In the eastern corner of South Sudan, in a place called Baliet County near Malakal, a young man named Elijah is quietly shaping a generation. At just 27 years old, he has already lived through war, displacement, loss, and calling.
“I grew up with my parents and siblings,” Elijah begins, “but life became complicated after the war in Malakal in 2013.” For two years, he was out of school. There was no money, no support. “My father had no money to send me to school, so I just stayed without school for a good two years.”
But everything changed in 2015 when church leaders in Malakal saw something in Elijah. Empower One had made a way for students to study theology, and Elijah was selected to attend NEATS (North East Africa Theological Seminary) in Kajo Keji. “I completed my advanced certificate,” he says, “and after that, I came back to Juba and finished my senior secondary school in 2017.”
The journey didn’t end there. Pastor John Monychol, one of Elijah’s early mentors, invited him to Uganda’s refugee camps to help plant churches alongside leaders like Philip Kur, James Abong, and Peter Mayiik. Elijah embraced the call. “We were spreading the gospel as part of what I had been taught at NEATS,” he says.
Eventually, Elijah returned to Malakal to rebuild. As families returned after displacement, so did he—this time, to help plant churches and minister to the brokenhearted. Though he enrolled in university two years ago, he had to suspend his studies after the death of his father. “I am the eldest son,” Elijah explains. “Now I must provide for my siblings—their school fees, their needs.”
A Heart for the Youth
Elijah’s passion now beats strongest for the youth of Upper Nile. “I got involved in youth ministry when I observed the lifestyle of youth without Christ,” he says. “It was really very bad. It means our youth are getting lost.”
In a region marked by tribal conflict, poverty, and war trauma, Elijah sees the next generation as both vulnerable and full of potential. “Our youth are traumatized because of war,” he says. “They need the gospel, they need counseling, they need peace-building, and life skills like school and Christian lifestyle.”
His words are direct and full of urgency: “Youth are currently used as tools for communal fighting. They need awareness about peaceful coexistence. I want them to live a Christian lifestyle. It can be through preaching and strengthening through the Word of God.”
One of the ways Elijah sees transformation taking place is through youth conferences. “They give room for youth to love themselves and love the Word of God,” he says. One conference, in particular, changed everything for a young man named Makong Deng.
Makong’s Story: From Loss to Leadership
“In the time of war in Upper Nile State,” Elijah recalls, “a boy called Makong Deng lost both his father and mother. He remained with his older sister, with no school, no shelter, no clothes—just struggling to survive.”
Everything changed at a youth conference where the theme was “Youths in Christ.” Makong was captivated by the preaching. He made a decision: he would follow Jesus.
He joined Salvation Baptist Church in Malakal and was baptized by Pastor Peter Mayiik. Soon, he became a Sunday school teacher, teaching children about Jesus and using Bible pictures to tell stories. “The church saw his potential,” Elijah says, “and he was recommended to study DTI through NEATS. He completed a certificate and became an active young man in the church.”
Makong has never forgotten his pain, but he’s discovered purpose. “He told us,” Elijah says, “‘If it wouldn’t have been for church encouragement, I would have been a drunkard and thief and ended my life useless. But because I gave my life to Christ, I have changed.’”
Now, Makong shares his own message with other young people: “Come to church. Give your life to Christ. You will see change.”
Faith That Endures
When asked what keeps him going, Elijah doesn’t hesitate. “God called me to serve Him and preach the gospel to unreached people,” he says. “After I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I dedicated myself to the Great Commission.”
He remembers a defining moment at NEATS. “My professor, Pr. Dominic Eruaga, asked me: ‘Are you ready to take the gospel to the unreached?’ And I replied, ‘Yes, I am ready.’”
That calling has never wavered, even when life has been hard. “Through the help of Pastor John Monychol, I have stood firm in the ministry, even when things are not fine. No school. No support. Losing my father. Being the only one left to care for my siblings. Still, I hold on to the Word of God. The Bible is the source of encouragement and hope.”
A Vision for South Sudan’s Future
Elijah dreams of peace in South Sudan, not just a ceasefire, but healing from within. “I want my people to accept each other despite different tribes,” he says. “We must leave behind tribal hatred and stop senseless conflict.”
If given the resources, Elijah would run youth conferences and outreach programs to reach the most vulnerable: “Those who are drunkards, drug addicted, thieves, and criminals. I want to bring awareness, to teach them to live in harmony.”
He hopes to finish his studies and continue equipping the youth through faith-based activities, mentorship, and education. “I care deeply about their future,” he says. “Youth should be the pillar of peace and beacons of light, because they are future leaders.”
Elijah’s Message to the World
To friends in the U.S., Elijah says: “Youth in South Sudan need support, spiritually and physically. They need training, conferences, seminars, workshops, and awareness programs that can help build them up.”
And to young people everywhere, Elijah offers this final charge:
“Utilize your skills and energy on things that give glory to God. Be a pillar of peace. Be a beacon of light. Transform your communities through social awareness and spiritual revival.”