Who We Are
Operation Nehemiah serves as a voice for the Suffering Church and the marginalized people of the South Sudan. We follow the example of Nehemiah the Re-Builder in rebuilding broken communities, families, widows, orphans and churches that have been suffering persecution.
Our Mission
We are an indigenous non-profit Christian relief and development ministry serving the persecuted people of the Sudan. We accomplish our mission through creating opportunities for displaced families and pastors to return to their homeland. We provide them with hope through sharing the Gospel of Christ.
Our Values
The compelling force driving our work is promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which brings people to repentance and eternal salvation. This serves as the criteria for the success of any of our efforts. We believe that a person’s dignity is enhanced through meaningful work, education and discipleship.
Our Distinctive
We are primarily an indigenous mission. 98% of our staff is South Sudanese Christian nationals. Our staff has a burning desire to take an active role in the rebuilding of their nation and to establish a “City on a Hill” in the New Sudan. We believe that self reliance is best promoted through indigenous leadership.
Our Focus
Our primary focus is to prepare Corom, a village in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, New Sudan for the return of people who were displaced by the war. We are intent upon establishing a community that will provide people with the opportunity to rebuild their communities, their families, and to grow in their faith.
Our Outreach
We endeavor to implement our vision and mission through indigenous church planting, Pastoral discipleship training, medical relief clinics, gospel radio broadcast, agricultural development, micro business start-up, polytechnic training, and repatriation assistance to families returning from exile.
Senior Staff
William O. Levi CEO, Founder and President
William founded Operation Nehemiah in 1993 after recieving His B.S. in manufacturing engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He is also the author of the Bible or the Axe, the book that tells a gripping story of William’s life , his eventual scape to the USA, and the persecution of the Christians in the Sudan. He has been spear heading Operation Nehemiah on a fulltime basis since 1996. His beloved wife Hannah is a fulltime homemaker and mother of three.They are expecting their fourth child in April 2007. The Levites serve together in ministry from their home office based in Western Massachusetts.
Read more about William Levi and purchase his biography The Bible or the Axe by visiting his bio page.
Joseph Eriga Levi, Field Coordinator
Joseph is the Field Coordinator for Operation Nehemiah based in Beth Israel ( Corom), New Sudan. He has been serving with the ministry on a full time basis since 2004. Joseph is one of the recipients of the Operation Nehemiah Education Scholarship Fund. He has diplomas in agricultural development, management and pastoral care from the Checktebo Christian Leadership School based in Kenya.
Robert R. Kirkman, Director of Program Development
Robert has been serving with Operation Nehemiah since 2002. He has been primarily involved with Operation Nehemiah’s medical mission and assists in the home office. Robert has 30 years of experience working in human services as a counselor, administrator and medic. He is in the dissertation phase of a doctorate in Christian Psychology. He serves as an elder in his church. He lives with his wife, Ruth, and 4 of their 6 children in Massachusetts. They also have 5 grandchildren.
Dr. Luka Gobi Benson, Medical Director
Dr. Benson is one of the recipients of Operation Nehemiah’s Scholarship Fund. ON has been sponsoring his education from elementary school through the University while he has been in exile in Uganda. He is senior medical student in the final year in Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. He will assume fulltime role in managing the Nehemiah Health clinic in Beth Israel (Borongole) compound, in South Sudan by June 2007.
Executive Board of Directors (U.S. and New Sudan)
- William Levi
- Robert R. Kirkman
- Rev. Thomas Bridgman- Chairman
- Rev. Michael Gantt
- Joseph Levi
- Rev. Gabriel Lagu Nichlaus
- Michael Odu Levi
- Dr. Mindra Godwin Chairman,
- Mr. Gino Gama
- Rev. Peter Tibi