The conflict in Sudan has also disrupted the flow of food commodities through main border crossings, causing food prices in some areas of South Sudan to increase by 20-84 percent.The poorest and most vulnerable are the first to suffer under these inflated prices. Already, 7.7 million are estimated to be food insecure in South Sudan.

The UNHCR reports 4.3 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, including refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and asylum seekers.On the ground in the capital city of Juba, our partner, Lazarus Yezinai, has observed a general growing vulnerability around him. “There’s a lot of sickness. People are dying every day,” he commented.

Lazarus and his family endured serious illness about once a month, starting in September 2022 and continuing through February 2023. In November, Lazarus was treated for yellow fever and typhoid. That treatment was followed by an ulcer, which made it difficult for him to breathe, and forced him to stay close to home.

In June, Lazarus and his wife, Mary, were sick with malaria again, and one of his children was hospitalized and needed oxygen. Lazarus said the air quality in their area was poor, and he knew of many children who were hospitalized and needed oxygen.

In the face of these challenges, Lazarus and his team have still managed to carry on, their resolve to offer Jesus to the hurting only deepened by the constant suffering around them.
If adults in South Sudan are vulnerable, their children and youth are even more so. Many are separated from their parents by violent uprisings, death, or abuse. Alone on the streets, they often form gangs to survive.

These gangs are marginalized and disliked by the community because of the threat their needs pose to peace and safety.

Wouldn’t it be great if the church could help prevent these young people from growing into power-hungry politicians whose fragile egos drive the displacement of millions as they seek the sense of belonging and importance they should have received from their families and the Lord as youths!

But even more poignant is the dire need for God’s people to be a beacon of hope that shines into these desperate situations.

The community should see God’s people be the first to reach out with hospitality and kindness to the hurting young men and women who have formed gangs because the community wasn’t able to or interested in helping them in their desperate time of need.

With the help of ITMI supporters, Lazarus has led the way in organizing God’s people to hold out the light of Jesus in this darkness using the game of “football” (soccer). Lazarus’ sports outreach to gangs in five Juba communities demonstrates that the Lord sees and cares about these youth.

Lazarus also holds organization-wide events for all the soccer teams to gather in one place. Someone encourages them from God’s Word, and the leaders give their testimonies. Lazarus says the attendance rate is high for these events. All the teams show up in full.

The gang leaders have expressed that they are profoundly grateful that someone is paying attention to them. Even those who live with their parents often haven’t been “raised” or taught how to be human.

They are deeply hungry for someone to truly “parent” them - to discuss their challenges, provide guidance, and invest in them.

Some of the players are showing a change in their mindset.

They are beginning to understand who they are as human beings and what the Bible says about their relationship with the Lord and the world. They are learning how to pray, and starting to grasp the concept of right and wrong.

This paradigm shift has fueled hope in some of the players. Some have returned to school because they understand that they have a purpose on earth and that education can help them fulfill that purpose. They start to grasp that to live the way the Bible teaches, they need to provide for themselves honestly so they can stop stealing from others.

Community leaders are over the moon about this program. They notice positive changes in the youth and a reduction in violence. For those that have parents, the parents also are amazed that their sons are acting more responsibly.

Lazarus shares that the tournaments themselves are becoming outreach events.
In July, Lazarus and his church hosted a tournament that included six teams. The final match between Lemon City and Jebel Dinka was held on July 9, commemorating the Republic of South Sudan’s Independence Day.
Lemon City emerged victorious with three goals to Jebel Dinka’s two goals, but there was an even bigger win!

Lazarus reported that this event attracted spectators, including other gang members. His teams of volunteers were able to find gang members who were interested in joining teams and share the Gospel with them. Many were receptive and took a first step to receive the Lord!

This outreach to these extremely vulnerable youth in struggling communities of a country plagued by corruption, poverty, and violence is possible because of ITMI supporters’ involvement in several ways.

Your support of Lazarus and ITMI means that a godly national has the support he needs to meet the needs around him with the Good News and discipleship.

In addition to his passion for the Gospel and sharing the Lord with others, Lazarus’ familiarity with these communities, their struggles, and their specific needs enables him to sidestep the common landmines of ministry and build an impactful program that makes disciples that make disciples.

Your generous response to our Christmas Giving Catalog also helped fund the equipment necessary for this outreach. Your support of our godly, national partners is making a big impact in the lives of hurting youth in South Sudan!