Meet Michael!
We are thrilled to announce that Michael Herzinger has joined our ministry team in South Sudan as a dedicated missionary and trainer of our pastors at the Tonj Bible Institute.
Michael has been attending the diploma training through Intensive Care Ministries (ICM) so that he can lead the program for IDAT going forward. With a heart for equipping church leaders, Michael brings a wealth of experience in theological education and pastoral mentorship. His passion for fostering spiritual growth and empowering local pastors aligns perfectly with our mission to strengthen the Church in South Sudan.
Michael will focus on equipping our 48 national pastors with deeper biblical knowledge, effective preaching skills, and strong leadership to serve the 42 IDAT church plants and communities. His commitment to cross-cultural ministry will help build a strong foundation for the Gospel’s impact. We are excited to see how God will use Michael’s gifts to inspire and uplift our pastoral network, fostering hope and transformation across South Sudan. Join us in welcoming Michael to this vital role! Please prayerfully consider supporting Michael or Tonj Bible Institute, with a monthly recurring donation.
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:2
Happy Healthy Homes!
As well as health education, evangelism, and community development projects, another pillar of Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is the ‘Happy Healthy Homes’ initiative. We encourage each of the 10,000 homes we are helping to try and establish 17 key health and spiritual practices within their home. For example, tippy taps utilize local resources to create a home handwashing station, which reduces the spread of infectious diseases.
Improved fireplaces more than halve the firewood mothers need to collect for cooking, as well as eliminating the risk of children being burnt by open fires. Sleeping under treated mosquito nets dramatically reduces rates of malaria, which is the number one killer of children in South Sudan. Vegetable gardens help families broaden the range of essential nutrients in their diet, which is vital for the health of children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
And family prayer times and joining a bible listening group help foster unity and spiritual growth. Please continue to pray for wisdom and safety for our 6,000 Community Health Evangelists as they face insecurities, with rains beginning, and they cycle over muddy tracks to take the gospel to these remote and unreached villages.
State of Emergency!
We are currently experiencing insecurity in our villages from cattle raids and retaliatory attacks, particularly in the Tonj area. President Salva Kiir has declared a six-month state of emergency in our state. There is a curfew in place. Despite the deployment of military forces, their ability to curb violence has been limited. Fighting and insecurity have driven significant displacement, with thousands now living without shelter, food, or water.
IDAT made the difficult decision to evacuate the Beard Family to Kenya, and Zeke and I have switched to travel to Kenya instead of South Sudan and will meet them and Michael in Nairobi. Pray for safe travel, strength, and unity as our team reconnects, peace and protection for our staff in Tonj, and effective intervention to curb violence and support displaced families.