Christians in Sudan have asked for prayer for their country and for the challenges the Christian communities are facing.
Leaders representing all Christian communities were invited to meet a committee within the Transitional Military Council (TMC), currently ruling the country, on 23 April.
Several church leaders urged the TMC to work towards a handover to civilian rule and for a move to restore democracy in Sudan.
The specific problems facing Christians that they asked the TMC to address include:
* A requirement for Christian schools to be open on Sundays
* Interference by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) in the operation of churches
* Confiscation of church properties by the NISS or people related to the NISS
* Court cases against Christians accusing them of being foreign spies and working for foreign governments
The TMC promised to look into these issues and the next day, 24 April, announced that Christian schools would no longer be forced to be open on Sundays.
On 14 April Christian leaders responded to an invitation by the Sudan Professional Association (a major force behind the demonstrations against the regime) to come and pray and sing Christian songs at the main demonstration outside the Military headquarters.
At that occasion a statement by Rafat Samir Mussad, the chair of the Community Council of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, was read that ends with the call:
“My beloved fellow Sudanese and fellow humans, Let us stick to our values and build our new Sudan based on love and selflessness, putting others first and treating them the way we would like them to treat us. Let us agree on a freedom that is not dedicated to cover up for evil and wickedness, but freedom of thought, of speech, of choice and expression, religious freedom for all. […] Let us establish justice built upon a constitution we protect and implement, a constitution that treats us equally and eliminates tribalism and division from our hearts. God bless you and protect you, may the Lord have mercy upon you and make His path shine before you. God lift His face upon you and give you peace.”
Prayer Points
Please join Christians in Sudan in:
- Praising God for the changes happening in Sudan and for the decision to re-instate Sunday as a holiday for Christian schools
- Praying for the current protests to lead to a real democracy and real freedoms, including freedom of religion and belief for all
- Praying for further progress in addressing the specific challenges that the Church is facing
