Kingdom Exploits With Uche

I met Pastor Stanley Lo-Nathan, the Director of Sudan for Christ Ministries in June 2005. It was on the recommendation of Greg Ford of Global Quest Inc. Greg is a friend of the leaders of my church in the USA, Victory World Church in Norcross, Atlanta, Georgia. When I shared with them in 2004 of God’s leading to North Africa, they suggested I link up with Greg who has ongoing work in Sudan. When I met with Greg he said, “Uche, I’ll have to get in touch with Pastor Stanley in Yei, Sudan. If he wants you with him, I will get across to you but first, finish your training at the school of ministry.” I was at VWMTC with Victory World Church at the time.

I connected with Pastor Stanley on my first mission trip to Sudan. We met in Entebbe Uganda and drove in the company of other mission-minded folks from the USA to a small Southern Sudan village called Bazi for our outreach. It was an unforgettable experience. Stanley and I later left for Yei where our bonding continued. It was clear our passions aligned and other things flowed naturally. He’s a man I’ve grown to love and respect.

This is his heartwarming story.

I traveled to Cairo Egypt in 1990 with several other students from South Sudan on a government scholarship to study. After I graduated I could not come back home because of the war. Like many of my colleagues, we didn’t have anything to do, there were no jobs; the only jobs available were to work as house boys for the Egyptians. They were real taskmasters just like Bible days. The work was too much but I had no choice. Frustration drove me to alcoholism.

In 1994 UNHCR opened up their offices to help hundreds of the Sudanese people from the South who were caught up in Egypt to apply for refugee status. I submitted my application with a lot of lies to prove that I was a political refugee. During the confusion and frustration of those days, I received Jesus as my Savior in 1994.

I received the call of God in my life in 1995 and I began to preach. The same year, I was called to the UNHCR office for my interview for the asylum. I did not go because all the information I gave on my application was false. I had applied before my salvation experience. The Holy Spirit spoke to me that now I am saved I cannot defend the lies I sent in. After that many doors to travel to the USA and Canada came but I could not travel because God had removed the desire and quest to travel abroad by all means from my heart.

After I got saved, I was introduced to a church where 90% of the congregation were foreigners. Most of whom were from America, Canada, and other parts of Western Europe. I became the leader of the Sudanese people worshiping in that Church. The pastor of that church, Pastor Dave Petrecue who has gone to be with the Lord was from Canada. One day the pastor called me to his office and told me that the Canadian Ambassador asked him to send all the Sudanese families worshiping in his church to the Embassy because interviews will be conducted for them and those who are successful will be resettled in Canada.

I was called to screen all the Sudanese families immediately. I did, and within four months all these people were resettled in Canada. Many of my friends, including myself, were amazed that I did not include my name on that list. That list was like the List of Life, of Prosperity, a list of HOPE. However, I have never regretted the decision.

In 1996, I began to nurse the vision to return home to Sudan and to plant churches and Bible schools. So in 1997, I joined Victory Bible Institute in Cairo to prepare and equip myself to be a blessing to my people. I graduated in June 1998. During the Bible school days, God spoke to three of my colleagues to join me in the mission to Sudan. We departed Egypt in 1998 traveling through Uganda. Our plan was to stay in Arua, a border town in northern Uganda, where we will be ministering in refugee camps before we would finally venture into Sudan. The civil war was still raging at this time and Sudan was a death zone.

We didn’t know at the time that God was setting us up on a pioneering ministry to break the ground for other ministries to follow. When we arrived in Uganda, we were detained at the airport in Entebbe for 8 hours before we were finally released; their reason was that we were spies from the government of North Sudan. The relationship between Uganda and Sudan was bad, such that both Embassies were closed. After a couple of days’ rest in Kampala, we headed north to Arua, and just one night in Arua, we were arrested and locked up by the police. In the cell, we were stripped bare, our shoes and all the money in our pockets were taken. Up till that moment, none of us thought of returning to Egypt, though some of us had a return ticket.

I have never been in a police cell since I was born, it was a shock to all of us but thank God we were together. We sang and prayed and the presence of God was and will always be in the police cell. The first day, the inmates were rough, demanding money or they would beat us up. Thank God by the following day they became our friends. But the worst was yet to come as the police told us on the third day that we were to be deported to South Sudan, we were afraid at first but then we didn’t have any choice, so we trusted God, after all that was where He wanted us to be.

The police made sure we traveled all the way to the border. On arriving Yei, the SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) authorities arrested us on the allegation that we did not have proper documents to enter South Sudan. Our passports were taken and we reported at their office every day for one month to make sure we were not enemies of the Movement. Yei was not safe, we lived in bunkers most of the time, fighter planes dropped bombs twice or thrice daily and many people we knew died some of them were our disciples. God kept us alive and He continued to use us.

Two years later it became easier for foreign ministries and churches to come to Yei and we thank God for the grace He gave us to go through all the pains we experienced for His cause and glory. We have since hosted many foreign ministries. Our ministry, Sudan for Christ Ministries has always been a platform for ministry expression. We welcome those that want to come to South Sudan to fulfill God’s call on their lives. We would be willing to assist them in any way possible to see Jesus honored with their visit and our partnership.

Pastor Stanley is married to Vicky.  Vicky heads the ministry’s nursery and primary schools with over 540 kids. They are blessed with three lovely children.

When we heard that hell, accompanied by his brother death had arrived Juba and Khartoum, I began to pack a few needful items together. Most foreigners did. The shortest route to the border was in our thoughts but no one said a word about that. Killings, lootings, burn fires and riots raged in Juba and Khartoum.

I was folding a shirt when Mama Rebecca Garang’s voice came on BBC radio. She spoke well, trying to stop the tension that was already out of control in many parts of the country.   She asked the people to be calm and law abiding and to not jeopardize the peace they’d fought so hard to achieve.  People did listen to her words of encouragement and it paid off in some areas.   But over 60 people had been killed by that  time and many more were to follow within the week.

All week long, the radio station was playing only martial music.  I have never seen so many people grieve so deeply all my life.  You’d not see so many people gathered and suddenly there’s no reason to laugh or even smile.  No one dared a joke only tears flowed. What would be so funny at a time like this?  I imagined how much the war had formed the emotions and ideas in  the minds of those that lived through it.

The next day, the church leaders in Yei called the people together for prayers and many turned up at the Freedom Square.  I was there.  Though it turned out to be too religious for my liking the act was a noble one by the church leaders.  I was glad to see that the Church in Yei commanded the respect of the soldiers and the general public. Truly, we achieve more as a team with well defined goals.  We were at that meeting when news came that the body of the late leader will be taken to a few key towns so that his people can pay last respects.

When the body arrived Yei around 10.45am on the 3^rd of August; a cry like I’ve never heard before filled the air with true human sorrow and love for our lost leader.  A few people fainted and where carried off to the general hospital which was a stone throw away.  Men and women wept freely, even some soldiers couldn’t hold back.  I wept too, not because I knew the man,  but the pain expressed by so many people around me brought tears to my eyes.  They loved this man and the dreams of a new reality that he wanted to bring to the people.

Unknown to many of us that day, over 1,500 soldiers all fully armed, with armored tanks and all manner of combat gear and vehicles were on their way to Yei from Uganda to grace the occasion. Their mission was to give their President, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda maximum projection.  He was a personal friend to the late leader and due to the circumstances surrounding the death of his friend, he needed to come to Yei to clear the air.  In the heart of some people, he was a suspect. He’d not fly into Sudan for obvious reasons.  He opted to travel with his wife by road into Yei.  It was a sight.

The setting was grand for speech making and we heard a few.  I personally admired the wife of the late Dr. Garang.  I heard she was a very senior officer in the SPLA (Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army).  So I was looking at a woman who commanded troops alongside her husband for years in the bush.  Her composure was awesome and motivating all at the same time.  “SPLA Oye! SPLA Oye!!”.  She greeted her comrades and moved the crowd with passionate oratory.

On that day, I concluded that the civil war was far more than a South vs North, Christian vs Muslim or African vs Arab war.  I’m strongly persuaded that it was and still to this day is a Light vs Darkness war.  God’s quest for global worship was at the crux of battle.  His will and hunger for hot worship from all tribes can only be delayed the noise and rumors of war through out the countries.  On this day, so many stopped and cried to hear the true words of peace.  Today, you could tell that our leader’s death was not in vain.

During that week, a Sudanese commentator speaking via BBC radio on the tragedy in land said, “…if this happened in the olden days, several young men would go into the forest unarmed and wrestle wild animals to the death in honor of their hero.”  I was shocked.  I reflected on this statement for weeks. I still do.

Dr. John Garang De Mabior is a national hero in Sudan.  His photo adorns many government offices, shops and homes until today that is.  But he’s gone and yet the peoples of Sudan are still searching and longing for the Hero.  The One whose vision for them is not temporal but eternal. Surrounded by thousands of Sudanese on that ground, I made a promise to God, to introduce this people to the real Hero. The One whom great heroes bow to and say, “You alone is worthy!!!”

What is the hope of Sudan today?  Where will this nation be in 10 or 20 years time? What kind of church will we have here then?  What kind of leaders will lead then?

What can I (we) do today to make a difference in Sudan tomorrow?

We were two weeks into the Bible School which was going really good. Our big banner inviting interested students still hung outside by the main gate. It spoke of serious business and we really prepared for it. But no one could have ever imagined the event of 31^st July 2005 and what was to follow.

It was the worst non combat event in the nation of Sudan in recent memory, especially for Southerners. We woke on Monday morning August 1, 2005, to the news that the presidential chopper boarded by Dr. John Garang De Mabior from Entebbe, Uganda to Juba, the captial of South Sudan was missing. The aircraft belonged to President Musevni of Uganda.

Dr. John Garang was the visionary leader of South Sudan. He had successfully led his people in the south through a most gruesome civil war against the northern government. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was secured and signed on 9^th January 2005, marking the end of the war.

The radios from everywhere were loud; every listener was engaged, waiting for their fears to be allayed. Pastor Stanley walked into my room and sat down. We exchanged morning greetings and nothing more. No one was talking much. Everybody was listening and pondering. Can it be true?

By 10am, it was official. Dr. John Garang is dead. The SPLA soldiers had found the crash site in a mountainous range in Sudan and recovered his body with that of his 8 aides and the 7 crew members. He was sworn in as the country’s first Vice President and the President of South Sudan; just three weeks before his death.

Sadness engulfed us. Sporadic gun shots rang out from several quarters. The anger in the air was thick but more than that was the fear. Many foreigners ran for cover to the UN compound. Others gathered in groups to pray and plan.

I needed to contact my family and mobilize prayers immediately. Yei had a cell phone company that operated an analog system that allowed users to call out but not receive from other networks but its own. I folded my flight ticket into my international passport, pocketed it and made my way to the telecom company. It ran an internet café and the Manager was my friend. But that day, nobody was anybody’s friend. I managed to sneak into the café and send a quick email to my dear wife.

But the telecommunication equipment was faulty so people could not make calls. This further worsened the madness brewing in the heads of some soldiers that needed to communicate with their commanders. Some threatened to burn down the telecom office if they returned and their “one-way” cell phones were still not working. I knew it was time to return to our base.

I arrived the base to notice an AK-47 in my room. “Who owns this?” I inquired.

“It’s ours,” said the security guard, a beloved disciple.

“Ours?” “Who is ours… you mean we have a gun here?”

“Yes, every home has at least one. Some have many.”

It was my first time to handle an AK-47 rifle and even have the opportunity of firing it, though I didn’t. I admired it and it felt really good. For a brief second I felt different holding it. Believe me there’s something about that deadly weapon the oozes confidence.

Then, I asked the young man, “Can you imagine how many people this thing has killed?” Without attempting to answer, he took the gun from me, walked outside and let off a few rounds.

“I thought we had discussed spending some time to pray about this situation?” I was trying to recover from the shock the bangs of the shots had sent through my being. “We should show good example to our neighbors…”

He cuts in, “Uche, you pray and we watch. That is how, we’ll survive.”

I didn’t see the need to argue with him.

But should a Christian use a gun for self defense?  Or simply trust the Lord and the words of the Bible?

[Defining moments of that week in Part 2]

My trip back to Kampala from Yei last week was challenging to say the least. Since I was to travel to Kampala with the same transport company that lost the Bibles, for security reasons, therefore,  I chose to go through Arua, instead of Koboko, to catch the bus going to Kampala. My “friends” in Koboko,  were still trying to provide answers to my missing Bibles. I hear they want to pay for them.

I arrived Arua rather late but in time for my trip to Kampala. As I waited for my bag to be searched, I made a few local calls with my cell phone. Custom officers at the bus station search every luggage for contraband goods and whenever a bag is opened, every eye around is looking to see what’s in it; what’s in your bag tells your story.

I boarded the bus early so I could get a space for my carry-on. I placed the bag right over me in the roof rack and took my seat. I felt ready for the long ride. Suddenly, I remembered I’d not locked the bag after it was searched so I got up and locked it.

The guy whose seat was in front of mine came in after me. He was a young man in his mid-twenties I guess. He tried to force his bag in beside mine, but the space was too small. The opposite rack was free but instead of taking it, he quickly dropped his bag on his seat and dashed out of the bus. He didn’t get back until after 6minutes or so. At that time, I was already searching for the cellphone.  Some kind lady suggested I tell her the number so she could call it.

“Pity ma, I can’t remember the number. I don’t use it often…”

I’m now on my knees looking under the seats and feeling very silly with my last response. This was no cheap cell phone. It was a gift, and a good one too, bearly 3months old. With 61 passengers waiting for me, I ran off to where I sat at the lounge maybe I left it there. Pity!

Finally, I gave up, sat down and began to think. Then I remembered. I had it with me when I was locking my bag. I kept it beside the bag in the roof rack while locking it and this guy in front of me was the only one to go there and he acted really strange when he was trying to place his bag beside mine. Did he see the cell phone there, take it and dash off to turn it off outside? I leaned forward and asked him. He denied. After much thought, I was convinced he had it.

I started thinking of my options. I settled to let him go but not without a counsel. I must say something that he won’t forget too soon, a sentence that could lead him to Jesus. But my mind was blank. Anger was not letting me think or even pray. I thought of offering him the spare battery and the charger as parting gifts.

When we entered Kampala; he signaled he’s getting off before the terminus. When he did, I followed him. He had something in the trunk and demanded it; I stood by, waiting for the conductor to give him his stuff before giving him mine. To my shock, it was a brand new bow with several arrows, which he’d purchased at one of our stops, where arts and crafts are sold.

I quietly entered the bus and kept my final words and gifts to myself. Wisdom told me I was beaten. The stakes were higher now and I’m not going to heaven on this guy’s terms. He can keep the phone.

I now know why self-control is the last fruit listed in Gal 5:23; it takes the longest time to mature.

These men and many others who escaped have played god in
Yei for too long. Calling themselves weird names with Dr. attached, feeding on
the pains and insecurities of people, they promise to cure all manner of
illnesses including the dreaded HIV/AIDS.  Charms for protection from accidents and gun
shots during war, love portions, conception concoctions, wealth armlets and deadly
poisons are some of their bestsellers.

So, what led to their arrest? 

A man who wanted instant riches consulted one of these
men recently and he was told to bring his wife as a sacrifice to the shrine. That too absurd for him to imagine, much less do. So he reported to the police,
who immediately began to investigate. They discovered more than they thought
possible. One sad discovery was the picture of a young girl hanging on the wall
in the home of one of these witch doctors with a “prayer request” attached to
it. It was from someone that wanted her dead. The witch doctor was contracted to
execute the job for a fee. This and other weird findings triggered their arrest. Sadly, some escaped.

People who feel cursed or bewitched come to our church regularly
asking for deliverance. Their stories are always of torments, spiritual harassment,
unexplained illnesses, pain, and of course, the fear of death.

It’s unfortunate to imagine that some of the victims
of these crooks were hurting people, who may have at some time come to the
church, seeking help? People that need the love, assurance and protection the
gospel provides. They may have sat beside us some time ago in our church,
unnoticed. They may be neighbors, hoping we’d connect or visit.

Could it be that God was too slow and uncertain for them?
God acts in His own ways and time.

What do you think?

When Peter Mazedi joined our Bible School, he was shy and
rather too reserved for my liking. I prefer students who come pumped up, firing
questions on everything that doesn’t make sense to them. Peter was different. When he spoke or answered a question, all the students seemed
to agree his view was theirs too. I can’t recall how he heard of the Bible
school but he was among the first to register. He’s light skinned and for a
Sudanese, that stands you out. He’s a native of Yambio, a growing town located in
the Equatoria south west region of Southern Sudan.

Our first one-on-one encounter was forgettable, he came late
with a flimsy excuse and I reacted. But as the lessons progressed, I grow fond
of this guy. He struck me as a very thoughtful student, always speaking with
measured words and showing more interest than most by always completing reading
and written assignments. He made me feel I was succeeding with my work by sharing
his views on various topics. He converted during one of our recent meetings, but didn’t really understand
what following Jesus meant.

Four years down the road, our relationship has grown. His
last email to me recently reads:

My dear father in the Lord, I am in
Juba. I took my annual leave from April – May to visit my family in Yambio, it
was a joyous moment for me after long time without to me.

I wish we meet, so that I can at least
share with you how the Lord is so merciful to me and my family which I can’t
tell you all on the net. It is true that I didn’t know much about God and his
faithfulness and how to wait upon him. I won’t forget you in my life till I
die. I was waiting for one step to write to you.

To mention few:

1/ I am fellowshipping in Juba
Christian Center (JCC), as a sanctuary keeper. I love working with hand for the
Lord b’se he provide me the strength & heathy. We do conduct prayer at the
Ministry every Monday. I am known as Abuna [Reverend Father or Pastor] due to
my conduct (I am not boast of it b’se it isn’t my doing, I know He is the one
protecting me in everything.)

2/ Brother I didn’t know that I will
study again in my live. But He has done it for me. I had no paper, I was
unqualified to enter University. I was courageous and went back to Secondary
School. Our result was out and I passed well, now we have submitted the
admission for Sudanese Universities’ intake.

3/ My wife is very strong and
powerful in the Lord. She has more testimonies.

My God is everything I need in life.
I see my destiny bright, whatever suffer I encounter, I see it nothing. It
is for my salvation and my family that I met you.

In Love,

Peter Mazedi

Juba   

It was just a day like any other during those seasons of Bible School in May 2008. We had two classes every evening. They were always full of fun, drama, jokes and sometimes hash confrontations.

A student once asked, “Uche, the Bible says the word of God is milk, is it fresh milk or yogurt?” He was very serious and sincere and wondered why I was so cracked up, laughing uncontrollably.

On this fateful day, a few first timers arrived and where warmly welcomed. But as you can guess, they all came without Bibles.

Since I always came to class with a few new copies, ready for those that come without one, I asked, “Who doesn’t have a Bible?” A few hands go up. I counted five of them.

As politely as I could, I asked; “Do you have 2 pounds? All the hands go down with lightening speed.

I paused, gathered myself together and then continued marketing.

“I have Bibles here for you, we buy them for 5 pounds and we give you at 2 pounds. That’s good business sense isn’t it?” I asked with a measured smile, hoping to provoke enough interest, lighten their moods and mine too.

“It’s just 2pounds, I’m sure you spend more than that everyday don’t you?” I gestured to the guy sitting before me. His face was blank, totally expressionless.

I went on the offensive, this time, staring directly at Anuar, one of the new comers. “You know you can sell your shoe and buy a Bible with the money and have some change?” The silence in class was deafening.

Anuar was wearing a good looking pair of sneakers. When he noticed I was still admiring them, he pulled his legs back under the chair as if hiding them from my view, or was he? Unknown to me, he was actually removing them and before I could say another word, he lifted the pair of sneakers in the air and said; “Who wants to buy?”

“How much?” I asked. 

“5 pounds!” He replied, with a rather cynical smile. I guess he thought like I did- no one here will spend that on this. But then, Kuku, another beloved disciple, grabs the shoes and instantly pays 5 pounds. Anuar gives the money to me and gets his Bible.

As I walked around the class looking for his 3 pounds change, the class was in rapturous laughter and applause. “We are trading now…” someone hollered.

It was a day to remember as I recalled with nostalgia my encounter with John in the same room few years back. What made Anuar different? I guess hunger.

One of my favorite lines is- you can’t teach hunger. It just happens and when it’s absent, it can’t be faked or forced. “When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.” Proverbs 27:7 The Message Bible

There’s something about genuine conversion that propels growth, which progresses according to the sacrifices a disciple makes in his quest for intimacy with His Creator. It never happens by accident.

We all choose where to channel our passions, what to spend our time and money on and all these ultimately point to where we’ll end up, doesn’t  it?. 

 More in Part 3. [Another student, Peter Mazidi has a special testimony. He was in that class of July-September 2005 with John. The progress of this pilgrim will excite you.]