The following came from Renewal Ministries Fellowship:
Sudan suffered seventeen years of civil war during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) followed by ethnic, religious and economic conflicts between the Muslim Arabs of Northern Sudan and the mostly animist and Christian Nilotes of Southern Sudan. After the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983 and following a referendum held in January 2011, South Sudan (The Republic of South Sudan) seceded on 9 July 2011 with the consent of Sudan.
Despite this result, many crucial issues are yet unresolved. Pres. Bashir, like many of his predecessors, is pushing for a 100% Islamic state in Sudan. Deliberate attempts to eliminate a viable Christian presence are extreme and include bombing of Sunday church services, destruction of churches and hospitals. Persecution is especially severe in the Nuba Mountains, whole areas have been laid waste and lands seized and given to Arabized northerners leading to extreme poverty and famine in these areas.
The threats to people of South Sudan after the referendum are numerous. Christians, in particular, have for many years been experiencing some or other form of oppression. At times there has been persecution. None of them quite anticipated the intensity of persecution that hit during the past 5 months. Some Christians underwent incredible levels of persecution, including extensive physical and emotional torturing.
Pray :
Pray for Unity in the Church. It is incredibly hurtful to hear that some pastors have played into the hands of Sudanese security forces by creating immense difficulties for fellow pastors. Pray for unity in the Sudanese Church and also for wisdom in how to deal with so called “traitors” within the church playing willfully into the hands of evil forces.
Pray for a spirit of prayer. Pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen the body of believers in Sudan to stand firm and united in prayer.
Pray for the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) to be able to fulfill their difficult role during this time. Christians in Sudan are in desperate need of strong leadership. Pray that the SCC would not be so paralyzed with fear that their actions would become irrelevant during these extremely difficult times.
Pray for Christian families from Muslim background as conversion to Christianity is punishable by death.
Pray for boldness in Christian believers especially for Church leaders. Acts 4: 29 – 31
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Pray for the persecutors. Many of the lower levels of the Sudanese security personnel actually tasked for the implementation of deeds of persecution and torture apologize to those they persecute.
Pray that the Sudanese Christians would not stop fulfilling their mandate of reaching out to Muslims with the love of Christ.
Pray for the multitude of Sudanese who are deeply dissatisfied with their government and in their dissatisfaction, are seeking alternative solutions, e.g. turning to Christ. Pray that this move towards Christ will increase.
Pray that God would reveal Himself to the extremely radical and dangerous groups of people in Sudan, like He did with Saul of Tarsus, in such a way that there would be people among them that turn to Christ.
For more information and regular updates on the situation in Sudan, visit: Sudan 4 Jesus
May God bless you as you pray
Norman Johnson
Sudan Support Network
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Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 