On October 5-6 in Cairo, Egypt, bishops from the Diocese of Egypt and dioceses in the north of Sudan held a meeting of reflection and planning with several mission partners, including the Anglican Church in North America and the Anglican Relief and Development Fund. This important meeting was held for the benefit of discussing the challenges and needs facing the suffering northern dioceses of the Province of the Episcopal (Anglican) Church of Sudan. Upon completion of this meeting, the partners in mission with Sudan released an official communique stating the challenges facing this region, their specific needs, and the top priorities of the partners in mission in order to implement lasting peace in the Sudan.
To read the communique, click here.
Bishop Mouneer Anis invited Canon Nancy Norton, Executive Director, Anglican Relief and Development Fund, and The Ven. Canon Dr. Jack Lumanog, Canon for Provincial and Global Mission for the Anglican Church, to join him in this consultation on mission for Sudan with Sudanese bishops, Bread for the World, Church Missionary Society Ireland, Michael Nazir-Ali, Church of England Bishop and President, Oxford Center for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue, and Dean Kuan Kim Seng of the Province of South East Asia.
Canon Jack described his recent trip to Egypt: “As I visited Jesus Light of the World Anglican Church in Old Cairo and word of the clash between Coptic Christians and the military was just getting out, the resident priest made this statement: ‘Canon Jack, pray for us because we are suffering in Egypt physically. And Anglican Christians in Egypt will pray for you as you are suffering spiritually and theologically in America.’ Being able to see our brothers and sisters in Cairo gave me a clearer picture of what it is like ministering as a minority faith in Africa. The challenges to the Gospel are great, but our Lord Jesus Christ is greater.”
The Anglican Church Continues Support of Sudan
Through the Anglican Relief and Development Fund, the Anglican Church in North America has been quick in the past to call for prayer and provide financial relief to the Sudan. There also has been mutual support given between the Anglican Church and bishops in the Sudan.
Through its participation in this consultation, the Anglican Church in North America was able to be with the bishops of Sudan to hear first-hand of their joys and sorrows and to pray with them in receiving the Lord’s wisdom on the way forward for the provinces to work together. The bishops shared projects of relief and development which needed financial assistance. As a National Trustee for ARDF, Canon Jack was able to receive and present these project reports at the ARDF Trustees meeting that took place in Pittsburgh following the Cairo meeting. The ARDF Trustees are working on connecting these projects with the needed financing.
“Our Province has been blessed to be invited to this Missions Consultation by Bishop Mouneer Anis of the Diocese of Egypt. Bishop Mouneer is a good friend of the Province and a supporter of what we are doing in reaching North America with the transforming love of Jesus Christ,” said Canon Jack.
“As we have been blessed as a Province, we are doing our part to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters who are facing incredible challenges to survive physically and spiritually. Thanks to Bishop Mouneer, it was a great honor representing the Province with Canon Nancy Norton to our ministry partners in Egypt and Sudan. Our prayers are with the bishops of Sudan and with Bishop Mouneer as he is being used by the Lord mightily in bringing healing and reconciliation to Egypt,” continued Canon Jack.
Photo caption: (From left to right) Canon Jack Lumanog, Bishop Samaan Farjalla Mahdi, Bishop Ezekiel Kondo, Bishop Ismail Gebriel Abu Digin, and Canon Nancy Norton, outside All Saints Cathedral in Cairo, Egypt.
