An historic three-day fellowship brought together more than 160 South Sudanese Anglican youth from Victoria and South Australia in Adelaide, uniting a generation that often feels caught between two cultures.
The event, which took place from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, 31 August , 2025, was a mission and evangelism “wake-up call” for young South Sudanese migrants, many of whom were born or came to Australia at a young age. The fellowship was an answer to a request from the Victorian youth for a joint gathering in Adelaide.
A weekend of unity and praise
The fellowship kicked off on Friday with about 100 Victorian youth arriving in Adelaide by bus and two eight-seater vehicles around 3 pm. They immediately changed into matching white and black uniforms before joining approximately 60 local youth at the small but sweet St Mary’s Anglican Church.
As the third oldest parish in South Australia, St. Mary’s provided a meaningful backdrop for the gathering. The church was filled with the sounds of praise and worship in “Dinglish,” a blend of Dinka and English, as the youth raised their hands in the air to praise God.
On Saturday, the fellowship moved to St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in Elizabeth Downs. The day included worship, speeches, and shared meals. The atmosphere was vibrant as the Adelaide youth wore blue uniforms and the Victorian youth donned green.
The event was a day of “joy and happiness”, organisers said. Bishop Sophie Relf-Christopher delivered an encouraging speech. She brought sweets for everyone and spoke about supporting the youth if they felt called to holy orders, such as deacons, priests, or bishops.
Bishop Sophie’s words were especially meaningful as she acknowledged the youth’s knowledge of both the Australian language and culture, making them feel “value and welcome”.
A prayer for the future
The fellowship concluded on Sunday at St. Columba College. The final day was marked by thanksgiving and blessings as the groups said their goodbyes. Both groups wore the full Dinka Anglican Youth uniform: red shirts with a yellow cross and yellow sashes. This unified uniform symbolises the collective hope and prayer for positive change in the lives of South Sudanese youth in Australia.
The gathering was part of a larger, ongoing effort by church leaders to engage young people in church activities and counter negative media portrayals, such as violence, often associated with South Sudanese youth. A major Dinka Anglican Youth gathering had also taken place earlier in the year in Brisbane in April, which was seen as a positive step for both the young adults and their parents.
The church leaders hope to see continued transformation in the lives of this generation, who, without a clear sense of belonging to either Australian or South Sudanese culture, have turned to God for answers.
