Elias Taban

Early life

Taban spent the first 40 years of his life in war. On the day he was born, a massacre in his hometown of Yei forced his mother to flee into the jungle where she hid with her newborn for the first three days of his life. From the ages of 8 to 13 he was forced to serve as a child soldier in Sudan's first civil war until his family helped him escape to Uganda. Taban went on to earn a degree in civil engineering and an advanced degree in theology. During Sudan's second civil war, he served as a Colonel in the SPLA and founded the army's chaplain's corp. In 1990 Taban founded the Presbyterian Church in his province and was elected the National Bishop of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in 2003. The Bishop was also elected President of the Sudanese Evangelical Alliance in 2004, a position he still holds.

The Bishop is married to Annegrace Taban, who served as a captain in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). She holds a degree in theology and heads the Christian Women's Empowerment Program, the largest women's church organization in South Sudan. Bishop Taban and Annegrace live in Yei with their five adopted children.

Ministries

One of Bishop Taban's ministries, Water is Basic, was born out of a 2006 peace conference between pastors from Sudan and South Sudan. Access to clean water is one of the major challenges facing South Sudan and threatening its stability. Most water extracted from local rivers host parasites and other diseases, which results in widespread illness among local populations. Water is Basic has built nearly 500 wells across South Sudan since 2008, providing clean water to approximately 10% of the population. The non-profit operates through a sustainable model that requires local communities to finance the repair and maintenance of the wells and creates jobs by hiring local Sudanese workers. Proceeds from the wells fund job training businesses, orphanages, health clinics, and schools throughout the country.

Another ministry in Sudan, His Voice Global, works to house and educate orphans in the region. In an effort to make that ministry financially independent and operationally successful, Bishop Taban was an instrumental part of the establishment of Lion of Judah Trucking Company, which now completely supports three orphanages financially. As of 2010, the trucking company has been able to keep them self-sustained.

Despite his strong Christian faith, Bishop Taban encourages reconciliation and cooperation among people of all religions. "For people to move away from violence, people need to see beyond religious differences," he says. The nation-building projects, including the wells, schools, and clinics, do not discriminate against any religions or require people to be of a particular religion to receive clean water or services.

Broker for peace

In 2012, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Bishop Taban as part of a trip to urge Sudan and South Sudan to resolve an oil dispute that threatened to undermine existing peace agreements. Bishop Taban was a prominent public voice urging South Sudan to resume oil exports to the north and brokering peace between the two governments. The Bishop was also a strong advocate for the international Arms Trade Treaty, and traveled to New York for the treaty's final negotiations at the UN before its successful adoption. There, he was invited to address the full UN General Assembly on the need for an International Arms Trade Treaty.

In Sept. 2013, Bishop Taban was selected to receive the prestigious Global Citizen Award by the Clinton Foundation to be presented during the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City. In honor of receiving the award, Bishop Taban sat down for an interview with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network. Then, after the ceremony, the Bishop sat down with Secretary Clinton for an interview. He was honored for his vision and leadership in addressing global problems, which range in scope from the Arms Trade Treaty to access to clean water in Sudan to work with orphanages. He is praised as a respected broker for peace in both North and South Sudan, and the Clinton Foundation Global Citizens Award reflects that commitment.