SUDAN BRIEFING: Church perseveres in faith and love amid conflict
Nicknamed “the forgotten war”, the conflict that erupted in Sudan last April has taken a devastating toll on its people. The fighting has displaced over 8 million people and left around 25 million in need of humanitarian aid. Almost 15,000 deaths have been reported, but the true figure is likely to be higher1.
But as the war dismantled the country’s basic infrastructure, leading to chaos and scarcity of resources, church leaders and members rose to the challenge, reaching out to their communities despite the dangers.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SUDAN?
Sudan, located in northeastern Africa, has a complex history marked by colonial rule, civil wars, and political upheaval. After gaining independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, the country faced long-standing conflicts between its Muslim north and the Christian and animist south, eventually leading to the creation of South Sudan in 2011.
Recently, Sudan has been grappling with a new wave of conflict that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This struggle for power emerged following the ousting of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and a subsequent military coup in 2021, causing significant humanitarian challenges and affecting various minority groups, including Christians.
For Christians in Sudan, these are especially challenging times. Since the fighting started, over 165 churches have been damaged or destroyed, with both sides targeting these sacred spaces. Many Christians have faced threats, forced to leave their homes, and survive with scarce resources and support2. Despite these hardships, the Christian community remains resilient, continuing to support one another and share their faith during these difficult times.
HOW IS THE CHURCH RESPONDING?
Church leaders from Sudan have told SAT-7 how their congregations are persevering in faith after a year of war in the country and are reaching out to help people in need.
Speaking to SAT-7’s You Are Not Alone programme from Sudan, Pastor Sami Rahhal of the Evangelical Church said that despite the attacks and destruction of church buildings, their ministry was continuing:
“The church is not a building; the church is the believers. The early church didn’t have buildings. The church was growing fast without buildings… It is very sad for churches to be destroyed and attacked. But the church is continuing, and our evangelism service continues. Our prayers are ongoing, and congregations hosted other denominations in their churches to hold their prayers.”
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PLACES OF REFUGE
Christians in Sudan are also helping to meet people’s physical needs. At the beginning of the war, Pastor Sami hosted nine displaced families, and believers are sharing the meagre supplies they have with others.
Raafat Samir, Secretary General of the Sudan Evangelical Alliance, described on You Are Not Alone how they turned church buildings in safer areas into refuge centres for families fleeing the fighting: “We didn’t discriminate and hosted non-Christians in our refuge centres. We provided them with food and helped the children through their trauma with trauma healing programmes. But most of these areas became war zones themselves because the war expanded.”
As the violence intensified, Samir had to flee the country and is now in Ethiopia, having also tried to find refuge in Egypt and Eritrea. “Almost all our churches in the areas of conflict were either targeted or destroyed during the war. They were burned down,” he said. “I can’t tell you how much the Sudanese love the church. The church is our presence and our memories. What happened to our churches hurts us.”
TRUSTING THE LORD
Sudan’s Christians have a long history of suffering as a result of wars and persecution. Samir said the international community has been “silent” about the current conflict and there was not enough help for those affected by it.
The Church, though, is continuing to look to the Lord for help, and its leaders are providing teaching and encouragement to believers to help them persevere in their faith.
“My message is to trust in the Lord,” said Pastor Sami. “Trust in Him and He will protect you. I pray for everyone who is fearing diseases, dangers, and wars. I pray that God would take away their fear. We trust in God’s promises in the Holy Bible.”
PLEASE PRAY:
- For protection and safety: Pray for the safety of Christians caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Ask for God’s protection over their lives, homes, and places of worship, and for an end to targeted violence against them.
- For provision of basic needs: Pray for the provision of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medical aid. Many Christians are struggling to survive amidst the fighting, so ask for God’s provision and support from international aid organisations.
- For strength and unity: Give thanks for the strength and unity within the Christian community. Ask God to help them support one another and remain strong in their faith despite the challenges they face. Give thanks that through SAT-7, they can find fellowship and support from other believers.
- For peace and stability: Pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. Ask for wisdom and humility for the leaders involved, and for international efforts to successfully mediate and bring about lasting peace.
- For religious freedom: Pray for the protection and enhancement of religious freedoms in Sudan. Ask God to soften the hearts of those in power and to protect the rights of all religious minorities in the country.
