Ahoghill and Portglenone team commissioned for South Sudan trip

Tuesday June 11th 2024

At the commissioning service in Ahoghill and Portglenone are the Rev Joanne Megarrell, left, preacher, and Gillian Maganda, CMSI, with the Rev Dennis Christie, Niall Campbell and Stephen McCallion who will visit Ibba Diocese in South Sudan this summer.

A team of three from the Grouped Parishes of Ahoghill and Portglenone will travel to Ibba Diocese in South Sudan this summer on a short-term mission trip.

On Sunday, June 9, a Service of Commissioning was held for the Rev Dennis Christie, Niall Campbell and Stephen McCallion, with Gillian Maganda, Church Mission Society Ireland (CMSI) personnel manager in attendance.

The preacher was the Rev Joanne Megarrell, rector of St John’s Parish in Moira which has an established link with Ibba Diocese.

Various fundraising activities have been taking place over the past few months, including a Couch to 10k challenge for the rector at Glenarm Castle on May 18 which has to date raised more than £2,270.

Writing on his Couch to 10K fundraising page, Dennis states: “The purpose of the trip will be to help establish a mission partnership between the local church and Ibba diocese in South Sudan.

“South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world with high levels of infant mortality. Despite being a lush and fertile region, the area has suffered from years of war and lacks basic infrastructure meaning the everyday things we take for granted, such as good healthcare, education, transport and training are almost non-existent.”

“In partnership with Bishop Wilson Kamani, who oversees Ibba Diocese, and with the help of CMSI, we hope to support future key projects in the area and it is fundraisers like this one that can really make that happen!”