Bishop Nhial's visit to Winnipeg

The young Bishop from South Sudan touring the world with message of peace and hope during the Easter

By Agou Anyieth Kur

Bishop Abraham Nhial officiating the communion at the St. Mathew Anglican Church

As Christians Worldwide mark the holy week of Easter in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Sudanese in Winnipeg were join by the Rt. Rev.  Bishop Abraham Yel Nhial of the new diocese of Awiel in South Sudan following the invitation by the Winnipeg’s Rupert’s Land Diocese headed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Donald Phillips.

In a week-long visit, Bishop Nhial officiate the Easter Sunday service with over three hundred faithful attending  from two Sudanese Anglican Parishes of Emanuel Mission and St. Andrew and the members of the Sudanese community in Winnipeg who though belong to other denominations still came  to hear Bishop Nhial’s message from homeland. In his sermon Bishop Nhial talked about the miracle of the resurrection of Christ that gave salvation to humanity. The Good News includes the fact that Christ has come to save not only Jewish people but also the people of the whole world. In his sermon, Bishop Nhial observed that, “Easter is a time for peace, reconciliation and unity.”

Right Reverend Bishop Abraham Nhial speaking at the University of Winnipeg’s forum

Young generation in leadership

Bishop Nhial’s enthronement as the Bishop of Aweil Diocese in Sudan is both historic and prophetic. It is historic because he is the first Lost Boy to be called to be a bishop. It is prophetic in the sense that it fulfilled the wise advice that the elders from South Sudan used to give to the Lost Boys

while going to school in the hardship of refugee camps that, “You are the future leaders of South Sudan.” As South Sudan is poised to be an independent state by July 9^th, 2011 thanks to an overwhelming independent vote in historic referendum four months ago, Bishop Nhial sees it as both a challenge and opportunity for his generation to fulfil their responsibility as cut out by providence and destiny, less history will hold them accountable for failing their people. The young bishop asked the congregation to pray for him, “For if I fail, it will be a verdict on our generation that we are not ready to lead.”

 He explained that his generation must succeed because “the reason we survived the two decades of civil war that claimed three million of our people is not because we were better than our sisters and brothers whom we lost in the war  but so that to be witness to all what has happened in our country.” Therefore, Bishop Nhial interprets the coming to the Western world by thousand of Southern Sudanese was to be witness of the suffering of the people of South Sudan. Their responsibility he explains, is to acquire education and knowledge so as to rebuild the land that has been devastated by war.

The Eyes on Sudan: Working for Peace in Sudan

Bishop Nhial also gave a talk about the situation in Sudan in general and South Sudan in particular at a lecture organised by the University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Theology, the Global College and the Eyes on Sudan group. The Eyes on Sudan is an advocacy group on Sudan issues  which is comprised of both Southern Sudanese and Canadian intellectuals, students and human rights advocates from Canadian civil societies, faith groups and community organizations. The group focus is to raise Canadians’ consciences on the issues involve in the referendum in Sudan. The Canadian government is called upon to asked to make sure people of South Sudan decision is respected in the processes.          

The Situation in South Sudan after Referendum

Bishop Nhial highlighted the challenges facing the people of South Sudan after referendum. The lack of basic services especially water as a very daunting challenge. In almost every district, there are no clean water and this result in much illness. The situation he said is compounded by the arrival of internal displaced Southern Sudanese who were living in Khartoum during the war. The situation affected both women and children who have to go long distances to fetch water just to drink. The scarcity of water the Bishop Nhial empathised need the help of Southern Sudanese in the Diaspora and the international community to help the people of south Sudan in providing basic need such as water, clinics, and  educational  support which Bishop encourage the most. The Bishop briefly commented on the growing rebellion in South as the work of all who do not want the freedom and independence of the people of the South.

Among the organizers of the event is Rev. Reuben Mayen Garang who is the priest in charge of Emanuel Mission Congregation at the St Mathew‘s Anglican Church  and Rev. Dr. Jane Barter Moulaison, a theology  professor at the University of Winnipeg . Rev. Garang initiated the proposal for the invitation of Bishop Nhial by Diocese of Rupert land. “Eyes on Sudan” group have been meeting about the situation in Sudan. The Dialogue on Sudan group began meeting during the referendum vote in Sudan in January of 2011. Dialogue on Sudan is co-moderated by the Principal of the University of Winnipeg’s Global College, Dr. Marilou McPhedran and David Atem of the Global Welcome Centre, in collaboration with Menno Simons College, St. Mathews Anglican Church, Canadian Mennonite University Institute for Community Peace building, Mennonite Central Committee and the Faculty of Theology. This group meets on a monthly basis for information-sharing, letter writing and advocacy on behalf of those concerned with post referendum—issues; border demarcation,  national debt sharing, renegotiation of international treaties ,  determination of right  citizenship,  Abyei , Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains’s  future as well as  political situation in South Sudan.

Before he departed for US, Bishop Nhial addressed Sudanese and received questions on number of issues about the South Sudan. He encouraged the Southern Sudanese to achieve western education and consider afterward to return to South so as to help in the work building the world’s newest N=nation.