Building houses and churches for homeless Christians 
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat 
Equipping persecuted leaders 
Sponsor a persecuted Christian child 
Published: Wednesday 13 April 2011
Lent Prayer - Sudan
Project(s): 48-344, 48-575
Country: Sudan, Middle East and North Africa, Africa
At the start of 2011 the Christians of Sudan are facing a very uncertain future. The South of the country, which is mainly Christian, has enjoyed a good measure of autonomy from the largely Muslim North since the ending of Sudan’s long civil war in 2005. But in January a referendum was held on the full independence of the South from the Islamic government in Khartoum. (At the time of writing the result has not yet been announced.)
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A project sponsored by Barnabas enables Christian women in North Sudan to learn tailoring skills and support their families |
Most Christians in the South support its independence, but many have been concerned that the vote might re-ignite the armed conflict, which raged for 22 years and wrecked the region (although the Church grew massively during this time). Whilst rejoicing in the greater freedom they have enjoyed since 2005, they are still vulnerable to insecurity, poverty and violence, and need stability to rebuild and develop the infrastructure. But because much of the country’s oil resources lie in the South, the vote may provoke a major war over frontiers and oil fields.
Independence for the South may also worsen the plight of Christians in the North, where many refugees from the South are still living. Sharia is in force there, and conversion from Islam is punishable by death. The penalty is seldom imposed, but converts may face imprisonment or torture, and they come under intense pressure from family and community. Christians also endure discrimination in education and employment, and many restrictions on their activities, and they have difficulties in obtaining permits to build churches or schools.
While the proportion of Christians in the total population is around 26%, in the North they are a small minority. The independence of the South could enable and encourage the Northern government further to Islamise its own territory, thus reducing the already limited freedoms of the Christians even more.
Give thanks for the joy and faithfulness of Sudanese Christians and pray for them in the aftermath of the vote on independence. Ask that the result may be implemented peacefully, and that it will provide stability in the South and greater security for our brothers and sisters there; also that Southern Christians still in the North will now be able to return. Pray too for the Christian minority in the North, as they endure hostility and persecution, that the result of the vote will not provoke a backlash against them by the government.
Barnabas Aid projects in Sudan include:
- Christian schools for displaced children (Ref. 48-344)
- Christian prison ministry in North Sudan (Ref. 48-575)
This article is taken from
“Praying for the Persecuted Church in Lent 2011” - order your FREE copy here.
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