Warring tribes have plagued the young country of South Sudan and shattered its founding dreams of solidarity and unity. Across this Northeast African nation, people have witnessed and experienced violence that has led to loss of homes and a lack of food, clean water, and shelter. This has caused a dependency on Western agencies, a condition commonly found in this part of the world.

Avant is helping to develop a partnership of South Sudanese churches, communities, organizations, and leaders that will help free people in this part of the world from the bondage of spiritual and financial dependence. Through the Messengers of Hope workshops, pastors and church leaders are equipped with biblically-based social economic and spiritual practices that are seeing success in transforming their churches – and communities – into self-sustainable places that thrive in unity.

This new financial and spiritual harmony is attractive to those watching their efforts, and churches are beginning to grow and also plant new churches among unreached people groups. Messengers of Hope anticipates training 400 pastors and trainers of trainers in the next five years.