The Newsletter of
SOMA USA

Advent 2000     Volume 15, Number 4

Building Unity In Sudan        by Mr. Scott Field
Go to the top

Ms. Cynthia Seeliger teaches the Sudanese children a new praise song.

In September, SOMA continued its commitment to provide ministry to the persecuted church. A joint SOMA USA and Church Mission Society (CMS) team traveled to the diocese of Yambio in southern Sudan. Two additional SOMA UK/CMS teams ministered in the dioceses of Maridi, Lui and Mundri. Each team shared in ministry differently to meet the needs of the dioceses, building on our previous visit.

As we neared All Saints Cathedral in Yambio, the Christians greeted our vehicle waving palm branches and singing praise songs. This incredible outpouring of love blessed the entire team. In war-torn southern Sudan, where death and disease are constant companions, safe arrival from travel is ample reason to praise God. Afier being warmly greeted by Bishop Peter Munde Yacoub and the clergy, we walked together to the cathedral for prayers and Thanksgivings

The theme of the clergy conference was “Building Unity in the Spirit,” based on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. The conference challenged the pastors, lay evangelists and Mothers Union leaders to live Spirit-filled lives in their homes, villages and churches as a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Building unity” begins with an individual’s commitment to serve God through faith in Jesus Christ. Believers build unity in their churches, and then reach out to others to build unity in their community. The teaching on God’s view of marriage (Ephesians 5) particularly challenged the delegates because of Paul’s counter-cultural message: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Jesus’ model of servant leadership is a radical idea in this male-oriented culture.

At the same time, a conference for youth workers took place under a mango tree near the cathedral. The youth workers received training in the afternoon from youth pastor Cynthia Seeliger in preparation for their outreach ministry to children. The purpose of the ministry was to train this next generation of leaders in the church to share the love of Christ with their next generation.

It was a privilege for the team to serve in this growing diocese. Despite the hardships that the people face because of the ongoing civil war, they exude tremendous hope and faith that God will provide their every need. Many of the lay evangelists and clergy move in the gifts of the Spirit, especially healing and deliverance ministries. Praise the Lord!

Team list: Mr. Scott Field, Team Leader, SOMA USA; Ms. Fran Boyle, Truro, Fairfax, VA; Ms. Jan O’Brien, Christ Church, Overland Park, KS; Ms. Cynthia Seeliger and Mrs. Joyce Shepard, St. Bartholomew's, Nashville, TN; and the Rev. Trisha Wick, CMS-UK.

Assistant Bishop Humberto Axt wrote SOMA this encouraging report about our team’s September visit to the Diocese of Northern Argentina.
   “Without a doubt, the team of our brethren Bishop Julio and Ana Lorena Murray (newly consecrated Bishop of Panama and his wife), Bruce Russell (team leader from All Saints’, Dale City, VA) and Joan and Davie Gooch (Buenos Aires, Argentina) have been used amongst us by the Lord to minister to us, train us, and allow us to receive new strength in the Lord.”
    “Many of the people who attended the retreat have expressed similar sentiments to the effect that they have received new inner strength and new hope. We give thanks to the Lord for all that was shared. We are so thankful that it was possible for our brethren to get to Salta and develop their ministry in this way among us. We would like to know whether or not it is possible to request another visit from a SOMA team in the future.”

In late September, SOMA sent a team of four to three New Zealand dioceses to teach on intercessory prayer and to enlarge their vision for regional transformation. Team leader, the Rev. Peter Schoew from Trinity Church in Albuquerque, NM, was accompanied by Ms. Bonnie Bashor, St. Bartholomew’s, Nashville, TN, and Pastor Don and Mrs. Brenda Rodgers, Bethel Temple Assembly of God, Hampton, VA.

    Starting out on the North Island, they presented a prayer seminar to leaders from a variety of denominations, preached in several parishes, and offered testimonies about God’s work of transforming whole communities around the world. Traveling by the inter-island ferry to the South Island, they had a staggering number of additional opportunities to teach on intercession, preach, worship and offer ministry to a variety of congregations and denominations. During the ministry time the Holy Spirit moved in power and tenderness; many were touched by the Lord with sorrow leading to repentance, healing, joy and refreshment. Wherever they went, the team emphasized the principle that sustained intercessory prayer must under-gird the strategy and tactics that Jesus is revealing to those seeking revival.
    Nelson Diocese invited the team to lead a retreat for the delegates before their annual Synod. Afterwards, Bishop Derek Eaton said, “What we needed to hear is what you came to tell us and the time was now!” Comments from the delegates after a time of healing prayer included: “I felt my Father in Heaven’s love during the prayers; ” “I felt the Holy Spirit clearing out the cobwebs of my soul so I would be more available for intercession;” and “Awesome!”

The Rev. Elizabeth Sausele shares the Word.

Bwana Asifiwe! Amen! (Kiswahili for Praise the Lord!) This was the standard greeting and response everywhere we went during our visit to Kenya in August. I bring you greetings from our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Maseno North in Western Kenya. Bishop Simon O’Ketch of this diocese invited a SOMA team to lead a week-long Diocesan Youth conference and to teach on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This was to help fulfill his dream and vision that “my entire diocese will be on fire for Jesus Christ before I retire - and especially the Youth!”

But what made the short term mission such a memorable blessing was the wonderful, beautiful people. We had around 100 attendees at the Conference. The best way I could describe their profound spirituality is the fact that they are blessed with having very little materially, and they are unencumbered with the idol of “stuff!” Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is everything in their lives - truly their “All in All.” They live in the Fruit of the Spirit - the most joyful, peaceful, gentle, warm, kind, and generous people I’ve ever known. Their hospitality was beyond description - from the washing of our hands before and after meals and Tea Time with a pitcher of heated water with a basin and towel, to the two large papayas I was given for my preaching at one of the villages on our first Sunday.

Many people told me I would not be the same after my mission, and they were right! There was a part of me that didn’t want to come home, but I brought Kenya and our dear brothers and sisters in Christ home with me in my heart, mind, and spirit. What a blessing to worship and praise the Lord and study His Holy Word with these dear people. I can’t wait to return and take some of you with me!

Bwana Asifiwe! Praise the Lord indeed!!!

Team list: the Rev. Scot Wright, team leader; St. John's, Kirkland WA; Ms. Jean Helmer: St. James', Kent, WA; Mrs. Catherine Groton and the Rev. Elizabeth Sausele, Christ Church, Denver CO; Mrs. Joyie Mugarura; Mr. Paul Mugarura; Mr. John Awodi; and Mr. Fred Muhumuza, all from St. Francis Chapel, Kampala, Uganda.

Bishop Elisha Kyamugambi, Diocese of East Ankole, Uganda, invited SOMA to conduct a second clergy and spouses conference in September. The first conference generated blessings, but also resistance to renewal by some. On the first day of the conference, the Rev. Dr. Ron Jackson addressed these concerns by carefully walking through the Book of Common Prayer, highlighting its importance to renewal. Subsequent sessions addressed a variety of topics from deliverance and healing ministry to the Baptismal liturgy.

An unexpected blessing during the conference was a heavy rainstorm. The pounding rain on the metal roof of the cathedral drowned out the speaker, unexpectedly resulting in two hours of fellowship time. It became a time of laughter and joy as people rekindled friendships and opened up to one another. Jesus was clearly present.

Team list: The Rev. Dr. Ron Jackson, team leader: Mrs. Patty Jackson, and Mrs. Monica Gunn, all from St. Luke's of the Mountain, La Crescenta, CA; Dr Katie Rhoads, Christ Church, Overland Park, KS; the Rev Benoni Mugarura-Mutana and Mrs. Joyie Mugarura, Kampala, Uganda.

Edwina Thomas, Director

“I heard something about the SOMA Consultation in South Africa. What’s it all about anyway?”
“Are you advocating what some in the Church would call social action programs?

Nope! As our SOMA teams have moved across the globe at the Holy Spirit’s bidding, we have encountered people and places where something like revival is“breaking out” of the church into the community. Violence decreases, crime rates drop, all of the churches in a community grow, and the influence of Christians spills into education, politics, and the economy. The secular press takes notice and labels such a community “transformed.” The truth is, no community is “transformed,” only "in transformation.”

God the Holy Spirit seems to be “on the move” as He leads individuals in a community to come together for united, fervent, selfless intercession. They pray for the community’s pastors, “Give them a hunger for the things that attract the presence of God.” Leaders among the pastors become committed to each other in unity and persistent in loving and caring for the community. They seek social reconciliation among themselves, churches, and within the community. Often such unity results in a public power encounter: a clash between God’s kingdom and evil. Loving a given community means locating the “warts,” researching the historical roots, and praying with discernment for the Spirit’s healing intervention. I, for one, certainly want the Holy Spirit’s transforming power to touch my community.

In late October, over 200 Anglicans and other guests from across the globe came to Cape Town, South Africa, at SOMA’s invitation. For almost a week, these leaders listened carefully to speakers from five continents share ideas, scripture and personal witness about communities undergoing transformation. Because, to date, this great move of the Spirit is happening primarily outside of the mainline denominations, the Consultation schedule encouraged delegates to engage the speakers and each other in a discovery process. The result: How might we (as Anglicans) become a Church that is an agent of transformation?

This is a move clearly orchestrated and led by the Spirit-not a “quick fix” or a “program” to adopt. SOMA says, “Transform us, God, that we, too, may participate in what you are doing.”