Rev Greg Pietsch (em) installed as Bishop’s Representative for South Sudanese Ministry.

On 6^th November Bishop Lester Priebbenow installed retired Pastor Greg Pietsch as Bishop’s Representative for South Sudanese Ministry.  He did this at a service of the Greater Lutheran South Sudanese Fellowship (combining our Dandenong, Geelong, Frankston/Pakenham and Traralgon Nuer-language Fellowships) at St James, Moorabbin.

Pastor Greg’s voluntary role is intended to relate to and support the Fellowships, and in particular to oversee and support their Specific Ministry Pastors and pastoral leaders.  This is in addition to the regular church life and support provided by the local congregations to which the Fellowships and their members belong.

It was a joyful day as leaders gathered to receive Pastor Greg and give thanks to God.  Several members, including pastors James Ruei and Peter Deng, gave reports on their recent trip to Ethiopia to attend the opening of a new church for the Nuer-speaking South Sudanese people there – a mission project supported by the community here.  Some, like Pastor Peter Deng, travelled to their homeland too; it was the first time Peter had been back for nearly twenty years!