A “Lost Boy of Sudan” speaks

The Well, an informal worship community organized by Asheville Youth Mission, welcomes the public to hear special guest Abraham Deng talk about his experience as a Sudanese refugee.

Described in a press release as “one of the Lost Boys of Sudan,” Deng escaped the burning of his village when he was only six years old. Unable to return to his home in Duk, Deng embarked on a journey southeast and walked hundreds of miles to Ethiopia.  Enduring warfare, animal predators, starvation and the elements, Deng survived and found safety at a refugee camp. Now, Deng lives in Asheville and is a nursing student at Western Carolina University. On Sunday, March 13, the community is invited to listen as Deng “shares his amazing story of endurance and triumph,” according to a press release. He’ll describe “the faith that guided him along the way.”

The Well is open to people of all ages, and strives to bring people together through faith-based conversations. As stated on ashevilleyouthmission.org, “When you come to The Well, you can expect to sit in a circle–not rows; you can expect to sit in chairs–not pews … [and] find a casual atmosphere where all are welcomed. When you come to The Well you will meet some who are lifelong Christians, some who are new to faith and seeking to know the truth about God and themselves, and some who aren’t sure if they believe at all. You can expect all who come to find hospitality and grace that are born out of faith. When you come to The Well, you can expect to hear acoustic instruments that invite everyone to sing [and] you can expect to have the opportunity to think outside the box and respond to Scripture creatively.”

Deng will be speaking at 6 p.m., in the fellowship hall at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, located at 690 Haywood Road. For more information about this upcoming event email billbaym@gmail.com or call 231-4634. 

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt
Aiyanna grew up on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. She was educated at The Cambridge School of Weston, Sarah Lawrence College, and Oxford University. Aiyanna lives in Asheville, North Carolina where she proudly works for Mountain Xpress, the city’s independent local newspaper.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.