OUR JOURNEY
When South Sudan gained independence in 2011, it was an opportunity to rebuild after years of war. Empowering locals to overcome poverty was crucial. Working with community leaders, the first steps included addressing clean water, women's health, and economic opportunities.
South Sudan's return to war in 2013 made it clear that a God-centered peace was essential for the country's survival. Years of conflict had led to sustained division, unrest, and violence. Though camps in Northern Uganda offered temporary reprieve, war survivors carry deep pain and unchallenged beliefs, leading to greater suffering, deeper trauma, and perpetual division.
After enduring generations of violence, locals yearn for peace but struggle to define it. Uncertainty is fueled by broken trust, misunderstandings, and recurring trauma that perpetuate the cycle of violence.
OUR STORY
Thriving societies are built on the foundation of understanding and commitment to a functional peace. OneTribe realized this and developed a clear and applicable understanding of peace for deeply divided communities. Instead of a program, series of events, or an organization, peace is viewed as a way of life. This peace begins and continues with Jesus Christ at its core.
It is important to understand that long-lasting peace cannot be achieved through political agreements or external organizations. Rather, peace must be cultivated from within. OneTribe is dedicated to providing a roadmap for local communities in divided societies to move away from violent conflict and towards a future of peace and opportunity centered on Christ. This roadmap is designed to be easily accessible, adaptive, and applied in practical ways by local leaders and their communities. We have witnessed firsthand how embracing Christ-centered peace can transform individuals, communities, and even entire nations.
TIMELINE
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South Sudan became the world’s newest nation when it seceded from Sudan under provision of a 2005 peace agreement ending more than two decades of civil war.
2011
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OneTribe begins under the name Sister Effect. After more than 20 years of violent conflict, there was no infrastructure and a massive need for the most basic things. So in those first years, Sister Effect helped meet these important human needs.
2012
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War re-erupts in South Sudan. It was clear that things like access to clean water, better health and better opportunities were vital, but without the bedrock of a local peace, there couldn’t be hope of sustainable, thriving communities. The peace part was essential.
But how after generations of clashing and division do we arrive at peace?
What does peace mean?
What makes for it?
Who is responsible for peace?
And how DO you get to it -- what IS the path toward it?
2013
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It was a mid-2014 board meeting where OneTribe radio peace programming was first imagined.
Shortly after war resumed, radio was darkly used in South Sudan’s north. This had certainly been true in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. We thought if radio had been used for such evil… what is it we could do for good?
So we began looking for radio-based programming and peace education that might have the lightness and form of drama episodes. This was important because war traumatizes. Short, fictional episodes that engage and explore the many aspects of what makes for –and breaks – peace seemed like a good start.
The episodes needed to be locally relevant. These hypothetical dramas also needed to be in the voices – and preferably languages – of the local people.
Next, the programs would benefit from academic peace principles interwoven – yet in a very accessible way.
But more than anything, these radio episodes would offer ways and practical means of a peace that begins and continues with God as its source -- and Jesus Christ the One who makes this peace with Him possible.
2014
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So in October 2015, the first ten episodes were written and recorded in English. OneTribe launched in the Adjumani refugee camps of northern Uganda at the invitation of our partners at High Adventure.
The response was immediate. Episodes scheduled to play three times weekly were soon playing three times daily due to listener demand. Local leaders organically began building the program into life throughout the camps. We went home and began writing the next 42 episodes.
2015
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Our partners at High Adventure expanded the OneTribe peace program into Zambia and Liberia. Partners in South Sudan and Uganda began translating and recording episodes into three more local languages.
2016
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We reached new refugee resettlement districts north of Adjumani. We were invited into schools –in refugee camps, and in seven urban areas. We learned OneTribe was organically being used at mid-levels to mediate civic disputes and regional land conflicts. Students were forming peace clubs in schools. And in 2017, OneTribe launched our female health and empowerment program, Rejoice. Equipped with important livelihood skills, women and girls can stay active in their communities and pursue economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
2017
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God takes OneTribe from one language, in one region, with a reach of 125K people to four languages, touching six countries, with a reach of more than eight million people.
2018
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OneTribe expanded to five languages with a reach of more than 16 million people and was also adapted into a written curriculum used in schools, churches, and civic forums.
2019
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All 52 OneTribe radio episodes were written and recording followed. With partners, two additional languages were underway. OneTribe had also expanded into South Sudan’s capital city of Juba, creating a new hub.
There was first reach into Darfur, Sudan. Darfur is considered unreached with the gospel; a third of its main population has virtually no followers of Jesus and no known movements reaching them.
Thanks to God working through expanding teams and partners, OneTribe was approaching seven languages and reaching approximately 20 million people.
2020
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OneTribe reaches close to 25 million people in six African countries. Along with our base in the refugee resettlement districts of northern Uganda, we expanded into South Sudan via Nimule and Juba. Our Rejoice program continued expanding, reaching local women and girls in new areas with livelihood skills. Along with our partners at GNPI, OneTribe in Swahili and Madi languages were completed and ready for use. With partners ACROSS and Vince Ward, OneTribe established Good News Radio in Aweil. This shortwave Christian radio reaches 40 million people and saturates remote regions of Sudan and South Sudan where no FM radio exists- and populations are unreached with the gospel.
2022
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War re-ignited in Sudan’s Khartoum in 2023. Subsequent violence again swept Darfur. Waves of migration and resettlement into Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and refugee camps in northern Uganda’s Arua quickly followed. OneTribe teams immediately began reaching these groups in Arua, using OneTribe to share the gospel of peace with Muslim populations who find Jesus and the peace He promised to leave intriguing. As they learn more, many realize Jesus is worthy to be worshiped and followed. In Sudan’s remote Nuba Mountains, OneTribe envoys, are doing much the same – building a network to share the peace of Christ with primarily unreached groups fleeing recent civil war. Many in Nuba are also trusting and following Jesus. In late 2023, along with partners at GNPI, OneTribe in Swahili language was released through a division of TransWorld Radio in war-impacted and largely unreached Marsabit.
2023
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In 2024 OneTribe’s new Regenerate program addressing increasing regional food insecurity began. Regenerate imparts local farming skills that help restore the land to God’s intended purposes. These skills help sustainably address hunger and growing prevalence of malnutrition by way of higher yield agricultural outputs. Prevent Stop Restore was also written and launched. This new leadership intensive and field guide comes at the behest of our leaders who are called upon by local chiefs, government officials and heads of school to help prevent conflict, settle local clashings –and help restore broken relationships following an outbreak of violence.
2024
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In collaboration with our partners at GNPI, USA, Kenya, and Uganda we are in talks about bringing OneTribe’s biblically based peace messaging to video.
Africa Alliance - A Stoller Foundation initiative with OneTribe serving in collaboration with World Hope Ministries International.
JOIN US!
Placing peace in the hands of local people transforms lives and communities. As people begin understanding the peace of Christ as an ongoing choice and action,they realize their pivotal role in making peace central and permanent in their lives and communities. Please consider partnering with OneTribe in sharing a holistic, Christ-centered peace that transforms people, communities, and nations.