South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Episcopal Church of South Sudan on Sunday consecrated three suffragan bishops in a colorful ceremony held at All Saints Cathedral in Juba on Sunday.
Abraham Matiop Deng, was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Jalle Area Diocese of Atooch, Enoch Elisama Sungunalmiyo, as Bishop of Gangura Area Diocese of Yambio, and Daniel Ater Aguto, as Bishop of Bunagok Area Diocese of Awerial.
The consecration was presided over by Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Most Rev. Dr. Justin Badi Arama.
“We give thanks to God that these people will continue to educate and extend the messages of peace and love amongst our people who are almost traumatized,” Dr. Arama told journalists after the ceremony at All Saints Cathedral.
Arama, who is the metropolitan Bishop of Juba Diocese called on the government to improve security along the roads to allow bishops to disseminate the gospel of God.
“So it is our prayer that our government will prioritize the security of travelers on the roads, so that it may give us the security assurance as we move about with the mission and messages of peace and reconciliation,” he said.
“There will be security for our evangelists and for our priests and youth so it is our prayer, that this will be done by our government and all those who take arms in their hands, please we plead with you that the anger should not always be on the innocent citizens,” he added.
For his part, Enoch Elisama Sungunalmiyo, the newly consecrated suffragan Bishop of Gangura Area Diocese of Yambio said he was called by God to preach his gospels.
“I’m very glad to be here today because I’m sure that this is a calling from God because God used to call his people at his own time,” said Elisama.
He called upon the citizens to embrace peace to foster development in the country.
“This is the time for me that God had called me to come and serve in his church. So we are very glad to be consecrated today with two of my colleagues. So we are very excited,” said Elisama.
Parmeno Awerial Aluong, Second Deputy Speaker for Administration and Finance at the National Legislative Assembly, acknowledged the crucial role the church plays in peace building.
“I congratulate the new bishops who have been ordained today. Our church will grow and as the government we are very happy with the growth of the church,” said Awerial.