[DC, USA IRD] February 8 is the Feast Day of Josephine Bakhita, former Sudanese slave, canonized as St. Josephine Bakhita on October 1, 2000. Yes, I realize that this blog is in the Evangelical channel, but the life and testimony of this saint is truly Ευαγγέλιο, the Good News of the Gospel. It is also a reminder of how God can use for good the most evil and despicable actions of men. And it is a demonstration of Jesus’ love for the daughters of Darfur.

The donkey is known as the beast. As the beast of burden, it is expected to carry heavy loads without complaining, no matter what cruelty the owner metes on it. However, there are times when the donkey can no longer bear cruel treatment by its owner. When such happens, the donkey is known to throw down its burden and turn against its owner in anger. This is what is about to happen in South Sudan now.

ACNS, by Gavin Drake] The Bishop of Kericho, the Rt Revd Jackson Ole Sapit, has today been elected to serve as the sixth Archbishop and Primate of the Anglican Church of Kenya and Bishop of the Diocese of All Saints’ Cathedral.

The 52-year-old bishop was baptised in 1977 and confirmed eight years later. His first church role was as evangelist and community motivator in Narok, which he undertook from two years from 1987 before joining the Berea Theological College. He was ordained a deacon in July 1991 and a priest a year later.

He served as vicar of Belgut Parish in the diocese of Nakuru and then as vicar of Kilgoris Parish and project manager at Transmara Rural Development Programme.

Throughout this time he continued his education, gaining a Bachelor of Divinity from St Paul’s University in Nairobi and a Certificate in Research and Consultancy at Nairobi’s Daystar University. In 1997 he studied for an MA in Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods at the UK’s University of Reading.

He returned to Kenya to take up the role of mission and development coordinator for the Diocese of Nakuru; before serving as the Suffragan Bishop of the Kericho area; becoming diocesan bishop when the area was carved out of Nakuru Diocese to become a diocese in its own right.

In 2012 he was awarded a Doctorate of Professional Studies by the Global University for Lifelong Learning in California, USA.

A profile published by the Anglican Church of Kenya in advance of today’s election says that Bishop Sapit “managed to nurture the young Diocese of Kericho” both in spiritual terms and in community development. Read more on ACNS

[Juba, South Sudan TCT] --Religious leaders hailed South Sudanese eminent politician Abel Alier as symbol of good leadership last weekend and urged politicians to follow his footsteps.

Recently, I ran across a list of sticky issues pastor’s wives face, leaving them feeling isolated. There are some very sensitive issues here, and they certainly affect many of us who have been faced with the exact situation in ministry. I’d like to offer some suggestions of how to face these issues when they come across your path.