News | December 2025

During the last week of August, Dan Head (a former colleague from Yeldall Manor) and I travelled to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to deliver an Introduction to Counselling and Addiction course under the auspices of  The Episcopal University.

It was a brilliant week. Despite decades of civil war, deep poverty, and all the trauma these create, the people we met were full of life, faith, and a passionate desire to build their young nation. We had 37 students on the course, each one coming with a real hunger to learn, an openness to new ideas, and a willingness to share from their own experience and culture. There is already strong interest in a Certificate-level programme, something Dan has begun working on.

At present, there are no addiction rehabilitation centres anywhere in South Sudan. We left with a deep sense of possibility, especially after receiving an invitation from the Archbishop of South Sudan to help establish the country’s first recovery community, alongside the offer of land and a building on the Episcopal University site.

Please pray! Here is an urgent need and a wide open door.

In December, Jonathan Horne (Novō UK trustee) and I will be in Kaduna to meet with Ejikeme Ogueji of Life Challenge Nigeria as we take the next steps toward establishing Novō in northern Nigeria.

During our time there, we’ll be viewing potential properties, filming a short promotional film, visiting an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp, and meeting with key local officials, including representatives from the Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Please pray for safety as we travel and for real momentum during these days—that we would make significant progress towards opening the doors of the Sabon Rai Novō Community to those who need a place of refuge and restoration.

Under David Salazar and our amazing team, things are going from strength to strength in Bolivia! Last week, my son, JJ, and I were able to spend the week at Quinta Totaices. It was tremendously encouraging to see the programme full and to connect with a wonderful group of men who are supporting one-another, day by day, on the road to recovery. 

The highlight of the week was Friday nights’ celebration of four brilliant graduates – Karim, Jhonny, Gonzalo and Fernando – and 9 years of life transforming ministry at Quinta Totaices!

Please pray for each of these men, that their recovery will be an example to many others and an immense blessing to their families and the wider community!

As always, we want to thank you for staying connected with Novō and for supporting this life-changing work through prayer and generosity!

If you’d like to hear more about anything in this newsletter, do get in touch!