South Sudan holds a special place in the heart of the Relay Trust. This November, a joint delegation from Relay Trust, Anglican Aid, and the Church Association of Sudan and South Sudan (CASSS) visited the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), further deepening ties and reaffirming our shared commitment to building grassroots leadership in the world’s youngest nation.
Our team, represented by John Inglis-Jones and Doug Ingram, journeyed across the country, travelling to Yambio, Maridi, Wau, Kwajok, and Mongalla. They met with local leaders, visiting Anglican Discipleship Programme (ADP) groups, and engaging directly with the communities where faith is flourishing despite significant challenges.
In Yambio, 91 disciples graduated from the ADP at Bishop Yeremiah College in a joyful ceremony led by Archbishop Samuel Peni. These new leaders spoke powerfully of the transformation the programme has brought to their lives, communities, and churches. In Wau, Maridi, and Mongalla, we witnessed how the ADP is growing deep roots, empowering lay leaders, inspiring new initiatives, and helping congregations flourish even in hard-to-reach areas.
The visit also included significant time with ECSS leaders, including Archbishop Justin Badi. These high-trust conversations affirmed the strength of our relationship and laid the groundwork for long-term development. The ECSS recognises the importance of moving from discipleship to leadership training, and we were pleased to confirm that from 2027 the ADP will evolve into a focused Lay Reader training programme, aiming to train up to 28,000 lay leaders by 2035.
We also visited theological colleges across the country, including St John’s, Bishop Yeremiah, and Chaima Christian Institute. These institutions will play a key role in supporting parish-level leaders. Assessments are planned in 2026 to determine how best to strengthen these colleges and expand residential training; ensuring a pipeline of well-equipped clergy to support the growing lay leadership base.
In every place we visited, we saw evidence of faith, resilience and vision. The Church in South Sudan is growing, and the need for trained leaders is more urgent than ever. Relay Trust remains committed to walking alongside our South Sudanese brothers and sisters. We do not come with all the answers, but with listening ears, open hands and a desire to serve in partnership. This visit confirmed the fruit of what has already been planted and gave us great hope for the harvest to come.
