JourneyOnline
The South Moreton Presbytery has recognised a Sudanese congregation as an official faith community.
The congregation worships at St David’s Uniting Church at Coopers Plains and is made up of 50 to 60 Nuer people, mostly refugees from Sudan.
The Nuer people have been in the middle of the civil war in Sudan since 1983.
In that time more than four million people have been displaced and two million killed.
The group began gathering at St David’s five years ago after a chance meeting between then St David’s minister Rev Lu Senituli and the Nuer congregational leader Pastor Moses Leth.
Current St David’s minister Rev Ivan Kirk and St David’s ministry candidate Victor Wolfgram have continued to foster the relationship.
A service of recognition was held for the faith community where Mr Leth was presented with a key to the church.
Mr Leth was reportedly touched by the gesture and responded by saying the key was his most treasured possession and he would take it with him to heaven.
Mr Kirk said the Nuer congregation added much excitement to the church.
“I love the way they process out of church singing songs in to a world that has not always been friendly,” he said.
“The Africans are full of gratitude for the hospitality they have experienced among us and together we hope to strengthen each other’s witness to the welcome God offers us all in Jesus Christ.”
Photo : Nuer congregational leader Pastor Moses Leth with his key. Photo by Andrew Demack
