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.

Missionaries Return Safely!

The heightened security concerns in South Sudan delayed Ben and Sarah Beard from returning as planned, but it did enable them to travel with Suzy around Australia. As IDAT is a beneficiary of the Sandy Running Festival and Bright Futures for several years, it was awesome to participate in the 5k this year!

South Sudan continues to be an unstable nation, so it was a wonderful opportunity to pray together in person and seek the Lord for their safe entry and God’s timing for going back to Tonj. We are happy to announce the Lord answered that prayer quickly and they were only delayed by 2 weeks. We are blessed to welcome back the Beard Family to serve with us for another term in Tonj. Please join us in praying for them and their three children, Jonah (12), Seth (10) and Ryelle (7).

CHE Expansion!

April was an awesome month for our CHE team! We completed a total of five CHE conferences, attended by over 3,000 of our CHE volunteers, along with community leaders. Hundreds of people dedicated their lives to Christ during the conferences, and our volunteer CHE’s were encouraged and inspired by teaching, preaching, testimonies, worship, and of course, feasting! One of our challenges is that we cannot keep up with the volume of requests we are receiving for CHE from chiefs and community leaders, who are desperate for us to teach their community about Jesus, health, and community development. Most people in these villages have never heard the gospel before. In response, we have just finished training four new CHE trainers.

Each of these trainers will be overseeing five new CHE villages, which allows us to take the good news of Christ, alongside health education and community development, into 20 more villages. Please pray for these trainers as they launch CHE in new villages. We currently have over 100 villages on our waiting list.

If you would like to help us spread the gospel into these villages through CHE, we would be extremely grateful. It costs about $2,000 to run the CHE program in a village.

The New Ward!

We are excited to share that construction is underway for our new neonatal ward. This forthcoming facility will allow us to move neonates out of our pediatric ward, reducing the risk of cross-infection and freeing up much-needed space for our pediatric patients who require long-term care in a safe and nurturing environment.

Once completed, the ward will feature modern medical equipment and a skilled team of healthcare professionals, aiming to reduce infant and child mortality rates and provide hope to families across the region. We are committed to improving maternal and child health outcomes and look forward to bringing this transformative project to life for South Sudan’s communities in the Tonj South region.

“Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” Proverbs 24:3-4

Pray for South Sudan!

As Easter approaches, a time of renewal and hope, South Sudan teeters on the brink of civil war, threatening to unravel years of fragile peace. Recent escalations between government forces and opposition groups have heightened tensions, displacing thousands and deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis. The South Sudan Council of Churches has warned of catastrophic consequences if violence resumes, offering to mediate talks.

Amid this unrest, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming pastor diploma class, prioritizing the safety of the 25 participants and missionaries that teach the class. Additionally, our missionaries, eager to return and serve, must delay their journey until stability improves.

This setback weighs heavily, but our commitment to supporting South Sudan’s people remains unwavering. We recently had all our pastors together for a weekend of encouragement and training. They are planning a mass baptism in Tonj on Easter Sunday and I would ask you to pray as some of the villages are far and experiencing tribal clashes.

Easter reminds us of the power of peace and reconciliation—values desperately needed now. We ask for your prayers for South Sudan, for wisdom among its leaders, and for a swift resolution that allows it’s citizens and our ministry to thrive in peace. Together, let’s hold fast to hope, trusting that even in these uncertain times, light can break through the darkness.

Pray for CHE!

Last week we had the first of our CHE conferences for 2025. It was hosted by the village of Waralel for 15 surrounding villages, and over 1,000 of our CHE volunteers joined us for a day of teaching, testimonies, worship, prayer, feasting and dancing. Pastor Mabior, the Senior Pastor of CC Tonj, shared a powerful message about the Kingdom of God, with 57 community members making decisions to dedicate their lives to Christ.

Local chiefs expressed their deep gratitude to IDAT for the CHE Program for bringing peace, unity, health and hope to their villages. Please join us in praying for God’s blessing over the upcoming conferences in the regions of Majook, Mapel, Manyiel and Palal, especially in light of the civil unrest.

In addition, South Sudan is grappling with a severe cholera outbreak, with over 40,000 cases and 799 deaths reported across nine states at the beginning of April. Flooding, conflict, and a strained health system exacerbate the crisis. In our state of Warrap over 25 people have died from cholera and with the ongoing conflict, the situation will continue to worsen.

In light of the insecurity and illness plaguing South Sudan, offers comfort:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

This verse reminds us that amid conflict, displacement, and cholera, there is a source of hope and resilience for those enduring these hardships.

Pray for Suzy!

Please keep me in your prayers as I juggle my new role as Director of Fundraising and Missions, based now in Florida and traveling a few times a year to South Sudan. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to travel for free to Australia, raising awareness and funds for In Deed and Truth Ministries. I met with old and new ministry partners, shared updates about our mission, and participated in a fun run to support South Sudan’s ongoing needs.

Pray for my continued strength after this trip, open doors for more fruitful connections and God’s favor as I serve this ministry wholeheartedly!

Exciting Progress!

Our construction team has been hard at work, eagerly preparing for the much-needed and long-awaited new Neonatal Ward. We now have the final go-ahead to break ground! While waiting for the grant funds to be released, our team has already completed a new laundry room, ensuring a clean and efficient space for laundering bed linens and reusable items for the upcoming ward. The land has been measured, and the building layout is now marked—each step bringing us closer to breaking ground!

Thanks to your prayers and generous support, we completed essential repairs and painting of our existing medical hospital. Now, we are planning to build four much-needed Sunday School classrooms on the church grounds as we are currently meeting under a tree. As rainy season approaches, this need is becoming more urgent.  This will expand our ability to disciple and teach the 400 plus kids that come every week more effectively. If you feel led to fund a classroom, each one costs $2,500. Let’s get these kids out of the blazing sun and torrential downpours.

^“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

IDAT Church Plants

This month we have been blessed to plant two churches: CC Babur and Rumpanapet.  We have another three churches in the process of being planted in Akokmakiu, Warbet and Muktau. IDAT is currently serving in 100 CHE villages and God is moving in the hearts of these villages through our ministry.

Christ-centered Community development has always been a priority for IDAT through both our Community Health Evangelism (CHE) program and our Church Plant Program. Both strive to build communities up spiritually and also practically. This year, we have witnessed three CHE villages come together to build their own churches, providing labor and raising the resources themselves. Acts 4:32 says “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”

It is such an amazing testimony to see the Gospel of Jesus transform these communities so that they feel empowered to meet their own needs through a united heart and practical solutions. This speaks volumes to the non-Christian communities who witness their love and service when they come together and unite in the name of Jesus. Please consider sponsoring a pastor through our pastors website: Pastors.indeedandtruth.org

CHE Testimony!

Lino Madut from a CHE village called Adhion shared this testimony with our team last week:

I am deeply grateful for the CHE (Community Health Evangelism) program, as it has transformed my life and the lives of my family members.

For nearly three and a half years, my daughter suffered from a severe bleeding disorder. I sought help from many healthcare centers at great cost, but none of the treatments brought any improvement.

When the CHE opened in my village called Adhion, I was selected to join the program as a committee member. Through the lessons, I learned powerful spiritual truths, particularly the importance of praying and asking God for our needs. This message deeply touched me.

On the very day I learned this lesson, I asked the CHE team and the congregation to pray for my daughter. Miraculously, through the power of prayer, she has been healed. I now have complete trust in God, knowing that He hears and answers our prayers.

Please keep us in your prayers, there is much to do. We remain steadfast in our mission to serve the community of Tonj.

Vision for 2025!

This year marks 26 years since I took a leap of faith and set foot in war-torn South Sudan on a life-changing mission. I’ll never forget those first few years —landing on dusty dirt airstrips, communicating only through radio to Kenya, drawing water out of a well and hand filtering every drop before drinking, reading with a kerosene lamp, handwashing clothes, eating the same food every day and living with the threat of being bombed at any moment. Tonj town was much smaller back then and had been ravaged by famine, leaving deep scars, yet joy and resilience were undeniable among the South Sudanese people. That trip opened my eyes to the power of hope and the strength given to us through the Holy Spirit. It was the beginning of a journey that has forever changed my perspective, deepened my faith, and ignited a passion that continues to drive me today.

Our vision is to empower, educate, and equip our national team and staff to impact more unreached villages and people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By investing in leadership training, discipleship, and sustainable community development, we are strengthening the next generation of believers to carry the mission forward. Together, we are building a legacy of faith, hope, and transformation that will reach even the most remote corners of South Sudan.

CHE in 2025!

CHE Program has had a strong start to 2025, with over a dozen new CHE centers celebrating the graduation of their committees, and many seed projects blessing our CHE communities.

Seed projects are acts of service from our CHE volunteers that demonstrate God’s love to their community, and recent examples are cleaning rubbish from the village market, taking up collections for local families without food, fixing a widow’s grass roof, and providing sacks of food for a disabled man living alone.

These projects require no external resources, and it’s humbling to see families who are in such challenging circumstances personally giving generously from the little they have. Currently several of our CHE centers are suspended due to tribal conflict in Tonj East, we would appreciate your prayers for the Gospel of peace to bring transformation among the cattle herders who drive much of these conflicts.

1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Prayers for Peace!

South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of civil war, now finds itself grappling with a new crisis. As conflict in Sudan continues to escalate, thousands of Sudanese civilians are seeking refuge in South Sudan, reversing previous migration patterns.

Recently, shocking footage surfaced showing Sudanese soldiers brutally attacking and massacring South Sudanese civilians in Wad Madani, Sudan. This sparked outrage and anger throughout South Sudan resulting in retaliatory actions against Sudanese nationals living in the South. The violence caused widespread chaos and destruction, forcing the government to enforce a nationwide curfew.

In Tonj, the impact was severe with shops owned by Sudanese being vandalized and looted. We have over 1,000 Sudanese living in our area in fear for their lives. The authorities have called for peace and reconciliation between the two sides. Despite this, the damage caused will take a long time to improve. IDAT is doing everything we can to show the love of Christ by supporting them with food and water.