Bishop confirms over a thousand Christians in Warrap Archdeaconry
From 16th - 23th Jan 2012, His Right Reverend, Bishop Moses Deng Bol took a trip to Warrap Archdeaconry and was accompanied by the Diocesan Administrative Secretary Rev Andrew Apiny, Rev Peter Duok Archdeacon of Warrap, Rev Priscilla Ameer and Gorge Pi-Puofe a professional nurse who is operating a Mobile clinic. Bishop Moses toured six Deaneries in which he confirmed one thousand one hundred and seventy five Christians. The confirmations were spread out in six differences places. This included:
- Parasika with 233people
- Lurcuk with 241 people
- Warrap with 151 people
- Akop with 323 people
- Pinybarkou with 114 people
- Gak with 113 people
This is the first time that bishop Moses Deng had come to Warrap since he was consecrated as Bishop of Wau Diocese. For the last two years thousand of Christians have been longing to see their bishop and not only that but to be confirmed too. So when they heard about his coming many people from different parishes walked for two days solely to come for confirmation and to see their bishop. It was a day full of joy in all the places that he visited. Bishop Moses was received with a lot of excitement and joyful songs, thrilling, and dancing.
In all the places the bishop visited he spoke about peace and reconciliation among the communities of Warrap State since this is a most troubled place where fighting is the lifestyle of the day and this conflict usually comes as result of animals and tribalism. Therefore, his Right Rev, Bishop Moses spoke loudly about the importance of peace in the country he said,
“There can’t be development without peace in this country, for South Sudan to develop like other countries we must be peace builders not destroyers and peacemakers not terror makers, this is the foundation where we will be able to develop our nation. Unless we have peace things will not move smoothly. My fellow Christians I therefore appeal to all of you to be in the lead in making peace, first from our local churches to our great nation. Looking at this situation, it’s a shameful condition and a heartbreaking state of affairs for other international communities that we are fighting among ourselves just because of our small differences. As you know we have been in a war for a long time, fighting for self determination, now that we are free and independent why then are we now fighting ourselves? My fellows Christians let’s have the mind of Christ, of loving one another, this is the habit we need to develop at this defining movement - if we really want to move forward.
To my fellow clergy it time to reaffirm our commitment to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, to reach out to unreached areas and not only to preach about peace but to be peacemakers. I ask you all in Jesus name to talk about peace wherever you go and preach the good news.”
Bishop Moses sympathized with the situation on the ground especially in Athol where, Pastor Jocob in charge of Athol Deanery in Warrap state told him a story about tribal conflict. He said, his three brothers were killed in March 2011 during tribal clashes between Nuer and Dinka. Bishop Moses felt truly sorry for the situation and the naming of Athol which means finished, we are finish here. According to the people of Athol every year Nuer came and killed more than fifty persons in Athol, the number of people is decreasing and that is the reason it was named Athol. The communities and Christians together there requested his Right Rev Bishop Moses to change the name of the place to Paweng which means save. So Athol was changed to Paweng Deanery and blessed by the bishop while he was there. According to the communities they said, we don’t have another place to move, we rather finish here than to evacuate somewhere.