Meet Bishop Joseph Mamer of the Diocese of Wanyjok in South Sudan

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Bishop Joseph Mamer of the Diocese of Wanyjok in South Sudan. Our partnership with the Diocese of Wanyjok is important because it joins us to a vibrant movement of Anglican mission and discipleship in one of the fastest-growing Christian regions in the world. The Episcopal Church in South Sudan is expanding at a pace that mirrors the early church, often without infrastructure, resources, or stability.

By walking alongside Bishop Mamer and his diocese, we share in the work of forming new believers, strengthening Anglican identity, and supporting communities where the Gospel is transforming lives. This partnership allows us to participate directly in the growth of the Kingdom and to learn from the remarkable faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Bishop Joseph's diocese is located in a region where most people are Dinka and many others are refugees and immigrants from Sudan who speak Arabic. The people also speak the Luo language and understand Dinka. Life in this part of South Sudan is deeply affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Even in the face of hardship, the church continues to grow and flourish.

Bishop Joseph and his wife, who is also a pastor, are raising three children: 16, 12, and 10. His call story is remarkable. He grew up in a traditionalist non-Christian home and tended animals as a child, which was a brutal and often punishing responsibility. At age 16, an Anglican evangelist shared the Gospel with him, and he became a Christian. His family rejected his new faith at first, yet he continued to invite relatives to church, and today nearly his entire extended family is Christian.

He was made a deacon in 1998 and a priest in 1999. Because formal education often comes later in South Sudan, he continued his studies at St. Paul’s United Theological College in Limuru, Kenya, finishing in 2013. In 2017, he was elected bishop and began the Diocese of Wanyjok from the ground up. There was no office, no furniture, and no staff.

Even with these challenges, the ministry has blossomed. Today, the diocese includes new churches, a growing discipleship process, seven primary schools, a secondary school, and a training college for clergy with more than 460 students. The work truly reflects the spirit of the early church, and we are honored to walk alongside him as partners in the Gospel.

Bishop Joseph's focus has shifted from rapid evangelism to long-term discipleship, which includes building churches, improving schools, establishing offices, creating letterheads and processes, and training leaders to guide their communities in faith.

As our partnership grows, we will post photos, updates, and stories from Bishop Joseph's work so that we can pray for him and learn more about the Episcopal Church in South Sudan. Their witness is extraordinary, and we are blessed to be connected to them.

In Christ,

Alex Large, Rector