South Sudan

Population: 10,837,527 as of 2012

(http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southsudan)

In the late 1940’s the churches in the United States had an amazing opportunity to get the Gospel to the country of Japan. The country literally had their maps rewritten because of the Great War just a few years earlier. New infrastructure was being built in the country, and aide was being poured into the country of Japan. It was kinda like Japan was a new country with all the activity on the island. But the one thing they needed, more than democracy, more than capitalism, a free-market or whatever you want to put in there was the Gospel. Some  missiologists say that the churches in the United States failed to seize that opportunity because of their hatred for Japan as a result of the Great War and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

 

I believe that South Sudan has many similarities to the Japan of the late 1940’s and 50’s. South Sudan is a country that has been in a civil war for over two decades. The world even sees that the South Sudanese need help and aide if this new country is going to survive and grow. If we don’t begin to send missionaries–church-planting and men-training missionaries, I am afraid that we are going to see another incredible opportunity pass us. Currently (with my limited knowledge) I only know of one American missionary that is an independent Baptist. I know of one more on deputation, but for a country that has the population that is greater than 43 out of 50 states (not combined) to have only one missionary seems not only extremely difficult but also ridiculous. The field is white unto harvest but the laborers are few. Please pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers.