Hearing about the poverty, violence, and oppression that grip other parts of the world can be overwhelming, and it’s hard to imagine that there’s anything one individual can do. My own faith challenges me to move past that feeling of helplessness, to trust that God will bless whatever efforts, small or large, we can make to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need. Being informed is a good place to start.

To that end, I would like to invite everyone to take advantage of a rare opportunity. The Most Reverend Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, will be speaking from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, in Room 458 of Louderman Hall at Washington University. The event is free and open to the public.

An email I received notes that “The Archbishop will be discussing the political situation in Sudan , concentrating on the many conflicts in the country, how they are related, and what he sees as the most pressing issues today. He will also be speaking about how we as Americans can be involved in these important issues and helping to make a difference in Sudan today. Following his talk, he will answer questions and engage the audience in discussion.”

The Archbishop will also be preaching at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Crestwood on Thursday night. Episcopalians in this area should be deeply honored by this visit. The Diocese of Missouri is very actively engaged in a companion diocese relationship with Lui, a diocese within the Episcopal Church of Sudan (you can think of this sort of like a “sister city” situation, but with substance as well as symbolism). This is a relationship of mutual respect, ministry and learning, one in which the prayers of the people of Lui are just as important to us as our prayers are to them.

For some basic background information on Sudan, click here. For information about the Archbishop’s visit, contact the Rev. Mike Kinman, Executive Director of Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (a St. Louis-based agency).

The photo included above is of displaced women in Darfur in 2004; photo by Ben Curtis for the Associated Press.