When I look over the past month in South Sudan, it has revolutionized my personal life. We have witnessed over 1300 people trust Christ as their Savior (and this is a very conservative number). We have been in schools and preached to over 3000 students, have went door-to-door soul winning, preached in soccer leagues, prisons, and even a blind school, and people here are more hungry for the gospel than I've ever seen. I am not only allowed to preach Christ and the gospel in schools, but also am welcomed to do so.

We have also had the privilege to plant Shadow of the Mountain Baptist Church. It was started on June 24, 2012 with over 50 people in attendance. Last week we had over 70 and I am unsure of the total from yesterday, as the church is in Juba, South Sudan and we are working in Yei, South Sudan this week. Our church has a pastor, a full weekly program with midweek services, "song practice," and a time for evangelism. We have also gotten a sign and land to meet on...we just need a building. We can build a temporary structure for just under $10,000. A permanent structure will be much more costly. We are also praying that we can work with Water Harvest, a not for profit work here to put a well there within the next year. I also got the privilege of baptizing some of our members in the Nile river (see above picture).

Please pray for our ministry, and if the Lord burdens you to give, you can visit our donate  page. If you would like to see pictures of our work in South Sudan, please visit my facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eric.porterfield.18. (We would have more pictures on our website, but it take a very long time for pictures to upload as the internet speed is so slow.)

The first week in South Sudan has been a very interesting one. We've laughed, cried, prayed, preached, went soul winning, had electricity...not had electricity, had water...not had water, but in spite of all the ups and downs, the images that I see are people starving for the gospel and starving to be trained for the Savior's service. Thanks to our friend, Brother Dennis Blankenship, we have been connected to nationals working with everything they have to change a nation for Christ. Their faith is strong and they are determined in  their work and filled with the Holy Spirit.

During our first week, we have had over 400 people pray and receive Christ as their Savior. We are praying that they will be able to be placed in the local churches in Kajo-Keji. This is tough due to limited transportation and limited financial resources.

Pray specifically for us tomorrow, June 19, as we will be interviewed by South Sudan TV  because of my disability. It is my prayer that God will use this opportunity to give us visibility and help strengthen the work here. Please keep us in prayer as we head into our second week here.

I would also like to thank everyone who has been praying for us thus far. A special thank you to Brother Dennis, his son-in-law John, Pastor Don Letson, Brother Gary Tingen, Jeremy and Kelley Holloway and Brother James. It was a privilege to work with you in South Sudan, and we appreciate all the goodies you left behind :) The Lord is changing our lives through the work here in South Sudan.

We would like to ask everyone to pray for us as we leave Friday, June 8, 2012 for South Sudan. 

 On July 9, 2011, South Sudan became the youngest nation in the world after being freed from the oppressive Islamic regime. In 2005, a peace treaty was signed, largely due to President Bush ousting Saddam Hussein as the dictator of Iraq. Hussein's regime provided the Islamic North with arms and military suuport. Therefore, South Sudan largely credits President Bush with their freedom.  Though they are free after a 22 year civil war, and a 6 year peace treaty, there is still a lot of unrest. We have acquired 10,000 tracts, and will be working with a veteran missionary and some of his national pastors. We are also praying that the Lord may allow us a more long-term influence in South Sudan. We would also ask you to pray for our safety, health, and remaining financial support. The open door to South Sudan may not stay open very long and we are hoping to spread the gospel, strengthen believers, and work to disciple people while we are there. We will be returning July 16, 2012. Everyone's prayers are desired and appreciated.

"The work of God is so big that a person can find their niche anywhere if they are just willing to let God lead."
 -Pastor Dewey Williams, pastor of Belle Meadows Baptist Church in Bristol, VA

 The cornerstone of all scriptural teaching is God's love to man
and the gift of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take away our sin. This truth has changed my life and has given me every good and decent thing that I have. 

The fact that eternal fellowship was broken at the cross to redeem mankind moves me when I think on it. When Jesus suffered death and hell at the cross, it was more than God turning His back on His Son. The Father and the Son were separated in their fellowship.  Death is the end of our physical existence. Separation from God is to be absent from His presence and fellowship. Christ's payment for sin conquered both of these for mankind. He overcame death by His resurrection, and He was separated from the Father so that you and I would not have to be eternally separated from the Father in Hell.

The payment for my sin should be burning in a literal Hell separated from God for all eternity, but Christ in mercy has taken my place.  

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.