Mama Rebecca Nyandeng was not physically attacked at the Emmanuel Jieng Parish
Press Release from the Pastor-in-charge of Emmanuel Parish, Rev. Joseph Maker Achiek, and the Parochial Administration.
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Press release from the Emmanuel Jieng Parish in Juba regarding Mama Nyandeng (PDF)
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November 30, 2015 (SSB) — The Emmanuel Church press released as shared with the Associated Press and in response to allegation quoted on Facebook, Sudantribune which states “Rebecca Nyandeng attacked at Juba Church Service,” Nyamilemedia which states: “Emmanuel Jieng Parish: Garang’s widow, Mama Rebecca, attacked in Juba, ”The Nation Mirror which states “Rebecca Nyandeng Garang attacked at a church in Juba” among others.
The church is a symbol of unity and an agent of peace, peace is our common song we daily sing and we expect our members to portray the same attitude. Emmanuel Parish which was formally called Emmanuel Jieng Parish is one of the biggest congregated church in Juba Diocese. It is playing a major role in bringing peace to the country by evangelizing to the Christians and the citizens as a core mission.
We as a church are supporting the signed peace and are preaching it to our members because no one has right to judge or get rid of lives of others. For us to be a good living country we must forgive and accept each other and start retracing where we went wrong against each other.
We had a strong believe that the peace would surely come after seeing all our leaders discussing their issues peacefully in Juba without fear, therefore, we had right to join in their reception as the Former Political Detainees who had been away for sometimes and for us to achieve peace they must be here, we wanted to express our love of them as our members and citizens too and assure our members of the peace that has started coming.
On Friday, we went to Dr. John Garang’s home and preached the word of God to them and pray with them. And on Saturday they attended the House of Bishops’ meeting in our church (Emmanuel Parish) where they expressed their role of implementing the signed peace while in the country.
As Sunday prayers is always a common routine to the devoted Christians and each and every one of them has a right to pray in a church he or she is a member in it, Mama Rebecca Nyandeng and Dr. Majak D’Agoot decided to come to their common church which is Emmanuel Parish as they did before they went tothe exile.
I as a pastor in charge, I decided to call them forward to be prayed for by the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Justin Badi, the Bishop of Diocese Maridi, for sure the lady came to me and said that Mama Rebecca should not be prayed for unless she brings her son. She was convinced and taken out by ushers and the prayers continued as usual.
To my surprise I started receiving uncommon calls from strangers and colleagues trying to confirm what had happened which I realized the church members are the one sending wrong messages through social media before prayers ended.
I am urging Christians, enemies of peace and the social media users to stop inciting people using the propaganda instead they should be using them for spreading peace.
We shouldn’t cut corners to make the story sound good by telling lies to the world. As a church we strongly condemn those who are misusing the internet, you are killing our people indirectly and we need peace.
This basically appears to be that people who are religious are irrational, and that irrational people do strange things. You are doing huge disservice to the readers by promulgating old stereotypes and wrong assumptions about communities, you are preaching hatred and who are you to judge others.
Exaggerations of things plus hypocrisy are sins.
The exceptions are what God tells us, no one has right to block someone to be prayed for. The Christians should stop following leaders and do the right things that are good for them.
The church is like a river which takes everything with no denial of each other; it is our work as pastors to pray for people.
Stop politicking Godly things.
Jacob Biar Deng – The church Spokesperson
Rev. Joseph Maker Achiek – Pastor in charge
Cc Juba Diocese
Cc file
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