As a young boy, our founder, Jacob Thon Guot, ran for his life from the civil conflict in his country and became one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys.” With thousands of other children, he walked across east Africa and grew up in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. The US government chose 4,000 “Lost Boys,” including Jacob, to emigrate to the USA, where he earned college and seminary degrees. Jacob now directs the creation of the Rising Hope Christian Center in Bor Town.
With Nehemiah as his biblical hero and role model, Jacob is securing resources to return to his war-devastated nation, rebuild his hometown, to change the lives of students and families, and to raise up South Sudanese leaders who will restore his community with the good news of God in Jesus Christ.
By God’s direction, Jacob and ASC are building a community of supporters who share his vision of making positive change in Bor Town, Jonglei State, and who sense how the whole nation of South Sudan and the region of East Africa can be impacted by a new generation of Christian citizens and future leaders.
What is the mission of Africa Sunrise Communities?
The mission of Africa Sunrise Communities is to educate, empower and restore the community through holistic transformation.
We seek to empower leaders in East Africa through pastoral care and holistic living. We seek to restore communities by reconciling relationships. We work to empower the leadership of local communities with clear goals to establish a lasting impact on South Sudan.
What is Africa Sunrise Communities currently doing to walk out the mission of the organization?
OBJECTIVES
· Educate the next generation with the tools they will need to improve their world. Using land purchased from the state, ASC will establish a primary and secondary school complex in Bor, South Sudan, to bring education to this neglected population.
· Train leaders with a focus on unity between tribal peoples in an effort to achieve better national unity.
ASC works in East Africa to empower individuals in local communities in five ways:
Comprehend: Understand that the cultural context of South Sudan has changed significantly. Working alongside the education and pastors’ training center will familiarize the organization with the changes in culture and attitudes.
Cooperate: Build friendships with the UNHCR, Red Cross, and other NGOs and non-profits already working with education. Those partnerships will build experience and help develop effective schools.
Connect: Establish connections with governments and religious and community leaders. This includes registering ASC with the government as a local business. So many doors can be opened with the support of the community.
Coordinate: Connect people to existing social services and create avenues for needed services. Knowing what social services already exist is essential so that our efforts are not duplicating services but enhancing them.
Cultivate: Establish the organization as a leader across ethnic lines on both sides of the conflict. Their cause is to unite people in East Africa.
What future goals does the organization have for carrying out the mission?
The Vision of Africa Sunrise Communities is to make a positive difference in the life of the world’s newest nation. We are in the process of building and operating a center of holistic Christian ministry in Bor Town, Jonglei State, South Sudan.
“The Rising Hope Christian Center” will ultimately include a school for primary and secondary students, an athletic field, a medical clinic, a church, a residence, and a guest house and training center.
VALUES
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Meeting the holistic needs of the community will guide it towards Christian values
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Training pastors leads to transformation
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An educated population in Bor, Jonglei State, is an empowered one.
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Even one individual can make a difference for good.
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Leadership of a community should come from within.
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We work within and respect the cultural traditions of East Africa.
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We are called by God to this work.
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A nation is made of individuals. If we want to change the nation, we must change individuals.
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Our focus is on relationships. Every person is important. Every person has dignity and worth.
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We must learn the truths and ways of God through education. We must learn to read so that we can read the Bible. We must read the Bible so that we can learn God’s story and God’s will. We must learn God’s story and God’s will so that we can believe in Jesus and follow him with our lives. This education leads to a life of service to God and the development of Christian values.
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“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
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Training for transformation following Jesus involves learning the disciplines that lead to a transformed life. Those disciplines include prayer and meditation on God’s Word, worship in the community of believers, and giving of money and time to serve God’s kingdom.
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As we learn to live a life of devotion and walk in the way of Jesus, our lives will be transformed day-by-day to be more like his.