Growing the Lopit church in South Sudan

Join a team supporting the fledgling Lopit church in South Sudan towards the goal of seeing self-sustaining churches developing a passion to reach the unreached villages around them.

Background

Based in the Torit district of South Sudan, the Lopit practice traditional agriculture, as well as rearing livestock. They also harvest forest products, such as honey and shea nuts. Traditionally they believe in a supreme god, with spirits interacting with their day to day lives. Worship celebrations are accompanied by dancing and drinking, and alcoholism is a problem among the Lopit. Their culture is transmitted through song, poetry, drama and music that express emotions.

An initial Training in Ministry Outreach (TIMO) team among the Lopit saw a fledgling Africa Inland Church congregation established in Lohutok village. Since then, the church has experienced spiritual and numerical growth, and outreach work has seen local congregations emerging in several other villages. A second team lived in these outlying villages between 2013 – 2015 and had the joy of seeing more Lopit turning to Christ. Team members have since returned to support the young church, but they need extra help.

Ministry & type of work

Led by Kenyan missionaries Robert & Carol Bett, the team on the ground needs additional members to support the church in the southern area of the Lopit territory. The team’s ministry will be centred around the goal of seeing self-sustaining churches in the south developing a passion to reach the surrounding villages that have no evangelical witness. The team will be involved in evangelism, as well as discipling local believers and training potential leaders so that they can plant churches in the unreached mountain areas.

Qualifications & experience

A heart for the unreached people of South Sudan.

Please get in touch with us to talk to your local Mission Advisor about how new workers are trained and prepared to join one of our teams.

FAQS

What are the education options for my children?

We’ll work with you to explore the best education options available for your children. Some families homeschool their children, some enrol their children at one of AIM’s schools as boarders or day students (Rift Valley Academy in Kenya, Wellspring Academy in Chad or Haven of Peace Academy in Tanzania), and some enrol their children in a national school.

Hannah who now works at Wellspring Academy talks about the role of missionary teachers:

How do I raise support?

We believe that God will provide for those he is leading into cross-cultural mission with AIM. The first step is to be praying, and to share your needs with your church and supporters, so that they can be praying with you that your needs would be met. Once your assignment is agreed and confirmed, a detailed budget is prepared for you which outlines the overall amount needed to be raised or pledged for your first term (2-3 years depending on location). You will need to have 100% of this amount pledged before you can travel.

The budget is shared with your sending church and we will work with you and your church to help you think about this further. Our European Based Orientation programme provides some training on partnership development, and we will provide other resources for you to share with potential supporters too, such as a prayer card, a page on our website with an online giving form and a standing order form (if needed).

Listen to a pastor talking about offering support:

Do I need to be able to speak another language?

On almost every assignment you will need to learn another language and sometimes we recommend some language training before you leave. We recognise the value of building relationships and making disciples by communicating with people in their own language. This is especially true for those applying long term. Language learning is part of the TIMO programme, and when necessary, language school (in the UK, Africa, or elsewhere) is an option. In some positions and areas English might be enough to get by, but we strongly emphasise local language learning as a way to engage and reach local people with the gospel.

Leonie Dielman

I try to invest in the youth through Bible studies using the five questions of the storying method… When I started the studies, I was so amazed that the youth, usually so quiet, didn’t stop talking and answering questions.

Interested? Get in Touch

Long term ( Over a year )

Our passion is to see Christ-centred churches among all African peoples. Currently there are over 1,000 people groups in Africa or 316 million people, who are waiting to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Our vision is to engage with these unreached people, partner with churches in Africa to raise up gospel workers and equip African church leaders to strengthen the church. Could you play a part?. LEARN MORE

South Sudan

South Sudan became the world’s newest country on 9 July 2011. It was the outcome of the 2005 peace deal that ended Africa’s longest-running civil war. The majority of the population adhere to Christianity. Only 18% call themselves Muslim unlike Sudan, which is 97%. LEARN MORE

TIMO

TIMO is Training In Ministry Outreach. It is a two-year programme that trains new cross-cultural workers from around the world to do ministry in Africa. LEARN MORE

Church Development

We hope that our church development work with local African churches will lead them to be centres of hope and love that draw more people to Jesus. LEARN MORE

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