Printed on 4 February 2023
3 minutes be taught
The Moderator of the Primary Assembly preached in entrance of nearly 16,000 people at a Presbyterian church in South Sudan as of late.
Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields was once given a rapturous welcome at Nyakuron-West Church in Juba when he and the Church of Scotland delegation arrived on the large tent venue.
The First Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar, was once inside the congregation and gave an cope with, urging people to embody forgiveness and reconciliation.
Dr Greenshields, Necessary Clerk, Rev Fiona Smith, and Rev Ian Alexander, who leads the Church’s world partnerships work, and contributors of the Presbyterian Church USA moreover met with native church leaders.
The colourful and energetic supplier was once one in every of 3 main events that the Moderator took part in as of late as part of an historic ecumenical Pilgrimage of Peace alongside Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The three spiritual leaders worshipped at different church buildings as in response to their faith traditions this morning nevertheless appeared together at Freedom Hall to satisfy and cope with people who had been pressured to flee their homes and reside in displacement camps.
Dr Greenshields, Pope Francis and Most Rev Justin Welby later led an enormous open-air prayer vigil for peace and an estimated 50,000 people attended.
Peace improvement
The Moderator used all 3 occasions to ship greetings from the Church of Scotland and particular unity with weird individuals who discover themselves struggling profoundly from endured armed warfare, violence, floods and famine and appealled to decision-makers to paved the way in which in bringing about reconciliation and lasting peace.
Speaking on the Church supplier, Dr Greenshields stated that it’s “very tough” to be a Christian, the chief of a country and a church nevertheless impressed people to use Jesus’s commandment to love one another deeply and assemble a society that is worthy of the title Christ
Dr Greenshields described the Pilgrimage of Peace as a “distinctive occasion” given the Christian Church has united on this methodology for the first time in extra than 500 years.
“Proper right here we’re on South Sudanese soil within the hunt for to provide the choice together and encourage one another to be peacemakers,” he added.
The one methodology to do this is to love God with all our hearts and minds and love one another.
“Jesus says, ‘love Your enemy’ and pray for them.’”
Dr Greenshields led the outlet prayer on the Freedom Hall event and met some youthful people dwelling in camps who shared their testimonies.
Addressing the large crowd, he said: “We thanks for this home and ask that for all present it may very well be an space of hope
“An space the place love is shared, acknowledged and expert
“We’re in Freedom Hall and may this be a spot of current beginning.”
Concord
Dr Greenshields knowledgeable the crowds on the outdoor prayer vigil that it was once a “good pleasure and privilege” to join the Archbishop and the Pope on the Pilgrimage for Peace.
“We’re visiting your nation to emphasise our dedication with you to peace in South Sudan and to encourage and stand in unity with you, the individuals who discover themselves nonetheless struggling profoundly from the outcomes of violence, floods and famine.
“Inside the crew spirit of faith, we offer unity with the Church buildings, the people and leaders of this nation who truly search commerce through peace for a long run that is constructive and hopeful.
“There’s a sturdy legacy of church buildings working together for peace and reconciliation in South Sudan – they carried out a key operate inside the nation reaching independence peacefully.
“We hope to encourage the continued crew spirit of church buildings for the typical wonderful in South Sudan, for justice and fullness of existence for the entire people.”
Dr Greenshields said he prayed that the Pilgrimage of Peace will assist “the spirit of commerce” in all people.
“To empower us all to hunt hope, reconciliation, forgiveness, justice, and crew spirit in and through our Lord Jesus Christ,” he added.
Study Pope Francis’s cope with at Freedom Hall.
Study the Archbishop of Canterbury’s cope with on the peace vigil.
The pilgrimage continues day after today morning previous to Dr Greenshields and the Church delegation return to Scotland aboard the Papal flight.