Three young Christians were assaulted in a suburb north of Khartoum on October 6th because of their faith in Christ. Levi Hakim, 17, had entered a shop when a Muslim man grabbed him and dragged him behind a mosque. There, two others joined in the attack, declaring their disdain for the presence of Christians in the area.
When Levi failed to return, his 16-year-old cousin Jal John Paul went searching for him. The assailants identified Jal as "another one of them," meaning "a Christian," and then proceeded to assault him as well. Concerned when the young men did not return, Jal's aunt, 20-year-old Nyawal Paul, went to the shop where she was likewise beaten.
All three were members of the Khartoum National Presbyterian Church, a congregation led by Jal's father who is the pastor. Unfortunately, none of the victims were able to identify the assailants. Although the incident has been reported to police, no action has been taken at this point. In the meantime, Levi's mother has been threatened by the perpetrators and given a warning to drop the case or face consequences. For more information on the various difficulties encountered by Christians in Sudan, go to our country report.
Please pray for the protection of this family, as well as other Christians in Sudan. Ask God to guard their hearts, keep them safe, and give them the inner peace that comes from knowing their lives and eternal destiny rest in His capable hands. Pray that those responsible for the assault crimes will be identified and brought to justice. May God soften the hearts of the opposers, unclenching their angry fists of hatred and violence, so that they will instead be agents of His love, unity and peace. Finally, may Sudan's transitional government, which has indicated a promise of added religious freedoms, continue to encourage equality and liberty for all its citizens.
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