Equipping in Hard Places: Hope in South Sudan

Posted on April 17, 2025

How do we determine if a location is “hard to reach”? According to Stratus, a tool created by David Platt’s Radical to assess the countries with the most urgent spiritual and physical needs, South Sudan ranks in the top 20 (to learn more click here).

While the church there is growing rapidly, South Sudan ranks worst in the world for freedom, economic development, and politics. Ethnic tension resulting in genocide, violent repression, high maternal and infant mortality rates, extreme poverty, high barriers to education (especially for women)—all of these factors and more make life in South Sudan a daily battle for survival.

Yet the church of South Sudan perseveres. Not only are they persevering, but they are growing! Church leaders are hungry for the Word of God and the ministry skills they need to bring true flourishing to their communities.

One Global Action class meets in Ajuong, South Sudan. This class in the Nuba Mountains on the border with Sudan boasts an enrollment of 64 students. Many of these students have lost everything and now live in horrible conditions in refugee camps. It is common for them to trek for two days on foot in order to reach the class site. The journey is treacherous and leaves them vulnerable to attack, but they are determined to make that sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. 

In the teaching tent, temperatures often soar to over 100 degrees, but these dedicated Christ-followers don’t let that stop them. Like sponges, they are soaking up the Word of God. They will then take everything they have absorbed back to their communities where they will share the hope of Jesus with others.