What are a few skill sets of types of people that we think might work well in this field?

In conversation with our Rwandan Friends, it seems that whole-life discipleship will be a key mode/model for ministry from the very beginning. Experience in discipling others, especially in group settings, would be ideal.

It seems to make sense that our Rwandan Friends would give leadership in the development of the “church”, church planting, administrative leadership with government, etc. In our thinking it might make sense for EFM missionaries to have skills and experience that would enable EFM to take on “support” roles on the multinational missionary team. Some potential skill sets could be:

• Business

• Farming/animal husbandry

• Teaching / Education (English teaching)

• Health/Hygiene

• Building/mechanic/other manual labor skills as a mode for blessing and whole-life mentoring

 What do you anticipate as unique needs for the characters or members of the team?

We sense that it is good and right for Pastor Nicodeme to be the missionary team leader in South Sudan. There seem to be several cultural differences between Rwandans and Americans that will create challenges in building a unified, healthy multinational missionary team. Some of these are leadership styles, conflict/communication styles, and more.

• It will be essential for EFM missionaries to be happy to fill complementary support roles.

• Type “A” personalities might not be a great fit (at least initially) in order for Nicodeme and any other Rwandans to more fully take the role of team leader.

• It would be helpful for American missionaries to be peacemakers and have quieter modes for addressing conflict.

• They need to be people who are flexible and are willing to be led – comfortable with things not going the way they want.

• They need to be people who are good at “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” They also need to be growing in “speaking the truth in love.”

• People who love to empower others and enjoy seeing others thriving and “being the hero” rather than themselves.

What are we seeing so far as unique opportunities that might be possible in this field?

South Sudan is currently trying to rebuild their country in every aspect of life after many decades of chaos and war. There seems to be a general hunger for peace, stability, and growth as a country.

• Our Rwandan Friends have been quick to notice the large amount of lush, seemingly unused land throughout the areas we have visited. They believe that farming and animal husbandry could not only be a way for missionaries to supplement their salaries/ministry funds but that might also be the “way into” relationships with others in communities toward relationships of whole-life discipleship.

• The long history of conflict, hatred, revenge, stealing, etc seems to Rwandan Friends a unique opportunity to share experientially about the painful atrocities that they have lived through and the ways that God has redeemed and restored them as individuals, families, communities, and as a country as a whole.

What practical and specific differences will EFM make? 

Many churches exist in South Sudan among the reached peoples, but It seems that the Church has often offered a gospel message that is not “very good” news…does not seem to transform relationships/livelihood/etc, and has not spread to the unreached peoples in the country. EFC-Rwanda and EFM have a wonderful perspective and model for ministry in D4D that helps people to live into and experience the whole-life gospel message that helps people know and be transformed by God in all areas of life, including in racial reconciliation.

To learn more about the field of South Sudan, check out these past trip reports!

Exploration Trip 1

Exploration Trip 2