It has been more than 40 years since Southern Sudan has had a missionary presence. In that time, the people of the town of Nasir in Southern Sudan have experienced conflict with Northern desire for dominance culminating in 20 years of civil war.

As a result of war, many Sudanese have immigrated to the United States. For many reasons, Omaha, NE has become home to the largest US population of Sudanese immigrants. Omaha boasts more than 8,000 Sudanese. In the fall of 2004, several Sudanese immigrant families came to Benson Baptist Church of Omaha seeking to establish a Nuer speaking congregation. Their desire was to become part of a larger established Baptist community where their children could receive the benefit of Biblical education. Our relationship over these last two years has been one of mutual cooperation and appreciation. God has taught our established congregation many valuable lessons as we have worked to help our Sudanese brothers and sisters feel an integral part of our worshiping community.

Shortly after the peace agreement was signed in Southern Sudan, the leadership of the Nuer congregation excitedly proposed the idea that one day (soon was on their mind) they would like to have someone from Benson Baptist go to Sudan and see their homeland community. As we spoke, it became quite clear that they thought the Senior Pastor should be part of this mission team. After six months of talk and prayer, the idea was shared with the general church board. The board was interested, but not excited at the thought of their pastor traveling 8,000 miles to an area that has known conflict and war for more than 40 years. Was it possible that God could call the pastor of a small congregation tucked away in the plains of Nebraska to be the first missionary in more than 40 years to visit the people of Nasir tucked away in the plains of Sudan, Africa?

The board and the congregation met the request with much conversation. We looked at the reasons pro and con for going. Finally, through prayer, fasting and seeking godly wisdom and counsel, we determined that God was indeed calling the pastor to Africa.
On July 3, 2006, Benson Baptist’s Church Moderator, Jon Mayo, two leaders of the Sudanese congregation, Yat Kueth and Daniel Gatkuoth , and Rev. Paul Marine traveled to Nasir, Sudan to discover where God was working and where we could join Him. We spent two weeks immersed in a culture radically different from anything we experience in the United States. We were warmly welcomed and embraced by a people who were hungry for Biblical knowledge and American help in building a community of faith.

There are about 20,000 people living in Nasir with about 300 per week returning from the refugee camps.

While we were in Nasir, the church elders were granted a piece of land in the name of the Nasir Baptist Church on which to build the church compound. Prior to our visit, the church had about 110 people attending on a weekly basis. They met in a hut constructed of grass and sorghum stalks. While we were there, more than 200 came to discover what Baptists were teaching. We participated in 10 baptisms in the Sobat River and had many conversations with people who had good questions about faith and Biblical interpretation. While there, the congregation chose Stephen Wuor as their pastor. Stephen has attended one year of Bible school in Dimma, an Ethiopian refugee camp. He seems to have a good work ethic and a great heart for the people and work of God. Since our visit, the church has grown to well over 300 in weekly attendance.

Our experience has strengthened the bonds between the established congregation at Benson Baptist and the Nuer congregation of immigrants and refugees who worship here. By the pastor’s personal participation in the mission he has been sensitized to the culture and experience of the Nuer people attending this church. We have been connected directly with the needs of a sister community halfway across the world and been given a new focus for our mission ministries.

-- Paul Marine

Rev. Paul Marine serves as senior pastor, Benson Baptist Church, Omaha, NE. Learn more, and read the pastor's mission journal at www.omahabbc.com.