Bishop Elias Taban (born May 10, 1955)[1] is founder of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan and the non-profit Water is Basic.[2] A former child soldier, Taban holds a diploma in civil engineering and an advanced diploma in theology. He served as a colonel in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) during the second civil war before becoming an advocate for peace who is widely respected by the governments of Sudan and South Sudan. The Bishop's ministry has focused on building wells, orphanages, schools, and health clinics, as well as advocating for the Arms Trade Treaty. From 2003 to the present, Bishop Taban has served as the president of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance. He and his wife Annegrace live in Yei South Sudan with their five adopted children.