blog.indeedandtruth.orgBlog | In Deed And Truth

Ministries In Deed And Truth Ministries Search Primary Menu Website Vision Volunteer Donate Search for: Newsletters April 2024 Newsletter April 20, 2024 Alex Smith 1 Comment Easter in South Sudan! Easter serves as a beacon of hope for the people of South Sudan and for believers all around the world. It certainly holds a special place in my heart, as I’m reminded of the significance of this Holy season, a season of hope, renewal, rebirth, and triumphant celebration. He wipes away every tear, restores shattered dreams and transforms our brokenness into something beautiful and new. Suzy and family Easter morning The message of the cross is a joyous celebration of life over death, redemption, and renewal. What better way to celebrate that message than by baptizing 138 new believers in South Sudan? CC Tonj heading to the Tonj River Against the backdrop of challenges, poverty, disease, insecurity, and many other uncertainties, Calvary Chapel Tonj marked Easter with this remarkable baptism symbolizing spiritual renewal and commitment to the Christian faith. This public act of devotion to Jesus embodied the spirit of Easter and the promise of new beginnings. As communities gathered to celebrate the resurrection, hearts were filled with joy and gratitude for the transformative power of faith. Ps. Mabior sharing at the baptism But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Suzy in USA Recently, I returned from Africa to spend Easter with my family. While stateside I had the privilege of engaging with several congregations and was given the opportunity to share about the impactful work of In Deed and Truth Ministries serving communities in South Sudan. Suzy and Hannah at CC Tallahassee As our ministry has grown substantially over the last few years, this has become a necessary part of my ministry, sharing opportunities for partners to come alongside and invest in this incredible work that the Lord is doing in South Sudan. I need your help as a faithful friend to our ministry. As you reflect on your own blessings, pray about supporting the vital efforts of In Deed and Truth Ministries, extending your reach beyond borders to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. While you might not be able to give financially at the moment, you still have valuable resources to contribute. Pray about facilitating connections with potential ministry partners who may be able to support us financially. I will be in San Diego in July for 2 weeks and would love to be introduced to new churches and small groups. Maybe you could host a ‘get to know my missionary’ gathering in your home. If you live outside Southern CA I would be happy to meet on a conference video call or to travel to your area. I humbly ask for your help in making new connections as I believe passionately in the ministry and impact we are having in South Sudan. Here is a quick reminder of the impact we are having in the field. CHE Impact for 2023 In addition, we have 35 church plants, 45 native pastors, and run a mission hospital that sees 60,000 patients a year. Newsletters March 2024 Newsletter March 20, 2024 Alex Smith 8 Comments Empowering Pastors! In Tonj, South Sudan, we are privileged to be empowering pastors and transforming communities by training the next generation of Church leaders. It is an honor to support the growth of the church through church planting, pastor training, and sponsorship. IDAT church plant in Tonj East Our program provides vital monthly training and resources to passionate leaders who are eager to share the Gospel with their communities. Additionally, we provide comprehensive training through diploma and certificate programs, equipping pastors with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively lead and serve their villages, fostering spiritual growth and transformation. With your support, we have already sponsored 45 pastors, enabling them to serve full-time and reach thousands with the message of hope and redemption. As a result, churches are being planted, communities are being transformed, and the kingdom of God is advancing in this young nation. Thank you for partnering with us in this critical work, and please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in South Sudan as they boldly proclaim the Good News! Pastor Mabior leading the training To sponsor a pastor, go to: https://pastors.indeedandtruth.org/ Suzy in South Sudan On my recent trip to South Sudan, I had the honor of training a dedicated IDAT finance team in best practices for effective financial management. Together, we learned to use new online software to enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability in financial operations. Suzy and the IDAT team It was a joy to witness the team’s eagerness to learn and their commitment to serving IDAT and our partners well in this area. With this newfound knowledge, they are now equipped to make a lasting impact, ensuring resources are used wisely to bring hope and transformation to South Sudan. We had an independent annual audit done while I was there. Thank you to all our partners for your support, which makes this annual financial step a ’new’ but necessary part of our growth. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9 CHE Explosion! Five years ago our 3 CHE centers met for a conference, and we had a combined attendance of 80 people. Two years ago we had to split into 4 CHE conference locations, with a combined attendance of around 1,500 CHE volunteers. This year we had to expand to 9 different locations with a combined attendance of over 4,000 CHE volunteers! Over 4,000 attend CHE conferences Our CHE conference days over the past few weeks have been a fantastic time of worship, prayer, testimonies, preaching, feasting and words of appreciation from chiefs and community leaders. One of the highlights was hearing so many stories of transformation, such as that of James Guc. James had been the Paduer village witchdoctor, until he heard the gospel through CHE – he shared that he has now entered into a new life of freedom through Christ. James Guc Please pray for our CHE team as they expand into 30 more villages this year! Newsletters February 2024 Newsletter February 20, 2024 Alex Smith 6 Comments Passion and Vision for 2024! This month marks a significant milestone for me – 25 years since I took a leap of faith and embarked on a life-changing mission trip to war-torn South Sudan. I’ll never forget that first moment after landing on a dusty airstrip, as I stepped off the plane, naked children emerged from the underbrush, running towards me with beaming smiles. I was struck by the stark contrast between their joy and the devastation from a famine that had ravaged their town for the past year. The famine had left deep scars, but during that trip, I witnessed firsthand the resilience and determination of a community on the path to recovery. It was a journey that forever changed my perspective and deepened my faith. In 2000 – Holding the first baby named ‘Suzy’ after me The call was clear, and my heart was stirred with a deep love and burden for the people. A passion burned within me to share the hope of Jesus, and my life was forever changed. Years of weeping, praying, and fasting for the church in South Sudan have borne fruit. Together, we’ve witnessed 35 church plants and 45 national pastors arise. We currently have 18 of those pastors in Bible College and in May we will celebrate their graduation as they receive a diploma in Pastoral Ministry. Two IDAT missionaries and two national pastors are preparing to co-teach future classes in both English and Dinka, ensuring that even the most remote villages receive inductive Bible study training. God’s answer to our prayers is...