Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Nov 10: Sudan
Sudan
Republic of Sudan
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 2,503,890 sq kmAfrica’s largest country. Desert in the north, merging into grasslands and mountains in the centre and tropical bush in the south. Straddling the Nile Rivers. Nuba Mountains in the centre.
Population: 43,192,438 Annual Growth: 2.22%
Capital: Khartoum
Urbanites: 45.2%
HDI Rank: 150 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 246 (56% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Arabic and English Languages: 134 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Muslim| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 11,277,546 | 26.11 | 4.8 |
| Evangelicals | 6,336,018 | 14.7 | 6.4 |
| Muslim | 26,511,518 | 61.38 |
Challenges for Prayer
The Church is growing amid suffering and persecution – incredibly so. Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Church of Christ in Sudan (Pioneers) and African Inland Church (AIM) see remarkable turnings to Christ.a) The faith and optimism of Christians is an inspiration. Their churches, bombed out multiple times, keep getting rebuilt. Long-term planning for church planting, mission, education and others continues. Some of the persecutors have even been won to faith in Christ.
b) People movements have broken down barriers of customs and languages to bring many to Christ from hitherto unreached peoples, such as the Nuer, Mabaan, Uduk, Dinka, Moru, Toposa, Acholi and some of the Nuba tribes. Pray that Christians may demonstrate love and concern for others that transcends ethnic and racial divisions – these persist even among Christianized groups in the south.
The pressing needs of the Church include:
a) Unity that transcends tribal boundaries and denominational lines. Great church growth into a relative vacuum – spiritually and politically – has resulted in power struggles. Working to consolidate the unity that was strong during the peak of persecution is crucial. The Sudan Council of Churches and the Cush Consultation (expat and indigenous ministries) all work toward this end. Pray that ethnic and denominational considerations as well as the lure of power might be placed at the foot of the cross.
b) Discipling, teaching and strengthening the millions of believers who have come into the Church. Many were drawn to Christianity as an expression of opposition to Islam. Nominalism and tribalism still retain a hold over large numbers. Most new believers have an animist background and do not fully understand the gospel beyond the most basic elements. The Church stands at risk of widespread syncretism. Pray for churches to raise new believers to a maturity that enables them to stand in the face of persecution and not be overwhelmed by Islam, or instead not be seduced by worldliness or idols. Growing secularism adds new challenges for the Church.
c) Recovery. Many churches, villages and towns in the south have been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Education and health services have scarcely functioned for two decades. Various ministries are required to build a stable future:
i Physical infrastructure and needs. Christians, assisted by the global Church, could lead the way in restoring devastated schools, hospitals and other services crucial to society. Transparency in using funds given for building projects is also essential; the temptation to impoverished pastors is great, since lack of organizational skills and experience in handling such sizeable funds is widespread.
ii Basic human needs such as food, medicine and agricultural supplies are still scarce, but generosity must be wed to wisdom in distributing these. Health care and doctors are extremely sparse. Many agencies risked much to bring help to Christians during the war. Of special note is the work of Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs, Frontline Fellowship, Samaritan’s Purse and WVI. Numerous indigenous NGOs are also springing up. Pray for a wise and appropriate approach to material assistance for Sudan.
iii Spiritual and emotional healing is essential; every family in the south has been traumatized in one way or another. Training in counselling, reconciliation and peacemaking is needed.
For an additional 11 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
