The Frontier Within: A Call to Reclaim the Soul of Losite Payam

 By Ojimi Mandela | Missionary

In the discipline of missiology, we often prioritize the "ends of the earth." As a missionary serving with Word of Life across the vast reaches of South Sudan, I have dedicated my life to that very call. Yet, Scripture reminds us of a specific order of operation for the movement of the Gospel:

"...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

For the Lango Lorwama community, my heart breaks for our "Jerusalem." While we have traveled the world to find life, Losite Payam remains a spiritual and developmental frontier. Despite our presence in the churches of Juba and the schools of Uganda, our ancestral home has never been formally reached with a strategic, sustainable Gospel presence.

The Legacy of the Exodus

The history of the Lorwama people over the last fifty years is marked by a "quest for the horizon." Since 1970, when over twenty of our fathers crossed into Karenga, Uganda, to access formal education at Loyoro Napore P7, the road has been our primary teacher. We have sought refuge in Kenya, medical treatment in Kitgum, and commerce in the border auctions of Lamwo and Kitgum.

We have flourished as sojourners, building lives in the lands of our exile. But back home, the clock has stood still. Losite Payam remains a snapshot of the past not because we lack potential, but because we have lived out the warning found in Haggai 1:9:

"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the Lord Almighty. 'Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.'"

We have built beautiful lives in the places of our sojourn, while the spiritual foundation of our own land remains unreached and unbuilt.

The Foundational Deficit: Why the Land Stagnates

From a professional missiological perspective, the stagnation of Losite is a failure of the Foundation. We have pursued the benefits of civilization from our neighbors, but we have never formally established the Source of that civilization in our own soil.

Psalm 127:1 serves as a sobering reminder:

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."

 For decades, we have labored in vain because we sought the fruits of the Kingdom without planting the roots. We have sought:

  • Education without the "fear of the Lord," which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

  • Healing from across the border, while neglecting the Great Physician who promised, "I will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).

  • Commerce through seasonal auctions in Akilok, rather than the covenant of stewardship.

The Nehemiah Mandate: A Call to the Lango Lorwama

To my fellow Lango Lorwama natives especially those in the diaspora, the time for "accidental" faith is over. Our help does not come from across the border; it comes from the Lord. It is time to move from seeking to stewardship.

  1. Establish the Altar: We must move beyond casual visits. We need a strategic, formal mission to plant the Gospel in our own Payam. We must heed Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

  2. Repurposing the Diaspora: Your education and success were not given for your comfort alone. Like Nehemiah, your heart should ache for the broken walls of your home. We must stop saying "Go" and start saying, "Let us rise up and build" (Nehemiah 2:18).

  3. Indigenous Restoration: When we put God First, we will no longer need to cross into Karenga or Kitgum to find "civilized life." As Isaiah 58:12 promises: "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."

Conclusion: Reclaiming Our Inheritance

Losite Payam is not a land forgotten; it is a land waiting for its children to return with the Light. We have been sojourners for long enough. It is time to become the builders God intended us to be.

Let us formally reach Losite. Let us lay the foundation of the Gospel so deep that the next generation will stay—not because they have to, but because they have found the "Pearl of Great Price" in their own backyard.

Join the Restoration: Prayer & Action Points

  • Intercession: Pray for a spiritual "breaking of the ground" in Losite Payam that the Gospel would finally be formally and strategically established.

  • Mobilization: Pray for a "Return Movement" among Lorwama professionals to bring their expertise (medicine, education, trade) back to the Payam.

  • Partnership: Support the work of Word of Life as we labor to reach South Sudan through our distinguished ministry to the youth in partnership with local churches.

About the Author

A career missionary with Word of Life, Ojimi Mandela is dedicated to the holistic transformation of South Sudan through the ministry to the youth in partnership with the local churches in the country. 

Partner with Ojimi Mandela: 👉 missions.wol.org/nojimi

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

POVERTY DOES NOT DETERMINE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP: Challenging the Ideology of Prosperity Preachers in the Church

Image
  By Pastor Abunerry Ayella. 28-1-2026 South Sudan Recently, social media has been awash with debate following a statement attributed to a Nigerian pastor:  “I will not follow a poor pastor.”   In response, Dr Abel Damina publicly challenged this claim in a five-minute online video, rightly questioning both its theology and its pastoral integrity. I followed his attempt to correct the statement with keen interest. Unfortunately, this controversy exposes a deeper problem within contemporary Christianity, namely, the distortion of spiritual leadership and the identity of the so-called “man of God”. This article offers a biblical and theological rebuttal to the idea that poverty disqualifies a pastor from spiritual leadership. A sound theologian is not overly concerned with material accumulation, nor does God measure spiritual authority by wealth. Scripture does not encourage pastors or believers to prioritise material gain. Jesus Himself did not anchor leadership on fi...
Read more

From the Miry Clay to the Mission Field: A Reflection on Psalm 40:1-3

Image
  By Ojimi Mandela | Missionary The journey of faith is rarely a straight line; it is often a series of valleys and peaks where God’s sovereignty meets human frailty. From my testimony , the transition from a place of deep depression and substance-seeking on a university campus to becoming a commissioned career missionary with  Word of Life South Sudan  is nothing short of a modern-day miracle. This transformation is perfectly mirrored in the poetic and prophetic words of  Psalm 40:1-3 . These verses do not merely tell a story of rescue; they provide a theological framework for understanding how God intercepts our rebellion and repositions us for His glory. Outline of Psalm 40:1-3 To understand the depth of this passage, one must look at the progression of David’s experience with the Lord: The Posture of the Believer (Verse 1a):   "I waited patiently for the Lord..."  which highlights the necessity of divine timing and the recognition that human effort cann...
Read more

The Missing Foundation: Why the Lango Lorwama are Ready for a New Beginning

Image
By Ojimi Mandela | Missionary The Heart of the Matter In the rugged beauty of Losite Payam, Eastern Equatoria , the Lango Lorwama people live a life of ancient rhythm. They are masters of the land, expert cattle herders and resilient subsistence farmers. Yet, despite their strength, a vital piece of the foundation is missing. While neighboring tribes have seen the transformation of schools, clinics, and modern agriculture through the Gospel, the Lorwama community remains largely unreached. There is no Bible in their tongue, no church in their valleys, and no "House of God" to serve as a beacon of hope. Building in the Right Order There is a powerful lesson in the Bible from the prophet Haggai. After a time of great struggle, the people were busy building their own homes, but they wondered why their crops failed and their pockets remained empty. God spoke through the prophet, saying: "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in...
Read more