For your prayers in particular:

The College

• Thank God for the wonderful work of principal and staff making a little go a very long way. Pray that God will bless this work and keep them strong.
• Thank God for the ten graduates who have now mostly gone back to their dioceses and are engaged in the front line of the mission of God to "preach the word and share the love" (as is the motto of BGC).
• Thank God for the new students and those who are continuing in their second and third years - altogether forty-two students (five women and thirty-seven men). They specifically ask for your prayers for the end of November and beginning of December as they come to sit their exams.
• Thank God for some very able part-time tutors to complement the staff. Pray that they teach effectively and overcome the difficulties of transport etc..
• We thank God for the new college library and the ten new computers donated by World Vision and the evening classes in their use. Pray for the librarian as he works through cataloguing the new book donations, and the students as try to keep the library in good order.
• Thank God for keeping the college financially in the black for the past few months due to the gradual recovery of the local economy and the generosity of overseas donors.

I return with three specific prayer requests:

• Please pray that the right person be found to become the Academic Dean of the college. We are looking for an ordained pastor (male or female) with at least a bachelors but preferably a masters in theology. This is definitely a vocational post for someone who has a heart for the students and the development of South Sudan who is willing to stay in post for several years. BGC not only deserves the best, but needs the best for the work it is called to do.

• Please pray for significant overseas donations for:

a) funds to help increase the salaries of the staff. Inflation is high. Our levels of pay are very low compared to those offered by other institutions. (I was shocked to discover our principal earns about the same as a simple driver for an NGO aid charity based in Juba!). People who work for the college do so from a sense of vocation (this includes everyone – the watchmen, cooks, cleaners, logistic officers and tutors) but they all still need enough to feed their families and pay their children's school fees.

b) a grant to put solar panels on the roof of the new library to guarantee power for the computers during the day-time. We're looking for at least USD $10,000.

The Nation

• Pray for the talks in Addis Ababa and the readiness of the political leaders of South Sudan to really desire to find a peaceful solution.
• Pray that the official cease-fire is taken seriously by all sides in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei States as we enter the dry season. Pray that we do not get a repeat of the horrific atrocities earlier this year.
• Pray for the hundreds of thousands in refugee camps in and around South Sudan and the UNHCR and IOM efforts to sustain them. Pray that the international community will honour its contributions to the World Food Programme funds.

Report for BGC Prayer Partners

Report of Visit to Bishop Gwynne College, Juba

October-November 2014

Introduction

This report to the Bishop Gwynne College Prayer Partners follows the visit of the international consultant to BGC at the end of October 2014. The general impression is that the college is in very good heart despite the terrible situation of the country. The site is clean and free of the detritus left by the former workshops. The neighbouring hotels continue to be built although relatively slowly. The new building is in full use for worship and lectures with the library upstairs. The new showers and toilets are very much appreciated.

The welcome was enthusiastic, the worship vibrant and the faith clearly present. There is much evidence of hard work on behalf of students and staff.

Graduation

Ten students graduated on 25^th October 2014 with a diploma from St. Paul's University Limuru. Nine men and one woman. A majority of these had begun at the college with a foundation year in 2010 – some as early as the re-inauguration on 31^st January 2010. The standard of the pass was impressive with some coming out with distinctions and credits in a number of subjects.

New Intake

The college now has forty-two students of which over half are in the August 2014 intake. Four of these are women which brings the number of women students to five. SPU is no longer running a Special Entrance Exam. Instead they require a secondary school certificate. This is not good news for us because nearly all of our students come from a background of disrupted and patchy schooling. However, an internal entrance exam was set. The results indicated that only ten were up to the standard we deemed necessary to undertake the diploma and certificate for SPU. The other students have however been offered the opportunity to study for a BGC diploma in theology.

Ethnic Diversity

One of the significant things about BGC is that it draws from many of the dioceses of ECSSS including Kadugli (Nuba Mountains). It is also open to applications from other churches. Interest has been shown particularly from the Presbyterian Church. In among representatives of a large number of tribes and language groups studying and living alongside each other, we have both Dinka and Nuer, the ethnic groups between whom there has been the most serious tension following the political in-fighting that came to a head last December (2013). This enables us to ensure the students understand that under Christ there are no ethnic divisions. We along belong to Jesus Christ wherever we came from. This has been a long standing ethos of the college dating back to its inception. Students stick up for each other. (The famous story of a student from one tribe facing down a drunken soldier intent on killing his fellow from another tribe in the early 1980s when the college was in Mundri is often told). Of recent, one the students (from Nuer) who fled to UNMISS during the crisis was encouraged by the Principal to come out and joined his colleagues to complete his studies. He had graduated with is colleagues and now helping at BGC Canon Benaiah Poggo Library.

Justice, Peace and Reconciliation

This has always been of concern to the college and our application of the SPU syllabus has been done in the contextually taking full cognisance of the South Sudan situation. However the emergency following the 15^th December 2013 has left the country in a state of insecurity, trauma, displacement and humanitarian need. The BGC principal has been anxious to expand the use of the college to assist in initiatives within the ECSSS (Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan) and SSCC (South Sudan Council of Churches). An opportunity arose in July-August to run a two week workshop for pastors and others at the college. This was funded by AFRECS (America Friends of the ECS). AFRECS have also offered finance for the employment of a part-time teacher in the area of peace building and trauma healing for our regular students.

Staffing

Currently the college teaching is done mostly by part-time staff that the principal has managed to attract. These are are of good quality and the standards remain high. We are fortunate in our location we can access these people from Juba University and among our church leaders. However it is recognised that this is not a satisfactory situation.

There is an urgent need for the appointment of full-time staff. We need at least an academic dean and an additional tutor who could act in a pastoral capacity as well as teacher. Finding such suitable people has not been fruitful to date.

We also need to review the salaries of all staff including the support staff as the rates are falling behind those for Juba which is an increasingly expensive place in which to live. Food prices and rents are rising all the time. Inflation is high.

Administration

The college is blessed with a top quality administrator in the form of Esparansa Emil Karl. She is intelligent and efficient and is determined that the college goes ahead. Although she is well qualified and experienced as a teacher and could command a salary far in excess of what she gets at BGC, she is committed and highly respected. Without her hard work the principal would not be able to cope with the pressures of running a college in a very difficult situation.

Principal

We are most appreciative of our gifted and highly motivated principal, Samuel Galuak Marial. He has a vision for the college that includes both practical training of humble pastors for the church in South Sudan and the advancement of academic standards. In talking with him one becomes aware that BGC is an academic institution fit for its place in the academic world with intellectual standards, without compromising on the need to train priests to work in parishes and dioceses in every corner of the country.

In addition to his learning Samuel excels at communication – a gift not often seen in South Sudan. His attention to detail has won him friends among supporters of the college around the world.

Finances

The college is in a better position than it was a year ago. The crisis of December 2013 did not help since the college relies heavily on rents from it houses and offices which, if they are unoccupied or tenants do not pay, means we have a crisis in income. In 2013 the college had an overall income of $246900 USD of which just over twenty percent ($50542 USD) came from overseas. This reveals just how vulnerable we are to local changes. However, things have picked up since February and currently all our property is occupied and rents are coming in.

Inflation has been noticeable however. Food and fuel are increasing. The cost of medicine has also gone up. Transport is a major cost to the college as it it all has to be hired in. Up until now it has not been possible even to contemplate the purchase of a vehicle and a driver.

I have undertaken to resume my efforts to attract further donations for 2015. I am grateful to our partners in the UK (Good Books & Services, Peter Green), the US (Diocese of Virginia – Mary Anne Bryant) and Australia (St Mark's Church, Warwick – Peter Johnson) for their work in collecting donations small and large. (If any of our Prayer Partners are aware of any organisation or grant-making body that might support BGC, I shall be delighted to hear from you.) This year we received a donation from the UAE for the first time – our supporters come from around the world.

Library

BGC has a wonderful new library situated upstairs in the new building. This is its fourth home since 2008 – each time growing in size and beauty. The present hall was equipped with $10,000 USD worth of shelves – mainly from a grant from the Slavanka Trust. The Theological Book Network has sent a large number of second hand books from the USA, and Dorothy Lowe has given a car load of books from her husband's library. John Lowe died in 2013. Dorothy and John served the BGC in the 1950s and 60s up until the time they were forcibly removed by Khartoum Government 1964 with all other white mission workers. The proportions of this new library means that it can host 18,000 volumes of books and still have a long way to get 13,000 books more. We are always grateful for visitors willing to bring books in their suitcases. We have average of receiving 4 to 5 books per a day.

Computers

Thanks to World Vision, BGC is now the proud owner of ten desktop computers that are established in the new library. The world Vision Program happened to be taught by professor taught our Principal from different seminaries in the US and through that connection, we got those wonderful gifts to equip our future leaders. Tuition in their use is being given after school in the evening when the generator comes on-line. During the day we have no power except for the occasional and unpredictable bursts of city power. Our dream is to put solar panels on the roof and this will give us twenty-four house use with all the benefits that modern students have of accessing material on-line. (Bearing in mind that V sat is not like fast broadband.)

Pictures

I shall upload pictures of BGC and it students to our picture website here.

Prayer Partners

If anyone would like to be included in the regular Prayer Partners email please let me know at international@bishopgwynne.juba.anglican.org. You might like to ask your friends. Please don't be shy of telling people about BGC and including us in the your prayer meetings.

Please feel free to circulate this report to anyone who is interested. It will be published on our website: www.bishopgwynne.juba.anglican.org/

Trevor Stubbs

International Consultant

Bishop Gwynne College,

Juba,

South Sudan

6^th November 2014

Visit to Juba

Account of Visit to Juba: October-November 2014

In addition to our primary visit to Bishop Gwynne College (reported separately) we also had the privilege of meeting other groups in Juba.

Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission

We were invited to attend the overseas partners meetings of the Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committee (JPRC) of the ECSSS which included people (friends) known to us from the UK and USA.

The purpose of this meeting was to acquaint the partners with the current and planned work of the commission.

JPRC comes in as stage two in the process where SUDRA (ECSSS Relief Association) responds in stage one with immediate humanitarian relief.

It is evident that the degree of humanitarian response, although not in itself insignificant, is tiny in relation to the need. (It is estimated that approaching four million people - half the population of South Sudan- are suffering from food or other basic needs shortages.)

However in stage two (JPRC) the churches have a huge advantage over other bodies. Government agencies are often treated with suspicion and are seen as one-sided. But NGOs come from outside and it takes time to establish sufficient trust. However, the churches are already there with their pastors, women's groups (like Mothers' Union) and other structures preaching hope and unity in Christ. (We all belong to Christ whatever our ethnicity.)

It is against this background that we can see the importance of training not only pastors but lay-leaders in understanding trauma and its consequences and how to bring healing and reconciliation to the people.

We were privileged to visit Juna 3 IDP camp on the outskirts of Juba. This UNMISS camp shelters a very large number of ethnic Nuer who fled following the violence of December 2013 when soldiers and others with guns, often drunk, went on a shooting spree.

Confident Children out of Conflict

This charity cares for girls who have been living in danger in the twilight areas of Juba. Often abused both physically and mentally up to fifty (mostly) girls aged from one to sixteen reside at the compound next door but one to BGC. The work is the inspiration of Cathy Groenendijk, a Ugandan woman, ably supported by her husband Wim and a band of mostly volunteers from overseas (Europe and the Americas) and Juba itself.

The stories of these girls are hard to listen to. Their faces tell of the horrors they have been through – often sometimes in danger of their physical lives as well as their moral ones. These children can shock, but they are also aware of what love is because of the work of CCC.

The charity pays for them to go to school and does everything in its power to protect them from the predatory world from which they come. At the outbreak of violence in Juba on 15^th December they transported them all to Yei to a partner hostel. Some of them still remain there. Since then new girls have taken their place.

This work is totally reliant on charitable giving. We took new children's clothes donated by a parent in Wool Primary School, Dorset which were very well received.

Juba Schools

Despite being in Juba such a short time Tina was able to get to three schools while we were there.

Juba Diocesan Model Secondary School is very near BGC. It now has the reputation of being the leading secondary school not only in Juba but in the whole of the country. We conveyed letters from and brought letters back for sponsors.

The school is in very good heart and looks attractive. The only disapointment is that the new girl's dormitory remains closed because the school has decided that a house containing a large number of teenage girls in a city where, not so long ago, drunken men with guns were roaming the streets at night is not a good idea. (It is hard not to over-emphasise the impact of 15^th December 2013 and the days that followed.)

Tina also visited Ginana Primary School with a gift of USD $300 from Wool Primary School. It was our intention to deliver this in a visit in February last year but circumstances did not let us travel. The area around this school has deteriorated in recent months with children from very make-shift housing crowding in. Despite this the school has now moved on to include a Primary Seven year. They have constructed a mud and timber building (wattle and daub) to accommodate them.

St. Batholomew's Primary School, Royal Wootton Bassett also donated USD $300 which Tina took to a primary school in Munuki payam (district), a western suburb of Juba. The school is doing well under the stability of the same able headteacher it has had for the last five years.

Picture link to follow!

Trevor and Tina Stubbs

revtrev.stubbs@gmail.com

tina.m.stubbs@gmail.com

Prayer Partners Update

Dear Bishop Gwynne College Prayer Partners,

Thank you so much for all the prayers you have offered for BGC, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan and the people of those countries in the past few months. Tina and I have booked to go to Juba on 21^st October.

The college is now re-convening for the beginning of a new semester with the potential of 32 new students as well as those continuing in their first and second years.

Ten of these new first year students will be studying for the St Paul's Limuru University diploma but the other 22 do not meet the SPU admission levels. In the present conditions in South Sudan this is inevitable. But the need to educate men and women in the ministry is urgent, so the college is offering an internal diploma for these students.

The college ran a course during the long vacation in reconciliation and peace-making which was well attended.

The ECSSS has now established a new internal province for Sudan with Bishop Ezekiel of Khartoum as its head. Archbishop Daniel's address, which includes an excellent historical summary of the ECSSS, is here: http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/resources-library/mission/sudan/news-and-info/Archbishops%20declaration%20Statement%20during%20Entrhonement%20of%20Inter.pdf/view?searchterm=declaration%20statement

The political and humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire. Talks have taken place in Addis Abba but previous agreements have not been implemented. The latest communiqué from IGAD that commends the protocol on the arrangements for a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) can be found here: http://igad.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=943:communique-of-the-27th-extra-ordinary-summit-of-igad-heads-of-state-and-government-on-south-sudan&catid=47:communique&Itemid=149

https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/s-sudans-president-kiir-agrees-prime-minister-position-rebels

The mood in Juba is reported as calm but imbued with disillusionment and shame. The churches are a beacon of hope and peace, and the Archbishop, leaders of other churches, pastors and lay-leaders are outspoken in the need for an end to the forces of destruction.

The people of the Nuba Mountains and South Blue Nile continue to suffer attacks as they resist the Khartoum government. http://enoughproject.org/blogs/doctors-view-foxhole-sudan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+enoughblog+%28Enough+Said%29

Keep praying,

Trevor.

The College

1. We give thanks for the well-attended course on Peace on Reconciliation. We pray that the participants may have the opportunity and courage to implement what they have learnt.

2. We praise God for 32 new applicants. Please pray that they will all be able to take up the places offered and manage to arrive on time.

3. Pray for Samuel and all the members of the teaching faculty and other staff at the college as they engage with this new semester.

4. Pray for those who are waiting for the results of the exams sat in June, especially those hoping to graduate in October.

The Church

Give thanks for the determination and courage of the Churches to speak out and work for peace and humanitarian relief. Pray for Archbishop Daniel, leaders of other churches and all those engaged in Christian ministry throughout Sudan and South Sudan. Pray for Bishop Ezekiel and the new internal province based on Khartoum.

The Nations

1. Give thanks for the continued work for the formation of a transitional government in South Sudan led by IGAD (assisted by the UN, AU, the Troika (US, UK & Norway), the EU, the Sudan and China and others) and pray for them as they continue to engage the parties in talks in Addis Ababa and encourage implementation.

2. Pray for the people of the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile as they continue to suffer attacks from the Sudan Armed Forces.