Local officials sent bulldozers to demolish
this church building in Khartoum.
Photo: Compass Direct News
Authorities in Khartoum, Sudan, demolished two church buildings on June 18, just days after confiscating three Christian schools.
One of the churches destroyed was informed in April that it, along with several other church buildings, would be demolished due to lack of structural integrity (for more, click here). However, church leaders were later informally notified that the orders would not be carried out. The destruction of the church building has raised concern that other churches will also be destroyed.
Church leaders said persecution was intensifying following the secession of South Sudan in July 2011, with officials targeting churches they claim to be associated with now unwelcome, largely Christian, South Sudanese people living in the Islamic-ruled country. Authorities have stated that there is a reduced need for Christian-operated schools because many people of South Sudanese origin (many of them Christians) have left Sudan. However, Christian leaders believe that these schools continue to meet a clear need.
Please pray that the government will allow all church property to continue being used for its intended purposes. Pray that church leaders will know the Spirit's guidance and wisdom at this time. Pray that those opposing the Church in Sudan will know Christ's love, forgiveness and blessing through the lives of Christians (Romans 12:14, 21).
SUDAN
Military regimes, favouring Islamic-oriented governments, have dominated national politics since Sudan's independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars that were rooted in northern economic, political and social domination of largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972 but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 4 million people displaced and more than 2 million deaths over a period of two decades. A peace accord was signed in January 2005, granting the southern rebels autonomy for six years.
In January 2011, the southern portion of Sudan voted to cede from the north, making South Sudan a new country on July 9, 2011. Since January, heavy violence from the north has blanketed both nations. The United Nations reported that in the first four months of 2011, hundreds died and 94,000 were displaced due to the violence.
Sudan has a Sunni Muslim majority, but primarily among the Sudanese Arabs in the north. The constitution offers some religious freedoms, but in practise, those freedoms are arbitrarily abused. The Naivasha Agreement established some protections for non-Muslims in the north (although apostasy is legally punishable by death), and it clarified that Islamic law does not apply in the south. But attempts to impose Islamic law-in infringement of several previous peace agreements-generate a hostile religious context and a cause of civil war.
Persecution of the Church has been most intense since 1985. Deliberate attempts to eliminate a viable Christian presence are extreme and include bombing of Sunday church services; destruction of churches, hospitals, schools, mission bases and Christian villages; massacres and mutilation; and murder of pastors and leaders. Persecution has been especially severe in the Nuba Mountains. Whole areas have been laid waste and lands seized and given to Arabized northerners. Despite this, the number of Christians is growing-from 1.6 million in 1980 to 11 million in 2010.
PRAYER REQUESTS
* Pray that Christians throughout Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ and preach the gospel boldly, knowing Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth (2 Timothy 1:7-12, Revelation 1:5).
* Pray also that peace, justice and religious freedom may be firmly established.
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