As Principal of EBC I was truly overjoyed to hear of the invitation that has been extended by the leaders of the Africa Inland Church in South Sudan (AIC-SS) to our former Principal and current Academic Dean, John Brand, to lead the upcoming Church Workers’ Conference from Monday 7 – Friday 11 September. What an amazing opportunity to glorify God so far from home!

As current Principal I would like to whole-heartedly endorse this venture and ask people to please pray for John as he begins to make preparations for this exciting venture. Of course a trip like this is not free, nor are the running costs for the conference itself, so please would you prayerfully consider sponsoring John as he seeks to carry out the Lord’s work and fulfil the ministry opportunity the Lord has set before him? I will l leave John to tell you in his own words how people might support him. Thank you for taking the time to read this and to prayerfully consider if the Lord would have you support this work. In His love always,

John writes, “Those familiar with my ministry will be well aware of my involvement with the Sudanese and South Sudanese churches since my visit to Khartoum in 2001 which was truly life-changing. Over the next 9 years I visited both Khartoum and Juba on an almost annual basis and set up a charity, which is now closed, Friends of Sudan, (which became Friends of South Sudan, following the secession of the south and the formation of the world’s (still) youngest country in 2011), providing financial and training support to churches and Christian schools in both the north and the south. (You can read more here.)   Over the years, I have kept in close touch with a number of church leaders and individual believers and have had the great privilege of mentoring some of them from a distance. One Christian in Juba is currently studying with Edinburgh Bible College thanks to the accessibility afforded by zoom.

I am somewhat daunted by the prospect since I am now in my early 70s and not my mid 50s as at the time of my last visit, but my heart rejoiced when I received the invitation.  The believers in South Sudan are among the very choicest in all the earth and I can say of them, as David said, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” (Psalm 16:3)

One challenge, for which I would appreciate much prayer, is financial, since I no longer have access to charity funds as previously.  I am planning to do a sponsored marathon walk in the summer to raise funds, and am also setting up a crowdfunding option, trusting the Lord that he will supply according to his riches in glory.  We are looking at around £3,000 in all to help with the costs of the conference itself. Your support would be a great kingdom investment. I have now set up a Go Fund Me page where you can donate and we will, in due course, make you aware of other ways in which you could support this initiative.

Thank you for your service to the saints.”