3/10/2009
Sudan 2009 Update
Sudan 2009
Eating fried locusts…sharing a tent with a character, Daniel Massieh, who risked his life to become a Christian in his Muslim world—and who can’t resist risking trouble by telling the truth about the Bible, the Qu’ran, and the love of God everywhere he goes…spending time with Pastor Tobias of Maranatha Chapel, Pageri, Sudan … witnessing the spiritual revival in Darfur…walking the dusty roads through villages where again, I met with brothers and sisters who are laying down their lives in the frontlines of what may be the greatest spiritual battle ground in the world. What a privilege it was to return to Sudan, Africa. The land that originally headquartered Osama bin Laden in Khartoum, the capital city, where he launched his jihad against the non-Muslim world.
Working with Wes Bentley of Far Reaching Ministries and Daniel Massieh, we taught the local chaplains about prophecy, salvation, and the much needed spiritual tools for confronting Islam.
One older, well-spoken gentleman came up to me after one session, grabbed my hand, and said, “This is the word of the Lord to my people. This is exactly what God is saying to us. For eight years I oversaw the Anglican church in Khartoum. I have been schooled, trained, ordained, but no one ever taught us these things. In our own country we are learning such powerful and profound lessons. This has changed my life.” He went on to say how inspired he was by Wes’ teaching about entering heaven and receiving more than salvation. How we can also hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
“I’m not sure I would hear those words,” this dear man confessed. “I have been busy tending to my people, but I have never led a Muslim to the Lord. Now, thanks to Daniel, I have the tools, and the boldness and confidence. I will begin to share the Gospel without fear and win Muslims to Christ!”
We met soldiers who are reading the Bible and asking questions, and heard of a commander in the southern army who had been a secret Christian, but has found the courage to boldly proclaim his faith. We were also able to purchase and distribute a large quantity of the book by Samy Tanagho, Glad News! God Loves You, My Muslim Friend. For the first time, many Muslims are reading the Gospel for themselves.
We will be taking a team back to Sudan in July 25- August 8. You can read more about this trip and pray about being part of the team here http://maranathamissions.org/Trips/2009Trips.php
Below is more information about Sudan, some of which I posted earlier, but it is updated and worth repeating because of the importance of this region of the world.
The Largest African Nation Contains the Province of Darfur
Sudan is the largest nation on the African continent, slightly more than one-quarter the size of the U.S., and is bordered by nine other countries. Its people live with the constant weariness and tragedy of spiritual battle, aggravated by violent political factions and a civil war that has been fought for over 20 years. The fighting has pitted the Arab influenced, Muslim North against the Black African, Animist/Christian South. Over two million people have been killed and over four million people have been driven from their homes.
Sudan contains the province of Darfur, where government-backed Arab militia known as Janjaweed has terrorized and displaced communities of African tribal farmers. This crisis has killed at least four hundred thousand people and forced more than two million people from their homes.
Janjaweed Militia
Many powerful celebrities, politicians, and humanitarian groups are working to bring aid to this desperate situation. Many are doing good work. But I feel strongly about working alongside an organization that is tackling this crisis at its core, at the root cause. Far Reaching Ministries, with Wes Bentley, has formed its own “army”—an army that carries no guns or grenades, but is nevertheless armed with an even more powerful “weapon” —the Word of God.
Chaplain Soldiers
Besides providing for the physical needs of the people, since 1999 Far Reaching Ministries has been training chaplains to serve the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), a small resistance group trying to hold back the violent persecution Christians and other civilians have suffered in South Sudan.
These chaplains are spiritual, not combat, soldiers who bring encouragement, prayer, and the Good News to the front lines. They serve without weapons, supporting the southern soldiers spiritually, and encouraging them to engage the northern soldiers honorably, taking those who surrender as prisoners, instead of killing them. When northern soldiers are captured, these chaplains oversee their care and ensure that they are treated humanely as POWs. The chaplains are also concerned with the welfare of civilians, especially southern Sudanese civilians who are oppressed by their government, have been abused by the rebel army, and are still terrorized by militant extremist groups.1
When Far Reaching Ministries recognized the need to train these pastors and chaplains for the brutal world of Sudan, they formed the Chaplain Camel Corps, currently deployed all over southern Sudan. The Camel Corps uses camels to get into the most difficult areas to reach of Sudan, including the Nuba Mountains.
Part of our mission in Sudan is to encourage and support these frontline “soldier” chaplains through teaching, fellowship, and practical support.
Financially, Maranatha Chapel is contributing:
• Funds toward the building of a new church, Maranatha Chapel Pageri, Sudan. Please pray for this growing church and Pastor Tobias Abunchan Francis.
• Funds to purchase ten Arabian-Kenyan horses for the chaplains, to increase their ability to reach the most remote villages in the Nabu mountains and other remote areas of mid-Sudan.
• Funds for ten mobile generator powered theater units. The chaplains, riding their camels and horses, carry these units into villages—some as small as 60 -80 people, others as large as several thousand—hang up a sheet, and show the Jesus movie. The response is amazing as people watch the Gospel come to life on a big “screen” and learn about Jesus. This is very exciting and moving to me, personally. Try to imagine the scene. The chaplains arrive by camel or horseback, greeted by people excited to have visitors who bring news and greetings from the rest of the world. In typical hospitable fashion, the villagers prepare a meal and welcome their guests. Then the chaplain tells them he wants to show the story of the prophet Jesus.
The response is almost always a powerful, instinctual, raw outburst of emotion. The people are very tenderhearted and open and respond as if a revelation from heaven has fallen upon the village. The harvest is abundant! Many find salvation and hope for the first time in their lives—and join the army of prayer warriors in this spiritual and physical battle for the soul of Sudan and all of Africa.
Below I’ve listed a few more facts about Sudan, to give you a feel for the land, as you pray and perhaps consider joining our team.
Thank you again for your diligent prayers. I do sincerely consider Sudan to be at the frontline of a raging spiritual battle that affects the whole world; I pray for an army that knows our most powerful weapons “of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…” (2 Corinthians 10:4).
God bless you,
Pastor Ray
your comments: media@maranathachapel.org
About Sudan:
National name: Jamhuryat as-Sudan, Republic of Sudan
Location: northeast Africa, bordering the Red Sea between Egypt and Eritrea; bordered by nine other countries.
Total area: 967,493 sq mi (Africa's largest country, slightly more than one-quarter the size of the U.S.)
Population: 39,379,358 (July 2007 est.)
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 65%, Christian 23.2%, traditional ethnic 10.6%, non-religious/other 1.2% (Operation World statistics)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English (Note: program of Arabization in process)
Literacy:
(Definition: age 15 and over can read and write)
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
Climate: arid desert in north; tropical in south; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain: desert in north; grasslands and low mountains in vast central region; swamplands and rainforest in south; Blue Nile and White Nile flow north and join near Khartoum to form the Nile River 2
1.Holcomb, Justin, Southern Sudanese Chaplains: Human Rights and The Embodiment of Peace, from The other journal, Mars Hill, http://www.theotherjournal.com/article.php?id=107
2.Samaritan’s Purse,
http://sudan.samaritanspurse.org