The churches located in the former Holston Conference area have shared a relationship with Methodists in South Sudan for nearly 20 years. A formal mission was established in 2008, and Rev. Boo and Rev. Phyllis Hankins (both now Global Methodist Church elders) were sent to Yei, South Sudan, where Boo served as District Superintendent and Phyllis served as pastor and English teacher to South Sudanese pastors.

Over the years, pastors were trained, Methodist congregations were established, and orphanages and other mission outposts were built and thrived. Every church was visited to hold service and meet with the chiefs and local leaders as they learned the needs of the communities. One of the primary needs was clean water and, on one trip, they passed through an army camp who requested Bibles! To assist in providing clean water, they raised money for forty deep water wells, providing one for every church before they left.

There are great needs of poverty, hunger, overwhelming numbers of orphans and widows, as well as medical and educational needs. The people hunger for education, taking every opportunity available to learn!  Several Methodist school blocks were built, housing 1000-1400 students, with efforts alongside UMCOR to deliver supplies to local schools.