A group picture of leaders attending the conference.
Paul Arneston (on left) donated much of his time to lead the facilitation of the conference for PIA. Omat Agwa (on right) one of the EGBS elders assisted Paul with translation throughout the conference because Paul had not brushed up on his Anuak and Mazenager before the conference.
Okello took minutes throughout the conference. Ojulu our trip photographer is behind the camera.
The conference started in the morning on Tuesday ended the following Thursday afternoon. During that time leaders gathered together in larger group discussions and broke-out into smaller groups of six.
Omat speaking with a small group. The small group discussions facilitated by Paul, Ojulu, Omat, and Okello.
A small group of leaders from Dima and Jor.
A small group of leaders from Ethang
The light and the spirit fills the room, as people enter the church. Before worship starts we are in devotions and prayer. This is a special service with EGBS leaders and leaders that have come from the surrounding villages and have been meeting with PIA. During the worship each leader shares their personal reflections on how God is guiding their decisions on what their community needs the most. They have had a night to reflect on the previous day workshop with PIA. There is a lot of song and drumming, reading of the bible and Ojulu shares a message on leadership. “A leader starts out with a group and as one member falls the leader goes back to help them up, in turn others in the group see this and come back to help those who are now behind until we all move together as one.”
Paul saying goodbyes to participants at the conference
Paul saying goodbyes to participants at the conference

Village Needs

One of our goals for the 2012 trip to Gambella was to hold a conference with six of the surrounding presbyteries (local churches). The purpose of this conference was to hear from the local people what they thought were their villages’ greatest needs and discuss how all of those present could work together to meet the needs. Pastors and village leaders from each presbytery attend the conference, 38 people in all.

PIA shared recent changes in our mission, which now focuses on a path of holistic development rather than mainly missionary work to introduce Christianity into the villages. This change has occurred because Christianity is now a familiar part of the local culture. While we have heard there is still a need for missionary work, it is no longer the primary need villages are requesting.

Holistic Development includes:

physical, spiritual and relational aspects
restoring relationships,
working with what people already have,
Improving well being through projects related to health, education, agriculture and clean water and other community interests.

Leaders came together in small groups to think about and discuss what resources do their villages have in abundance and what resources are needed, thus allowing them to think about how they can work together as a larger congregation within EGBS to provide for these needs.

The conference concluded with a task for the village leaders to develop a Village Development Council. Each village will appoint two people to serve on the council. This council will function in the future as a bridge from the villages to EGBS, with the villages prioritizing and communicating their needs. In this manner, PIA will hear directly from the villages.

: A group picture of leaders attending the conference.

: Paul Arneston (on left) donated much of his time to lead the facilitation of the conference for PIA. Omat Agwa (on right) one of the EGBS elders assisted Paul with translation throughout the conference because Paul had not brushed up on his Anuak and Mazenager before the conference.

: Okello took minutes throughout the conference. Ojulu our trip photographer is behind the camera.

: The conference started in the morning on Tuesday ended the following Thursday afternoon. During that time leaders gathered together in larger group discussions and broke-out into smaller groups of six.

: Omat speaking with a small group. The small group discussions facilitated by Paul, Ojulu, Omat, and Okello.

: A small group of leaders from Dima and Jor.

: A small group of leaders from Ethang

: The light and the spirit fills the room, as people enter the church. Before worship starts we are in devotions and prayer. This is a special service with EGBS leaders and leaders that have come from the surrounding villages and have been meeting with PIA. During the worship each leader shares their personal reflections on how God is guiding their decisions on what their community needs the most. They have had a night to reflect on the previous day workshop with PIA. There is a lot of song and drumming, reading of the bible and Ojulu shares a message on leadership. “A leader starts out with a group and as one member falls the leader goes back to help them up, in turn others in the group see this and come back to help those who are now behind until we all move together as one.”

: Paul saying goodbyes to participants at the conference

: Paul saying goodbyes to participants at the conference