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Sudanese archbishop makes dangerous pastoral visit to the mountains
2002-157-5
6/18/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
Sudanese Anglican archbishop Joseph Marona made a dangerous two-week pastoral visit to remote churches in the Nuba Mountains, crossing military lines under the terms of a local cease-fire established earlier this year.
The archbishop met with government officials on both sides and conducted confirmations and ordinations that have not had pastoral support for years. It is the first time in the history of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan that an archbishop has visited churches in the mountains. He held out a wider vision offered by the Gospel. 'Christ wants to be our way, our truth, our life, but we also have to allow him to enter,' Marona said. 'This means sharing his vision of the entire world reconciled to the Father. That is why it is my task to travel across the entire province, bringing words of justice, peace and reconciliation--bringing words of hope and healing to the church.'
He said, 'God has not given you these mountains in vain. The main aim is to serve him upon these mountains.' The church has an estimated five million members and has been involved in educational work in the mountains since 1935. Contact with the outside world was completely lost for 10 years after the civil war came to the area in 1985.
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