Sudanese archbishop makes dangerous pastoral visit to the
mountains


(ENS) Sudanese Anglican archbishop Joseph Marona made a
dangerous two-week pastoral visit to remote churches in the Nuba
Mountains, crossing military lines under the terms of a local
cease-fire established earlier this year.

The archbishop met with government officials on both sides
and conducted confirmations and ordinations that have not had
pastoral support for years. It is the first time in the history
of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan that an archbishop has
visited churches in the mountains. He held out a wider vision
offered by the Gospel. "Christ wants to be our way, our truth,
our life, but we also have to allow him to enter," Marona said.
"This means sharing his vision of the entire world reconciled to
the Father. That is why it is my task to travel across the
entire province, bringing words of justice, peace and
reconciliation--bringing words of hope and healing to the
church."

He said, "God has not given you these mountains in vain. The
main aim is to serve him upon these mountains." The church has
an estimated five million members and has been involved in
educational work in the mountains since 1935. Contact with the
outside world was completely lost for 10 years after the civil
war came to the area in 1985.






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