Visitors travel many miles to Sudanese ordination in Finland

A Sudanese man is to be ordained Priest in Finland this weekend (Sunday 10th June) to enable him to develop his ministry among a growing community. Amos Yorobam Manga had been selected for ordination in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan but imprisonment and death threats forced him and his family to flee his native land. He was given political asylum in Finland where he found other Sudanese Christians in need of a pastor.

After an intensive training course, which included a spell working in a parish in the Hyson Green area of Nottingham, Amos was made a Deacon in a service on Advent Sunday last year. During his stay in Nottingham Amos was hosted by Sonia Barron and her family – Sonia is the Church of England’s Adviser on Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns. Now Sonia, with her husband and family, is traveling to Oulu Cathedral in Northern Finland for Amos’ ordination as Priest. The service will be performed by the Rt Revd David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe. The Lutheran bishop of Oulu, the Rt Revd Samuel Salmi has offered the use of his cathedral for this historic service and will be present and participating. It will be the first time such a service has taken place in Finland, and is a living example of the Porvoo Agreement signed between Anglicans and Nordic and Baltic Lutheran churches.

Amos Yorobam Manga is an assistant curate in the Anglican Church of Finland. He takes care of the spiritual needs of Episcopalian Sudanese living in Oulu district and other parts of the country where his special ministerial skills are useful.

When Sonia Barron recently met the Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, Dr Geoffrey Rowell, (see picture) she asked him and other churches to offer practical help for Amos with donations towards a much needed car to allow him to travel the vast distances to meet his flock. The other alternative is by train which is costly and time consuming. At least £5,000 is needed for a suitable vehicle and Sonia will be taking a contribution from her own church in Nottingham where Amos (see picture of him in Nottingham) proved to be a valuable and enthusiastic trainee. She hopes Christians in Britain and around Europe will support this appeal.

Donations may be sent to the Diocese in Europe office, 14 Tufton Street, LONDON SW1P 3QZ – marked “Amos Manga car appeal”

Pictures of the service can be found here.

Revd. Paul Needle, Diocesan Communications Officer Tel: +0034 964 413166; Mobile : +44 (0)7833 372439; Email: paul.needle@europe.c-of-e.org.uk