BIOGRAPHY OF REV. SANTINO BOL (Executive Director -CRM)

Reverend Santino Bol is the ExecutiveDirector (Founder) of Christian Reaching Ministry (CRM). He was born in Jorbich/Akuach-Dite Marial Bai west county of Southern Sudan in the year 1974 to a family that hardly knew about the gospel and salvation through our lord Jesus Christ. His parents believed in their forefathers’ gods whom they relied upon to solve their day to day problems and Challenges.                                                                

When and how he got saved 

Bol came to know Christ as his lord and savior in Panyundo/Itang Refugee camp in Ethiopia in 1988 during his life time in exile.He knew mothing about the good news of Jesus Christ that he came to the world to redeem and set all mankind free from the bondage of the evil one (Satan).

When he left his home village of Jorbich in 1987 for Ethiopia for four good months, he had only one mission in mind, acquire a gun and go back to Southern Sudan, particularly his home area which had been destroyed and devastated by the Arab slave raids who had been incited by the Northern Sudanese Government’s i.e the Islamic National Front, (INF) and revenge for having robbed and killed his relatives and his other fellows Dinka people.

To the contrary, the chair-man of SPLM/A, the late Dr. John Garang De Maboir came to visit them in Panyodo Refugee Camp Ethiopia in 1988 to brief them about the struggle and the progress of movement. He told them that it won’t be a wise idea to let them acquire guns and go back to fight the civil war. This was because the struggle would take longer period of time to achieve just, genuine and the long lasting peace thry were yeaning for.  He added that they were the very ones who were to be taking the leadership over from them when they grew old. And therefore it would be unwise decision for the movement to let them join the civil war. He encouraged them to go ahead with their education and forget about taking guns and going to war.

Bol started his primary education in Panyodo, Ethiopia in 1988 and also served in the church as Sunday school teacher for years. In light to that, his Pastor saw in him a talent of evangelism and made me as one of the church's evangelists. When he was almost through with his education,his woes started again when the regime headed by Meles Zenawi overthrew the government of former president of Ethiopia by the name Magesto who used to be a close ally and great supporter of their movement (the Sudan People Liberation Army/ Movement (SPLA/M))

Bol and his other fellow refugee had no alternative but flee Ethiopia. they lost all their valuable belongings; including certificates when  they were crossing the river Gilo; fleeing for their dear lives. Most of his colleagues who didn’t know how to swim were drown in the (Gilo river) while they were being pursued by the militants of the new regime of Meles Zenawi who didn’t like the association of  the SPLM/A with the former regime of Ethiopian president.  

 His Current Ministry in Marial-Bai Aweil West County

He introduced the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Western Awiel and Awiel North counties communities in 1995.He started with Jorbich, Majak-Bai , Manyiel Akok, Akuak- Machar and Akuak-Yok as the major churches that marked the entering of the evangelical churches in Aweil region at large. Before that time, the only church which was operating in the area was the Catholic Church and didn’t do the work of evangelism.As a result of that, most of the people still held and believed in the Africa Traditional Religion Beliefs (ATRB). During his ministry in 1995, thousands of people came to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior . Bol now supervises 46 congregations with a total of 13,500 members. The area where he ministers has been devastated by slave raiders and a man made famine. Most of his relatives, neighbors and church members have been killed or enslaved by the Arabs slave raiders who have also burned down most of his churches.

As peace currently is thriving in Southern Sudan; especially to the western Awiel areas, his plans as the minister of the gospel, is to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to further Northern Sudan and in particular to far west  region of Darfur community. "No matter what they had done to our people in the past; they are forgiven; by showing it through compassion, love and preach the message of forgiveness which is the good news of Jesus Christ '' Bol Said. They are the same Arabs who some years back during the time of war raided; killed burnt the churches, residential places, enslaved, adducted children and destroyed the livestock of his defenceless Dinka community. But the word of God teaches in Luke 23: 34 that our Lord Jesus Christ said to his heavenly father to forgive those who crucified him on the cross. “For they don’t what they are doing.” In that way the people of Darfur can be forgiven too for they don't know what they are doing.They are black African people being used by NIF Government in the Northern Sudan to kill and do many atrocities to their fellow back African Sudanese people.

 For that reason his organization Christian Reaching Ministry CRM together with Answering the Call (ATC) and Connecting Lives International Mission (CLIM) will be reaching them out in compassion and forgiveness through a holistic development. As I mentioned early the clinic; which is located in Jorbich village has become the special bridge between the two communities, the existing community and Darfur people who fled there for safety.   

 Events Flashback 

"One Sunday, the Arab slave raiders attacked a certain village called (Tiom-thiet) at around 7:00am.  The congregation where having their normal Sunday prayers and I was in a nearby church; getting ready for the Sunday services. Suddenly I heard bullet, and saw horses running towards the church where members were praying.  I run outside and saw the Arab Slave Raiders with guns trying to catch the Sunday school children, fortunately they didn’t catch the young ones but did capture one of my evangelists by the name David Deng and tied him on the horse’s tail and made the horse run under the bush trees. As a result of that, one of his arms came out and the rope around the neck cut his throat."Bol recalls. 

Most of his church members died on a martyr’s death. Yet he has a lot to be thankful to God; for one of his many blessings, he has worked with Christian Solidarity International (CSI) since John Eibner and his team started working in area back in 1995.  Many women and children have been freed from the slavery, including members of his 46 churches. He ran and managed to escape narrowly with some of the church members to the safe place by Gods grace. His pastors and the church workers have no salaries or pension funds; even the transport issue is too difficult to enable them to visit their church members and be able preach the gospel to them; such as cars, Motorbike or bicycles. The fortunate onesmay have a bicycle but others walk from village to village barefoot teaching the word of God.He therefore calls you and me today to make a donation or a gift in kind or deedto facilitate this worthy course.

His Vision

His vision and dream is to reach unreached people with good news of our Lord Jesus Christ that they can come to know him. Help and restore the lives of hurting people, especially the orphans and vulnerable children who lost their parents during the war. They are in dear need of spiritual, physical and moral support and therefore, below are the initiatives’ he would like to see them come to pass.

1. To initiate an orphanage school/mission & home for our 80 formerly orphaned and enslaved children of western Awiel and 50 orphaned children from Darfur region that flee to seek refuge in western Awiel The facility to fully have a boarding primary school which can provide the needy children with food and good educational atmosphere.
2. To build one or two of his major churches in concrete form and set up a bible training centre as an institution which main purpose is to train and equip the Servant leaders; men and women of God; irrespective of their churches background. This vision can be possibly be done and be carried out through the help and support of fellow brethrens in Christ Jesus who can be inspired and touched with this biography and needs of BOL SANTINO’S ministry.
3. To seek Scholarships for his pastors, (3-5) to study at Christian Universities/Colleges in our good neighboring countries, Kenya and Uganda. These are the ones to manage and run the training centre mentioned above after they are through with their training.