SOUTH SUDAN: Coronavirus Pandemic an “Opportunity for Spiritual Growth,” Bishop Reflects
Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The bishop of Tombura Yambio Diocese in South Sudan Rt. Rev. Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala has said that experiences during Covid-19 pandemic have given the people an opportunity for a deeper relationship with God and increased spiritual growth.
“The Coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity for our spiritual growth because it poses the fact that we renew our faith in Jesus Christ (whose) assurance to all of us is that he came so that we may have a life in full,” Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala said in a statement published Thursday, September 3.
He said that God’s assurance is not in a “vacuum” hence Covid-19 pandemic should not “shake us to point of losing faith and hope that are required among the people who believe in God, but to stand firm and strong knowing that our savior has actually assured us.”
“We need to renew this faith in ourselves first of all. That’s why I call it an opportunity for us to be in touch with ourselves, with our God, with our creator, and that conviction itself helps us in our behavior,” Bishop Hiiboro Kussala added.
In fact, Bishop Hiiboro says that the pandemic has motivated Christians to search for ways to pray.
“Some are struggling to listen to the Word of God on radio, television and social media. So, it has made almost everybody who is a believer to be an evangelizer,” he said adding, “I see a lot of spiritual messages being forwarded from one end to the next. This has made me appreciate the fact that when bad situations present themselves to us, God is never silent. He can seize that and make it the best instrument for his people. So now we are having more preachers.”
He encouraged the use of social media platforms to help disseminate information that renews “our relationship with God and move forward” saying, “Let us use our social media much more and all the avenues that are there to spread the Word of God.”
Talking about the imposed social distance restriction meant to limit people’s opportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces, the Bishop has reflected and termed the distance “spiritual.”
“That social distancing I could call it spiritual. Keep distance in order to see yourself as a unique important human being,” Bishop Hiibiro said and continued, “You are different and the good qualities you have to enhance the relationship with others – that we must never do away with.”
“So, I wish everyone a great moment to seize this opportunity that COVID 19 has presented as an opportunity to change and grow,” he concluded.
