The retired archbishop has urged the political leaders of South Sudan to preserve lives of citizens instead of struggling for power and wealth in the country.
The retired Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya and former GAFCON Chairman, together with leaders of All Africa Conference of Churches to South Sudan has urged the political leaders of South Sudan to preserve lives of citizens instead of struggling for power and wealth in the country.
The five member delegation of religious leaders from All Africa Conference of Churches led by Retired Archbishop of Kenya, Eliud Wabukala comprised of Rev. Dr. Jesse Macharia Kamau, Rev. Dr. Lydia Mwaniki, Ms. Afiwa Allahare and Mr. Daniel Wang’ombe Kiriethe have come to encourage Christians and Christian leaders in South Sudan to pray and work towards peace in the region.
Speaking exclusively to Juba Monitor after prayers for peace in South Sudan at All Saints Cathedral Mobil, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala said leaders of South Sudan should not give up engaging each other as they face challenges of nation building in South Sudan.
“What they are going through is part of nation building and therefore they should not give up even in sharing and engaging each other,” he said.
“Power is not everything; wealth is not everything and as Christians, life is more important so my message to them is that in whatever way they should help to preserve life and when people are not dying then it is possible for them to find ways and means of engaging with each other as brothers and sisters,” Archbishop Wabukala emphasized.
He said lasting peace cannot come through military force but lasting peace comes when hearts of people are drawn to each other by love.
He said if Sudan Council of Churches engages President Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar in dialogue for the country to enjoy lasting peace, All Africa Conference of Churches will be able to support the initiative.
“People can solve their problems if they come on the table genuinely and make dialogue. Now the church in Africa will accompany the Church in South Sudan on the things the Church of South Sudan has taken as very important and so we shall wait to hear what our brothers and sisters think is the most important thing to take,” he said.
He said it is the responsibility of the Church in South Sudan to identify whether dialogue is the best way of bringing lasting peace to South Sudan.
“If that step means facilitating and supporting dialogue we shall be able to do that but first and foremost it is the Church in South Sudan that will on the ground identify the priorities and we shall go along with those priorities,” Archbishop Wabukala explained.
The Kenyan Anglican Archbishop also encouraged the Christian leaders of South Sudan to be united in order to help the political leaders of the country to be united.
“We have found that first they are already working together and so we encourage them to be united to express that unity by action and to help the political class to be united towards peace as we know that the challenges of South Sudan are many and some of them may revolve around their tribal differences but Christians are well placed to give unity through Jesus Christ so that our differences are not overwhelming,” he said.
In his message to the Christians in South Sudan, Archbishop Wabukala in the sermon taken from 1Peter 4: 7-11, said people should deeply love one another, avoid tribal differences, offer hospitality to each other and that they should not be tired in doing good.
“Let us love one another deeply, avoid your tribal differences, offer hospitality to each other and let us not be tired in doing good for our people,” he emphasized.
