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Sudan

• Officials to demolish church buildings in Sudan

  Government officials are threatening to destroy three church buildings in Sudan.

  Government officials are threatening to destroy three church buildings in Sudan. The church buildings were marked for demolition with red crosses on September 11, and local church leaders say the officials simply said, "We are going to demolish these churches." Officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Public Utilities - Khartoum State arrived at the Sudanese Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Roman Catholic Church accusing them of operating churches on government land without permission, although church leaders say the buildings are not located on government land. Christians in the region also said officials from the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment have called church leaders for information about their church members and activities, collecting information in an effort to make Islam the official state religion. "This is purely for intelligence purposes, so that they can put more restrictions on churches and Christians," said the Rev. Yousif El-Denger Kodi, general secretary of the Sudanese Lutheran Church. "We as church leaders are aware of their plans, but we pray for God to rescue us from their evil plans."

  Please pray for the Lord's protection over the church in Sudan. Please pray that followers of Christ in Sudan would remain steadfast in the face of persecution and that they would be free to worship in their local churches without harassment or fear.

  For more information on Sudan's persecuted Christians, go to the Sudan Country Report.

• Church building in ruins; hostilities grow

  More than seven months after Muslim extremists burned its church building, a Presbyterian Church of the Sudan (PCOS) congregation is still afraid to meet for worship. The Rev. Maubark Hamad said his church in Wad Madani has not been able to rebuild since the January 15 devastation due to the congregation's meagre resources. Christian sources said they are increasingly fearful as Muslim extremists pose more threats against Christians in an attempt to rid what they call Dar al Islam, the "Land of Islam," of Christianity. The congregation's building was burned after a series of threats against its members by Muslims extremists. When church leaders reported the case to police, they were surprised to find officers reluctant to investigate.

  Christians in Sudan are living beneath a blanket of fear since South Sudan seceded on July 9 (for more information, click here). Just one month after the south voted for independence from the predominantly Islamic north, pressures on churches and Christians have increased, with Muslim groups threatening to destroy churches, kill Christians and purge the country of Christianity.

  Please pray the Lord will strengthen His Church in Sudan. May He protect believers from harm and grow the Church in faithfulness and in number. Ask Him to give them the grace to overcome their loss and their current fears. Pray they will have the desire to meet with one another for mutual encouragement and to act as witnesses for the gospel.

  For more information on persecution in Sudan, please visit the Sudan Country Report.

• Christian teenager traumatized after kidnapping

  A Christian teenager in Sudan recently escaped from kidnappers who tortured her and pressured her to convert from Christianity to Islam. On June 17, 2010, Hiba Abdelfadil Anglo, then 15 years old, was abducted by a gang of Muslims. She was initially locked in a room and beaten until she was unconscious. For months, the men moved her to various locations in Khartoum, threatening to kill her if she tried to escape and insulting her Christian family members as "infidels." She was also raped by the leader of the group. After a year of captivity, Hiba had given enough of an impression that she had converted to Islam for him to leave her unguarded. She was then able to leave the house and beg a motorist to take her to her home two hours away. She was reunited with her family on July 10. Hiba's mother said that when she first went to a police station to open a case, officers told her she must first leave Christianity for Islam. At last report, Hiba remained deeply traumatized. "I cannot forget this bad incident, and whenever I try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to pray for me for inner healing," she said. She also shared her fear that the Muslim criminals were still trailing her.

  Ask God to grant Hiba His healing and strength in the aftermath of this attack. Pray that she and her family members may be drawn together in love and trust. Pray that authorities will bring to justice all who were involved in her abduction and torture.

  To learn more about how Sudanese believers suffer for Christ's sake, go to the Sudan Country Report.

• South Sudan receives independence; Christians remain at risk

  On July 9, Sudan and South Sudan officially became separate nations -- a separation in accordance with a referendum held in January (click here for more information). The secession comes after a long history of violence and conflict, including two civil wars between the largely Islamic north and the Christian and animist majority in the south. Christians, in particular, have endured severe opposition.

  Although many people, from Sudanese Christians to international leaders, have expressed hope over the South's independence, it is clear that the people on both sides of the new border continue to be at risk of violence and religious freedom violations. In the months leading up to the secession, clashes erupted in several areas. Government agents and Islamic militants looted churches and killed Christians in regions of South Kordofan state. There remain concerns that churches in the Sudan may face further restrictions on their freedom of worship if the government implements a strict form of Shariah, or Islamic, law. With Christians continuing to flee to South Sudan, it is also feared that remaining believers in the north could be especially vulnerable to violence, pressure, and baseless accusations of defaming Islam.

  Pray that Sudanese Christians will be examples of justice, peace and love as their nation navigates through this chapter of transition. Pray that the government of Sudan will listen to the concerns of the international community and recognize the importance of religious freedom. Pray that Christians in both Sudan and South Sudan will continue to entrust themselves to Christ knowing Jesus is the ruler over the kings of the earth (2 Timothy 1:7-12, Revelation 1:5).

  For more on the trials facing Sudanese believers, go to theSudan Country Report.

• Christians tortured and killed in South Sudan

  These refugees have fled from the fighting in South Kordofan state Photo: Assist News

  Government agents and Islamic militants recently launched deadly attacks on Christians in Sudan's South Kordofan state. On June 8, a Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Intelligence unit detained a seminary student, Nimeri Philip Kalo, near the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in the capital city of Kadugli. Nimeri and other Christians were fleeing the town after Muslim militias loyal to the SAF attacked and looted at least three local churches. The agents reportedly accused Nimeri of being a Christian and suspected he was therefore opposed to the Islamic government. The UNMIS's mandate is to support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the country's Christian and animist south, which is scheduled to secede on July 9 (click here for more information). Nimeri was killed in front of several bystanders. "They shot him in front of our eyes and forced us not to cry, or else we would face the same fate," said one witness.

  The same day, Islamic militants aligned with SAF killed a Christian bus driver, Adeeb Gismalla Aksam (33), by sword in the Kadugli Market. That afternoon, other armed militants attacked a Roman Catholic Church building where Christians were gathered for mass, firing guns and shouting "Allahu-akbar." No one was injured, but SAF agents arrested Reverend Abraham James Lual in front of his congregation. They accused Abraham of preaching that people should oppose the Islamic government and took him to an unknown location. He was tortured for two days before being released.

  Pray for healing for Abraham. Pray for God's enduring comfort to reign in the hearts of the friends and family members of the martyred believers. Pray that their example of costly discipleship will enrich the witness of the Sudanese Church. Pray that Sudanese Christians will continue to trust in God's love and provision, even in times of instability, violence and loss.

  To find out more about the persecution believers face in Sudan, go to theSudan Country Report.

• Sudan approaching independence for the South

  South Sudan’s upcoming split leaves the future of Christians uncertain.

  Sudanese Christians request continued prayer as the North and South prepare to separate on July 9, in accordance with a referendum held in January (click here for more). Alarming developments include the North's intention to implement Shariah, or Islamic law, more strictly, potentially reducing the limited freedoms given to Christians and other non-Muslims. There is also fear that, with many Christians fleeing the South, the remaining believers will be especially vulnerable to pressure and attacks.

  Additionally, the parameters of the North-South border remain hotly disputed at several points. In the province of Abyei, a referendum has been delayed and attempts to assert military control have erupted in violence in recent months. There have also been violent clashes in other provinces and increased violence in the western region of Darfur. Thousands of people have been displaced and forced to flee to the South in the wake of the violence.

  Pray the rights of all Christians in Sudan will be respected. Pray for special guidance for Church leaders as they adapt to the changes posed by operating under two legal systems. Pray the two governments will rule justly for the benefit of all citizens. Pray the peace of the Lord will reign throughout Sudan and that violence will cease.

  For more on the trials facing Christians in Sudan, go to the Sudan Country Report.

• Christian woman in Darfur arrested for evangelizing

  Hawa Abdalla Muhammad Saleh was arrested on May 9 in the Abu Shouk camp for Internally Displaced Persons in Al-Fashir. Authorities have accused her of possessing and distributing Bibles to others in the camp. Sources said she could also be tried for apostasy, which carries the death sentence in Sudan. Abdalla has been transferred to an unknown location in Khartoum, sources said, adding that they fear she could be tortured as she was detained and tortured for six days in 2009.

  Please pray for Abdalla's release. Ask the Lord to give her the strength and grace she needs to withstand this current trial. Pray the Lord will protect and preserve her. Pray the Lord will use Abdalla's witness and testimony to strengthen the faith of other believers and act as a witness to Muslims.

  Find out more about the obstacles facing believers in Sudan at the Sudan Country Report.

• Blasphemy laws threaten Christians

  Amid the political shifts in the North African countries of Egypt and Sudan, the laws against defaming Islam continue to threaten Christians in the countries.

  Article 98(f) of Egyptian law, known to attorneys as the "contempt of religion" charge, is not officially an anti-blasphemy law. It is meant to discourage people from offending others' religious sensitivities. In reality, however, it is reportedly used to stifle free speech and punish and intimidate those who do not subscribe to the standard, orthodox version of Sunni Islam practiced by most in Egypt. Violating this statute is known as having "defamed a heavenly religion." Others have been charged under the statute with "insulting Islam." By comparison, no convert from Christianity to Islam has ever been charged with Article 98(f) for defiling Christianity.

  In Sudan, where the non-Islamic south is set to split from the Islamic north on July 9, as the result of the referendum earlier this year (click here for more information), Christians in the north remain vulnerable to baseless accusations of defaming Islam. Apostasy (leaving Islam) is punishable by death. Violation of Section 125 of the Sudanese Criminal Act, which prohibits "insulting religion, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs," is punishable by imprisonment of one year, a fine and 40 lashes. While convictions are reportedly rare, Christian converts from Islam continue to be victims of Sudan's blasphemy law.

  Pray the Lord will equip faithful leaders who are willing to speak up for human rights and religious freedom in Egypt and Sudan. Ask the Lord to strengthen and protect His often-embattled Church in these countries. Pray that Christ's Body throughout North Africa will continue to be a bold testimony of His love and grace.

  To find out more about trials facing Sudanese Christians, go to theSudan Country Report.

• Update: South Sudan secession nearly certain; continue to pray

  The peaceful voting process of a historic referendum on Southern Sudan's secession from the North (click here for more details) came to an end on January 15. Early numbers of the vote indicate that the country may soon be divided, and Christians around the world continue to call for prayer for the nation and its people. Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, in the southern region of Sudan, says his people have strong "expectations of change for the better" and urged continued prayers worldwide for "permanent peace in Sudan." Many Christians have reportedly left the North and capital city of Khartoum for the South out of fear that President Bashir's regime will shift toward "radical Islamization" in the wake of the referendum.

  Thank the Lord for a peaceful voting process. Pray for the shalom of God to reign throughout Sudan. Pray Sudanese Christians will continue to courageously proclaim Christ's way of compassion and love, even to those who seek to oppress them.

  For more information on the opposition facing Christians in Sudan, visit theSudan Country Report.

• Pray for Sudan amid historic referendum

  Sudan is a country with a long history of violence and conflict, including two civil wars between the largely Islamic North and the Christian and animist majority in the South. Christians, in particular, have endured severe opposition, and they continue to face many challenges to their witness. In the North, believers are subject to many restrictions. Evangelism is fiercely opposed and thus very limited, and all non-Muslims face intense pressure to convert to Islam. There have also been reports of violent attacks on Christians in other regions in recent years (click here to learn more).

  In 2005, the government in Khartoum and the Southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement signed a peace agreement. This agreement, which ended the country's second civil war, established semi-autonomy in the South and called for a referendum on independence. This referendum is scheduled to take place on January 9.

  While many are hopeful that the January 9 referendum will allow the South to separate from the North peacefully, there remains concern over the effect this transition will have on the country. Recent comments made by President Omar al-Bashir, regarding the reinforcement of Islamic law, have raised particular fear for Christians and all non-Muslims in the nation in the aftermath of the vote.

  "If south Sudan secedes, we will change the constitution," President al-Bashir has said. "Shariah and Islam will be the main source for the constitution -- Islam the official religion and Arabic the official language."

  Pray for a free and democratic vote in this referendum. Pray that international governments will encourage Sudanese leadership to hear and accept the voice of their people. 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 that many more people will come to know Christ as Lord in Sudan. Pray for true and lasting peace in the country.

  To learn more about the trials facing Sudanese Christians, visit the country report at theSudan Country Report.