A young South Sudanese has been ordained as a Deacon for the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Gabriel Garang Atem was among the boys who left Southern Sudan at the time of conflict in 1987 and found his way to the US.

On Saturday, Atem and Aimee Marie Altizer were ordained as deacons in the Episcopal Church during a service at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City.

After serving as deacons for an allotted time, they can apply for ordination to the priesthood.

Mr Atem says his ordination sends a message to the world that people are one in Christ.

The Right Rev. Scott Hayashi, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, spoke of Atem’s unwavering faith.

Many people speak of God in a conceptual manner, “a subject of discussion or debate,” Bishop Hayashi said.

“For you, God is a fact and a source of light. Whenever you speak about God, there is never any doubt in the room that God is present and I love that about you,” he said.

He is one of the successful South Sudanese in America.  Last month, Gai Ayuen Nyok, a South Sudanese lost boy, became an American diplomat in the State Department.