---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "John Ashworth" <[email protected]> Date: 12 Mar 2017 11:15 Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] National Prayer Day To: "Group" <[email protected]> Cc:
1. National Prayer Day: Clerics speak openly against vices Daniel Danis | March 10, 2017 | 6:56 pm | Eye Radio Clergies leading the public in the National Day of Prayer on Friday spoke out against vices that they say are eroding the fabric of the society in South Sudan. Two prominent religious leaders gave sermons that focus on repentance, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and restoration of peace in the country. Bishop Dr. Isaiah Majok Dau of the Pentecostal Church and Archbishop Paulino Lokudu Loro of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba were both “blunt and plain” with their remarks. They called on the people of South Sudan to shun tribalism, accept peace and embrace true reconciliation. Below is an excerpt of remarks by Bishop Dr. Isaiah Majok Dau of the Pentecostal Church: “I hear people say God has cursed South Sudan. I am afraid, I disagree. We are not cursed. We are blessed, but we are sinners. That is why we hate ourselves, that is why we kill ourselves, that is why we backbite ourselves. So we are the problem. But we have been given opportunity to be forgiven, to be enriched and to be healed. Our opportunity is if we humble ourselves. We should consider others better than us by not despising other people. That means we do not think other tribes are less human than us because we are from a particular tribe. I don’t care what office you hold, you are a human-being. And we accept that we can be wrong –that is humility. Humility is not keeping quiet, but giving other people space in our heart and in our thinking. We need to pray by turning our attention to God. But let me tell you my brother and my sister, money is not God. All of us need to turn from our bad ways. That is the meaning of repentance. If you are repenting today, and you use to kill people, don’t kill anyone because you have repented. If you are repenting today, and you use to abuse others, from today, begin to love people. If you were a thief, now that you have repented, you begin to give to people instead of taking from people. That is repentance. It is meaningless to say we are repenting, and then we go do our normal things that we do every day. We are not cheating God, we are cheating ourselves. If we are repenting, we should stop saying that that tribe or this tribe, and that person; we begin to say the people of South Sudan are my people. Let us turn from our wicked ways, people of South Sudan. If we want God to forgive us, let us humble ourselves. We need true healing in this country. We are sick with hatred, killing, war, poverty, tribalism, we need healing. We need complete healing. If we seek healing, our economy will be healed, our politics will be healed, our communities, roads, government will be healed. For those of us who were born in 1955, we were born in the war, grew up, got married and even our grandchildren during war. But if today we are turning away from our sins, then I pray that I will not die in the time of war. I want to see the blessings of God on South Sudan before I die, I want to see the people of South Sudan united; I want to see them live in peace and harmony. That is my prayer. And as I hear the National Anthem every day, I have hope in me. The hope is that the best is yet to come for this country. God is going to prosper us; God is going to heal us. But we must repent, we must return to God and we must unite. The great God of heaven will raise this nation again, and this nation shall be great one day in the community of nations. There will be a time that they will welcome you, and they will not ask you like they ask me at the airports; they say ‘why are you fighting? I pray for a time they will ask me; how did you get it together? And I will say there is God in heaven, and he has blessed us.” Bishop Isaiah handed over three Bibles to President Salva Kiir, First Vice President, Taban Deng & Vice President James Wani Igga amidst applauds from the crowd at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, Juba. After other proceedings, the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Juba, Paulino Lokudu made the final remarks to end the function. Here is an excerpt of his remarks: “We have been invited to this National Prayer for Repentance and Forgiveness by the President. I very much hope, and I believe that the majority of us –so innocent, so good, so sincere in heart have really come to pray. Your Excellency, the reason why I came here today for this prayer, is because I know the weak; the poor are the ones to come to pray. And that is why I really decided to come to pray, because as we are seeing them now bearing this heat, these sons are the very ones who are touched in their lives by the difficulties and the desperate situation of our country. We have come to pray so that God may open our hearts to accept what is really wrong with us in this country. Since we have been in this heat and in this moment, our repentance and forgiveness will have a meaning. Your Excellency, we are praying that may God grant us the results of this prayer. This prayer, your Excellency, the way I look at it; this situation that we are seeing with us and among us and in front of us of our situation are a double-edge sword for us all. This prayer today, I think it is a dangerous prayer. It is a difficult prayer for us all. It is especially for somebody and a few of us who might have not prayed well with clear conscience, and who might not have prayed with the right intentions. This prayer is dangerous today, because if you have come here, I believe this bitterness of our heat, will not go in vain, but God will reply to us. I therefore say, if this prayer is correct and is true, then its about our peace. We are standing for peace and we are praying for peace. Are we going to choose peace or evil? Your Excellency, I want to question you; why did you call this people to the heat here like this; are they coming to choose evil or to choose peace? Is that what your intention is, to bring us here to suffer like this? I hope nobody will be sick today because of this heat. I believe you have invited us to see this suffering because you want peace. Our government, which way are going to take and what is the government going to do after this prayer? Is the government going to choose evil or peace? Mr. President, take-heed after this. We are telling you that after this prayer, your Excellency, go into a room and pray and decide for peace in the country. We expect peace, Justice, forgiveness, genuine dialogue, good governance, security, rule of law after this prayer. We expect after this prayer an end to; raping, torture, arbitrary arrests, corruption, tribalism. These things will continue if this prayer is misused. My brothers and sisters, our way forward now is working, doing and choosing peace and not for war.” Towards the end of his remarks, Archbishop Lokudu called to the podium retired bishops; Paride Taban and Nathaniel Garang Anyieth to bless the nation. The official function ended at 2:30PM, East African Time. http://www.eyeradio.org/national-prayer-day-clerics-speak-openly-vices/ END1 2. South Sudan bishop tells ‘repented’ Kiir to pray for peace March 10, 2017 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese bishop, who presided over Friday’s national day of prayer urged President Salva Kiir to “go pray alone in a room for peace in the country”. Catholic Archbishop, Paulino Lokudu Loro said the government must choose between peace, unity, reconciliation and justice over rape, killings and arbitrary arrests. “Mr President, go into the room [after this gathering] to pray for peace in your country,’’ he said. The cleric warned further warned the president, stressing that torture, corruption, raping, arbitrary arrests and tribalism would continue if the latter misused his prayer. “If this prayer is correct, many things should happen in this country; peace, justice, love genuine dialogue and unity should happen after this prayer. Good governance, security, good economy, provision of service, we can expect then to happen after this prayer, if the prayer is correct,” said the Bishop in a mixture of English and Arabic. The South Sudanese leader called for the national day of prayer last week and delivered his own prayer before the crowd on Friday, asking for divine forgiveness. “I pray not for condemnation but for forgiveness. I had over my heart and body for your blessing, Guide me Lord for who you want me to be. Give me wisdom not for my merit but for your loving kindness,’’ said the president in a prepared prayer that read to thousands of his supporters at John Garang Mausoleum in the capital, Juba. President Kiir, who had never prayed in public since assuming chairmanship of South Sudan’s ruling party (SPLM), called for “the most merciful God” to redirect his deeds. “Through my shortcomings, I have sinned against You in words and deeds for what I have done,” said the president, without mentioning any specific mistakes he committed as a leader. The country’s First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai and Vice President, James Wani Igga knelt as the South Sudanese leader delivered his five minute prayer on Friday. Several Christian and Muslim sermons were delivered during the six hour prayer. “I prayer should not go in vain. Ï hope you [President Kiir] called us in this heat [sun] because you want peace. After this prayer, is the government going to choose evil?” said Bishop Lokudu. Pentecostal Church Bishop, Isaiah Majok Dau called for “humanity in our hearts” during the prayer. “If you are repenting today and you use to kill people, don’t kill anymore, regardless of who you are. If you are repenting today and you use to talk badly about other tribes, cease and talk about South Sudan,” added Bishop Dau. Several prominent Christian leaders, namely retired Catholic Bishop Diocese of Torit, Paride Taban, retired Anglican Bishop of Bor Diocese, Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, Archbishop of Anglican Church of South Sudan and Sudan, Daniel Deng Bul were present. South Sudan’s Council of Churches chose repentance and forgiveness as the theme for the event, also held in the capitals. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61849 END2 3. Kiir repents: I sinned by ‘what I have done and what I have failed to do’ Daniel Danis | March 10, 2017 | 12:48 pm | Eye Radio President Salva Kiir has prayed for forgiveness for what he describes as sins he may have committed while exercising his duty as the Head of state. President Kiir also called for redemption of the people of South Sudan from the many troubles bestowed on the country. South Sudanese political leaders have been taking to the podium at the Dr. John Garang mausoleum in Juba to pray on the National Prayer Day. The prayers are led by religious leaders. Kiir was the first among the Christian political leaders to go forward. “I pray that you may not bring condemnation and punishment, but forgiveness and salvation to the people of South Sudan,” he said. He prayed for God to give him a clear mind and an open heart. “Remind me, God, to be who you would want to be –regardless of what I am doing, or whom I am with,” he said. “Most merciful God, through my shortcomings, I have sinned against you in thoughts, in words, and deeds by what I have done and what I have failed to do,” the President said. “I humbly repent and ask for your loving mercy and forgiveness. Whatever is in my power to do for the people of South Sudan, please Lord Help me to be your instrument of love, service delivery, peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness,” he said. Below is an excerpt from his prayer sheet: Powerful and ever living God, I thank you, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant – not because of my worth, but in the kindness of your mercy. You have fed me with the precious body and blood of your son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that you may not bring condemnation and punishment, but forgiveness and salvation to the people of South Sudan. May you be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. Holy God, on this day and all the days of my life, I entrust to your merciful heart my body and my soul. All my acts, thoughts, choices, desires, words, deeds, my entire life, so that with your assistance, all may be ordered to the good according to the will of your beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me God to seek you always and live righteously, to act courageously and to speak from your wisdom. Give me a clear mind and an open heart, so that I may witness you in our country. Remind me God to be who you would want to be –regardless of what I am doing, or whom I am with. Grant, oh King of Heaven, that ever in my heart, I may have fear and love –alike for your most sweet son. That I may always give thanks for the many blessings bestowed upon me, not for my merit, but by your loving kindness. And what I may ever make a pure and sincere confession and do true penance for my sins, in order that I might deserve to obtain your mercy and grace. Most merciful God, through my shortcomings, I have sinned against you in thoughts, in words, and deeds by what I have done and what I have failed to do. I humbly repent and ask for your loving mercy and forgiveness. Whatever is in my power to do for the people of South Sudan, please Lord Help me to be your instrument of love, service delivery, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. Heavenly Father, lead me safely to everlasting happiness with you. I pray that you will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you with your son and Holy Spirit are true and perfect live, total fulfilments, Holy Spirit, everlasting joy, gladness –without end – and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this God, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Other political leaders who prayed for forgiveness and reconciliation include the Speaker of the National Legislature, Anthony Lino Makana, Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, and SPLA’s Gen. James Ajongo praying for forgiveness on behalf of Chief of Staff, Paul Malong Awan. http://www.eyeradio.org/kiir-sinned-what-failed-do/ END3 4. S. Sudanese religious leader says national prayer day "dangerous" March 11, 2017 (JUBA) A top south Sudanese religious leader asked the president and those who attended the National Prayer Day to choose peace instead of evil, warning the crowd that the prayer prayed by the president was dangerous. Catholic Archbishop of Juba Diocese, Paulino Lokudu Loro asked President Kiir why he had called the prayer, questioning the president’s motives for peace or evil. “This prayer is dangerous today because if you have come here I believe this bitterness of our heat will not go in vain, but God will reply to us. Therefore, I say if this prayer is correct and is true, then it is about peace. We are standing for peace, are we going to choose peace or evil,” asked the Archbishop. “Your Excellency, I want to question you: why did you call these people to the heat here like this? Are they coming to choose peace? Is that what your intention is, to bring us here to suffer like this? I hope nobody will be sick today because of this heat. I believe you have invited us to see this suffering because you want peace,’’ said Archbishop. The top religious leader went on to what the government planned after the prayers took place saying, “our government, which way are we going to take and what is the government going to do after this prayer? Is the government going to choose evil or peace? Mr President, take heed after this. We are telling you that after this prayer your Excellency, go into a room and pray and decide for peace in the country”. Isaiah Majok Dau, bishop of the Pentecostal church said the South Sudanese were the problem and not that they have been cursed. “I hear people say God has cursed South Sudan, I am afraid I disagree. We are not cursed, we are blessed but we are sinners. That is why we hate ourselves, that is why we kill ourselves and that is why we backbite ourselves. So we are the problem. But we have been given the opportunity to be forgiven to be enriched and to be healed” said bishop Dau at the prayer on Friday. The bishop said he would love to die when the country is at peace because he was born at the time the country was at war, grew up in war and continued to live in a situation of war. Bishop Dau went on to add, “for those of us who were born in 1955 we were born in the war, grew up, got married and even our grandchildren were born during the war. But if today we are turning away from our sins, then I pray that I will not die in the time of war. I want to see the blessings of God South Sudan before I die, I want to see the people of South Sudan united. I want to see them live in peace and harmony that is my prayer”. The Bishop called for a change of heart in conformity to the theme of the prayer, saying it would be meaningless if one continues to behave in a way that does not show any difference from the time of the prayers. “If you are repenting today and you use to kill people, don’t kill anyone because you have repented. If you are repenting today and you use to abuse others, from today begin to love people. If you were a thief, now that you have repented, you begin to give to people instead of taking from people. That is repentance. It is meaningless to say we are repenting and then we go do our normal things that we do every day. We are not cheating God, we are cheating ourselves,” he stressed. A call against the promotion of ethnicity was mentioned by the Bishop, saying the people should begin to talk about South Sudan as an identity instead of various tribes. Bishop Dau went on to say, ““If we are repenting, we should stop saying that tribe or this tribe, and that person; we begin to say the people of South Sudan are my people. Let us turn from our wicked ways people of South Sudan. If we want God to forgive us, let us humble ourselves. We need true healing in this country. We are sick with hatred, killing, war, poverty and tribalism, we need healing. We need complete healing”. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61859 END4 5. President Kiir should govern like a father, says Catholic Bishop Radio Anisa Saturday, March 11, 2017 - 09:41 The President of Republic of South Sudan should govern like a mother or father of the nation with love, care and mercy says, the Catholic Bishop of Tombura/Yambio. Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala says the integrity of South Sudan is in the hands of the president and people of South Sudan are his children, Radio Anisa reports. All citizens with their different requirements need his help any time but he should use wisdom to answer them. For the proposed national dialogue to succeed, President Kiir should allow all citizens in the country and in Diaspora to participate freely for the better future of this nation, the Bishop advises. Bishop Hiiboro recommends that the national prayer day should be conducted every year for development of South Sudan. Gbudue State Governor, Daniel Badagbu appreciates the citizens for responding positively to the call of President Kiir for national Prayer. He promises to work together with all citizens. http://catholicradionetwork.org/?q=node/23299 END5 6. National Prayers: Kiir sets free two political detainees Mabior Philip | March 10, 2017 | 4:13 pm | Eye radio President Salva Kiir has said he is releasing the former Governor of Wau State, Elias Waya and his former deputy, Andrea Dominic. They have been under detention since last year. Elias Waya was arrested in June last year, two days after he was relieved from his position. International Human Rights Organizations including Amnesty International had called on the South Sudanese authorities to charge or release him. The former Deputy Governor, Andrea Dominic, was also arrested and detained. President Salva Kiir announced their release this afternoon during the National Prayer Day held at the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in Juba. President Kiir said any other political detainees that may be found, will be released tomorrow. “I had some generals who were awaiting trial and the generals are General Elias Waya Nyipouch and Major General Andrea Dominic Safir. These people were in Wau. Elias Waya was the governor and Andrea was the commander of the area. But today because of these prayers I am releasing them to be free. People are talking about political detainees because those who go against me as politicians, I don’t imprison them. I will look for prison wardens and if they find any political detainees, I will release them tomorrow and the day after,” Kiir said in remarks broadcast live by Eye Radio from the Dr. John Garang mausoleum in Juba. http://www.eyeradio.org/national-prayers-kiir-sets-free-political-detainees/ END6 7. CEPO welcomes Kiir’s amnesty, urges release of UN journalist JUBA (10 Mar.) Radio Tamazuj The leader of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has welcomed President Kiir’s decision releasing the former governor of Wau and other political detainees in South Sudan. However, he urged President to pardon the UN Radio Miraya journalist George Livio Bahara. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj today, Yakani said the move demonstrates steps for peaceful settlement on the current political crisis in the country. He pointed out that the decision is a clear message from the President that violence will not solve the ongoing conflict in the country. “We are impressed because H.E. President has responded positively to our calls for a long period of time for the release of political detainees and opening of a new chapter for a nonviolent approach for settling our ongoing violent conflict,” he said “Pardoning political detainees is a great action for peace and call for a nonviolent approach for resolving our political difference,” he added. The leading civil society organization urged all armed opposition groups to join the call for a non-violent approach for the sake of peace and stability in South Sudan. https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/cepo-welcomes-kiir%E2% 80%99s-amnesty-urges-release-un-journalist END7 8. S. Sudan’s Kiir to pardon rebel leader if he denounces violence March 11, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan president, Salva Kiir said rebel leader Riek Machar would only participate in the national dialogue when he denounces violence. “How do you dialogue with someone who prefers war than peace, who sees war as an option to dialogue, unity, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence”, asked Kiir. The South Sudanese made these remarks on Saturday while reacting to a query on whether his pardoning of political opponents, some of whom have been in detention, would extend to those carrying arms and have continued to wage war in the country. According to Kiir, some contentious issues in the peace accord have been overcome because of the "good working relations" with First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai. “Some of things that we could not resolve and find a way forward have now been resolved. The issue of states has been resolved. The people were talking that we created more states but it became clear that even after we created more states, people continued to ask for more. To resolve this, we decided to create some states," stressed the South Sudanese leader. He added, "Now we have more states and the SPLM-IO have some states to run them according to the provision of the peace agreement. So issues of states and the question relating to power sharing have been addressed and there is no problem". Kiir said the newly-appointed state governors already started work in their regions. "They have taken oath already and are now in their places”, he explained. The South Sudanese leader emphasized that he has no personal problem with his former deputy-turned rebel leader, but claimed the latter desires violent means. “People think I have a personal problem with him [Machar], but this is not true. I have no personal problem with him. He is a South Sudanese like anybody. The problem he has is not with me, but with the way he does his own things. He likes violence. If he denounces violence now, then he is welcome to the country. If he does it now, stop preferring war now, we will talk to him”, stressed Kiir. Kiir made these remarks while meeting members of the Dinka council of elders who visited him to congratulate him on Friday’s national prayer day. President Salva Kiir announced the national dialogue initiative in December last year and members of its steering committee are scheduled to be sworn in this month. However, the armed opposition leader criticized the dialogue initiative, saying the process will never succeed unless peace and stability is restored in the young nation. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article61862 END8 9. Archbishop Paulino's Address at National Prayer Day Attached please find some notes sent to me by an observer at the National Prayer Day. END9 ______________________ John Ashworth [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +44 787 976 8030 (UK mobile) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) Skype: jashworth1 PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. 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Archbishop Paulino National Prayer 10Mar2017.docx
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