Australian Bishop warns South Sudan against reliance on donors
By Philip Thon Aleu
January 18, 2009 (BOR) – The Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide in South Australia, who paid a friendship visit to Jonglei’s Bor Diocese, asked South Sudanese to be “confident, remember to look beyond” themselves and attract donors by making education a priority.
“God gave that opportunity so that they can learn to benefit this country,” he said referring to Sudanese resettled in Australia. Dr. Driver calls on the Sudanese community to make use of the little resources available to motivate donors and criticized making external assistance the prime solution.
“If you wait, they (donors) will wait too and nothing will happen,” he warned the predominantly Dinka Bor congregation earlier, adding: “You must be confident and remember to look beyond yourself. Think wisely about what you can do and begin.”
The archbishop also calls upon the diocese of Bor to make training of pastors a priority. South Sudanese pastors, who doubled as soldiers during the 21-year south-north civil war, are among the illiterate class.
Overwhelmed with demands, donors are sometimes lost for where to begin, noted the archbishop, but “the people of Adelaide must begin,” he assured Bor diocese, which is headed by Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth since 1984.
The 104-year old Episcopal (Anglican) Church in Sudan has drawn believers since baptism was accepted through Archibald Shaw in 1904. Bishop Garang is said to be in Nairobi where he met his visiting colleague and congratulated him for the visit.
The Australian religious leader was accompanied by a team of Bor pastors from Nairobi and Juba, including one Daniel Amol from Australia who had left Bor at the age of seven. The mission of the visit was to assess water, education, health, agriculture and build a relationship for possible technical assistance, Dr. Driver said.
While preaching at a charged congregation, the Australian touched on insecurity and disunity in South Sudan partly stemming from regional and ethnic diversity. He stressed that the work of the church is “to make Jesus known in the world” through peace, unity and faithful work.
“We are brothers and sisters because we belong to Jesus. Our unity in Christ is greater than all these things,” he said referring to different skin colors, tribes and languages. “Whether in Australia or in Sudan, the work of the church is to make Jesus known,” he added.
Driver tasked Bor Diocese with working for peace and unity in the country. “You point to Jesus in your faith, services and unity.”
Thousands of people marched in the street to welcome the archbishop on Saturday, which he commended saying, “Sudanese are wonderful people. They have a warm welcome.”
The Dean of Lieudier Cathedral, Rev. Thomas Agou, noted that the archbishop has made history in coming to Bor.
In his home Australia, Driver has advocated tolerance for Sudanese immigrants. He has several times led pilgrims to Rwanda and Sudan.
(ST)
Machartuong
Australian Bishop warns South Sudan against reliance on donors
Rev. Driver’s visit to Bor is highly commendable. It is my wish and prayer that such an undertaking becomes a routine endeavour by the Anglican Church in Adelaide (especially) and in Australia at large – only then will we see the fruit of labour of the Anglican Church in Australia.
As for self-reliance, I ask Rev. Driver to give us time. We have just emerged out of a protracted civil war. No one likes handouts. We truly want to be self-reliant but we need time and jam-starters (donations and technological diffusion).
Thank you very much Rev. Jeffrey Driver for your efforts and thoughts.
Machartuong
Kur
Australian Bishop warns South Sudan against reliance on donors
I like these words, ” If you wait, the donors will wait too.” And if you steal resources from your poor masses, the donors will then say,they are thieves why should we help them. Therefore those in position of authority in South Sudan who use the resources of the country for the benefit of the few must know that they will fall into the hands of the devil while they are stealing from those they are supposed to look after.
Kur
Angelo M
Australian Bishop warns South Sudan against reliance on donors
“Don’t wait on donors” Correct!
People need to understand and believe this statement. Our people have got to learn to earn a living and innovate new things without help from donors.
Two decades of begging during the war had become the norm in Sudan. We’ve got to learn to get out of this!!!
God help us