ICC Note:

The exiled South Sudanese Kajo-Keji remain hopeful in Uganda. After South Sudan was hit by the country’s brutal civil war, the third Bishop of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji Emmanuel Murye Modi has relocated  headquarters and has moved its ecumenical training program to the Ugandan town of Moyo. Despite the change, members are still moving forward with spreading the Gospel. Last month, “Bishop Emmanuel made a series of pastoral visits to the refugees and saw how the Church was encouraging the refugees with a message of hope to the displaced and grieved.”

04/12/2017 South Sudan (Anglican Communion News Service) – The third Bishop of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, Emmanuel Murye Modi, was consecrated and installed on 15 January this year. On 20 January, the area was hit by the country’s brutal civil war. By the end of January, Kajo-Keji was all-but evacuated; with some 98 per cent of the population fleeing to Uganda.

The Diocese of Kajo-Keji has also relocated and has set up new headquarters and moved its ecumenical training programme to the Ugandan town of Moyo. “The Moyo District Authorities and the Madi and West Nile Diocese of the Church of Uganda have welcomed the people of Kajo-Keji warmly,” the Diocese of Kajo-keji’s newsletter, Voice of Hope, reports.

Last month, Bishop Emmanuel made a series of pastoral visits to the refugees and saw how the Church was encouraging the refugees with a message of hope to the displaced and grieved.

“We visited Morobi and Bidi Bidi which is the largest camp in the world according to reports by UNHCR,” the Voice of Hope’s Maziina Fred said. “It is estimated to host over 290,000 South Sudanese excluding the non-registered refugees. Other camps include Belameling, Chinyidi, Pasu and Koguru.

“We visited the Cathedral Dean, Canon Pianilee, in the camp to pray together and counsel him for the loss of his brother (Wojo) who was robbed and killed on the way from Kajo-Keji. Due to insecurity in Kajo-Keji, his body was buried in the camp. He is survived with a widow and four children. Please pray for them.

“At Morobi, we visited a scene where a lady had jumped into a blazing fire and burnt to death, perhaps due to trauma, stress and depression.

“We met some of the displaced and resettled pastors from all denominations now in the camps. Many of them are struggling to start-up churches. At the moment Christians are praying under the trees. Many families are separated from their loved ones.

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