Sudan

Since independence from the British in 1956 Sudan has suffered ongoing civil conflict. A quarter of the world’s refugees are Sudanese.

Because of the influence of Churches of Christ in Aweil, refugees from the Aweil region have naturally sought support from Churches of Christ when they arrive in Australia. At the request of their leaders, an ecumenical Sudanese congregation was established in South Australia in 2006, under the oversight of Magill Church of Christ. Leaders of the United Sudanese Fellowship approached GMP asking if our churches would support their communities in Sudan.

Last June, Joseph Mawien, minister of the United Sudanese Fellowship, and Steve Blacket, minister of Magill Church of Christ, travelled to Sudan to meet with church and community leaders and explore the potential for a ministry relationship between our respective communities. Earlier this year they returned to grow relationships and confirm partnerships.

Profile

Population: 39,379,358 (2007 estimate)
Languages: Arabic, English, Nubian and local language dialects
Average life expectancy: 57 years (men), 60 years (women)
Major religions: Islam (70%), Animist and indigenous beliefs (25%), Christianity (5%)

Sudan is the largest and one of the most diverse countries in Africa, with deserts, mountain ranges, swamps and rain forests. It is the tenth largest country in the world and borders Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya and Uganda.

Made up of many tribes and language groups, Sudan can be divided into three main regions. The north includes the capital Khartoum, located in the fertile Nile Valley between the Nubian and Libyan Deserts where the population is predominantly Arab and Islamic. Southern Sudan is fertile, mostly undeveloped, and the population is African with a strong Christian influence. The region of Darfur is in Western Sudan. The people are African and practice a mixture of traditional religion and Islam.

Since independence from the British in 1956 Sudan has suffered ongoing civil conflict. In 1985 the South rebelled against the imposition of Sharia law, sparking a civil war that lasted until 2005. Southern leaders estimate 5,000,000 have been displaced and as many as 2,000,000 killed.

Since February 2003 Darfur has been decimated by government sponsored militia following a call for Jihad. While a peace treaty between north and south, signed in 2005, has been maintained under the watch of UN observers, the conflict in Darfur continues.

In 2007 Sudan was named the world’s most unstable country. A quarter of the world’s refugees are Sudanese.

An interim government based in Juba, the Southern capital, is providing self-determination for the South until a referendum scheduled for 2011 decides the proposed independence of Southern Sudan.

Despite being the sixth fastest growing economy in the world, Sudan still faces formidable economic problems to rise from a very low level of per capita output. Agriculture production remains Sudan's most important sector, employing 80% of the work force and contributing 39% of GDP, but most farms remain susceptible to drought. Chronic instability — including the long-standing civil war, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural prices — ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years to come.

Sources: Wikipedia, UN website, BBC Country Profile

Churches of Christ in Southern Sudan

Churches of Christ in Southern Sudan are indigenous churches founded by local leaders with the support of American churches. Since 2001 churches have been established in various parts of Aweil, in Northern Bahr Al Ghazel (below Southern Darfur). A Bible College has also been established to train Churches of Christ pastors and evangelists. The churches have also developed clinics, wells, agriculture and micro-enterprises.

A number of Churches of Christ trained pastors have held key positions in the state government of Northern Bahr Al Ghazel and the Government of South Sudan.

Partnership with Australian Churches of Christ

Because of the influence of Churches of Christ in Aweil, refugees from the Aweil region have naturally sought support from Churches of Christ when they arrive in Adelaide. At the request of their leaders, an ecumenical Sudanese congregation was established in South Australia in 2006, under the oversight of Magill Church of Christ.

Leaders of the United Sudanese Fellowship approached GMP asking if our churches would support their communities in Sudan.

In June 2008, Joseph Mawien, minister of the United Sudanese Fellowship, and Steve Blacket, minister of Magill Church of Christ, travelled to Sudan to meet with church and community leaders and explore the potential for a ministry relationship between our respective communities. In December 2009/January 2010 they returned with Ros Stafford-Green to grow relationships and confirm partnerships. They also delivered much needed medical supplies including birthing kits.

Partnerships that have evolved and are evolving include:

• Supporting Rev. Angelo and his team with their ministry amongst Darfurian refugees.  They provide refugees with shelter, food, and basic medical assistance.  Angelo also shares the gospel with them.  His face shines when he explains that Christians and Moslems have become like a family.  Many aid agencies are being forced to leave Darfur therefore this support will be even more critical in the months to come.
• Resourcing the previously defunct Aweil Civic Hospital. Two midwives Deborah and Ang’e have requested basic medical kits, and some simple equipment for their maternity section.  A medical team in Adelaide is currently working towards sending a team to provide basic training in obstetrics.
• Supporting the existing Churches of Christ and the Aweil Bible College through partnerships with Australian churches.
• Supporting the establishment of a Church of Christ congregation in Aweil Town which will be the hub of ongoing support into the Aweil region. The need in Sudan is overwhelming, but there are clearly people caring for those in great need that we can partner with. Amongst people who have so little, even the smallest contribution can make a significant difference. For more of the story of the development of this partnership see http://fairdinkamate.blogspot.com/

Prayer Points

• Other churches with Sudanese congregations are also connecting with other regions. Pray for clear direction for those involved in deciding which needs will be focused on in these communities that have suffered so much.

Latest News & PDF downloads

(The latest Sudan update and news also appears as an attachment below.)

Steve Blacket, Minister at Magill Church of Christ has just returned from a recent visit to Sudan. He writes...

1. National Elections are scheduled for April, the first step towards democracy since the military dictatorship took power. President Bashir is currently negotiating peace deals with rebel groups from Darfur and has also expressed his commitment to work towards sustainable peace with the South. A referendum is scheduled for January 2011 where Southerners will decide between independence and remaining in a unified Sudan. This is a critical period where there is potential for lasting peace or for renewed conflict. Sudanese leaders have asked to pray for peace.
2. We are in the process of establishing a program in Marialbai in Aweil West County for children who have lost parents and extended family due to the conflict. A large allocation of land has been provided to us by the Chief and Pastor Paulino Malou is coordinating this program. This area is close to the northern state border and has been the frontline through decades of civil war. The need for development here is great and the number of widows and orphans is overwhelming.
3. It was great to spend time with our friend Rev Angelo Agwer again and to learn more about the mission he leads to Internally Displaced Persons (Darfuris and returnees from the north) in Gok Machar in Aweil North County. We visited Gok Machar but weren't able to visit the IDP camps. Angelo asked for practical assistance with items such as bikes and malaria treatment and we are researching the best way to provide these. The bikes are critical because many areas are inaccessible by road. IDPs from the north haven't developed immunity to malaria and so are very susceptible. One of Angelo's team has been trained at Aweil Civic Hospital to provide the treatment. It is cheap and effective and many people die without it.
4. We have had a significant change of direction in our delivery of medical support. At this stage we don’t envisage engaging in development of the Aweil Civic Hospital. (Follow this link for a full explanation http://fairdinkamate.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-about-hospital.html ). Instead we are working with our Church of Christ partners in Aweil South and Aweil West to provide basic health care, and this includes provision of birthing kits.