Covenant News

Bombs Destroy Akobo Church

SUDAN (July, 1999) - SUDAN - Government planes reportedly destroyed the Evangelical Covenant Church in the village of Akobo in South Sudan, according to Covenant News Service (CNS) sources.

The church in Akobo was the site of the first ordination service of our newly developed sister denomination, The Evangelical Covenant Church of South Sudan. Six Sudanese pastors were ordained January 8. A special five-member team, representing the Evangelical Covenant Church headquartered in Chicago, traveled to Akobo to preside over the three-and-a-half-hour ordination service.

Several buildings were destroyed in the bombing, including the Evangelical Covenant Church. Early reports indicate no loss of life. "It is a grim reminder that war continues in South Sudan after many decades," said Jerry Rice, associate superintendent of the ECC's Northwest Conference and one of the team members.

The Covenant Church of Sudan is a refugee church that has affiliated with the ECC in part because of Covenant involvement with immigrating Sudanese in the Midwestern portion of the United States, particularly the Northwest Conference under Rice's leadership.

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