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AID for Relief and Change, a work commissioned by the GAFCON Primates, has begun a partnership with the Episcopal Church of Sudan.
Anglican Christians are about a third of the population of Southern Sudan. They have survived a determined onslaught by the overwhelmingly Muslim north to subdue them. After twenty one years of war, which killed millions of southerners, an agreement was reached three years ago giving Southern Sudan autonomy. In 2011 there will be a referendum on the issue of independence or union between north and south. There is a desperate need for development on every front in the next few years and advocacy on behalf of Southern Sudan.
During the coming year the ECS has identified the following priorities for work in partnership with AID.
a) Children's education
b) Micro-finance with the Mothers Union
c) Vocational training in hospitality and building trades.
The ECS website may be viewed here
A mini-project will launch the partnership for this Christmas. It is to provide bicycles for pastors. The ECS is launching a decade of Evangelism on December 13. In the Diocese of Rumbek for example, 178 pastors cover 3500 square miles. All their congregations meet under trees. The Bishop has a Cathedral Tree, and no buildings. Neither the bishop nor the pastors have salaries from the church. Many work as government workers. To get around, the bishop and 73 of the pastors travel by bicycle. 105 walk. For a Christmas gift, AID is seeking to provide bicycles to these pastors, costing £100 each. This will enable them to travel up to 1000 miles a month visiting their communities of over 5000 people. Currently most have to walk 10-12 miles to take services. Further details about Rumbek Diocese will also be available on the AID website: www.interanglicanaid.org.
A further gift will be to a congregation in Wau Diocese who have built the walls of a church. They need the material to add the roof. This will cost £1800.
We are writing to you to encourage support for the Christmas Gift for Sudan project of bicycles for pastors and roof for a church. Our initial target is £12,300. Any additional Christmas gifts will be used for other similar needs.
Cheques may be made to Anglican Mainstream (21 High Street, Eynsham, OX29 4HE) marked for AID or gifts may be sent through Paypal on the donations section of the Anglican Mainstream website, marked for AID.
