This article appeared in our quarterly magazine, Xpress, in June 2007

Fiona J - Pioneers team member in Nigeria

Rahilla collapses back onto the thatched mat overcome with pain and exhaustion as the sweat runs down her body before soaking into her dirty clothes. Her limbs are shaking with fatigue and her body is burning with fever as malaria (and possibly typhoid) compounds the effects of her labouring for over 40 hours.

The encouraging coaxing of the Tribal Birth Assistant (grandma of the village) is growing weaker as her concern starts to show. They need to get Rahilla to a hospital before it is too late. Her sister and neighbour help lift her into a rickety bush taxi. Rahilla can now barely lift her head between each contraction. A tear runs down her cheek as she dreads the possibility of losing yet another baby in childbirth. Her groans are drowned by the revving engine and rattle of the car as it bumps down the dusty dirt track. Women from the village gather to pray for God to give her the strength to make it through the labour. This is her fifth pregnancy in four years with only two surviving children

Communities are being transformed as the production of Christian and educational radio programs go out through the airwaves over Southern Sudan. We’re helping to train and advise a Sudanese team that records, produces and distributes radio programs, and as we do, relationships are being built with other radio stations, church workers and educational groups. We also offer IT support and help raise funds. But our “ministry” is often done after hours! We teach, fix things, network, provide a listening ear, a prayer and hospitality…will you?

With effective pastoring and leadership in the growing Sudanese Church as the goal, we teach and mentor theological students in the heart of the Sudan. As they attend classes and wrestle with issues, we are equipping them with a biblical theology and a contextual framework that will allow them to step out of classes and into being a leader for the local church…will you?