Christians in Sudan have requested further prayers for four church leaders detained by the Sudanese authorities.
The trial of the four Christians has now begun, and the second court hearing was held on Monday 22nd August. As expected, the four have been charged with several serious offences, including waging war against the state, espionage activities, conspiracy to carry out criminal acts, and undermining the authority of the state through violence. Some of the charges are punishable with the death penalty.
The trial was originally intended to begin on 14th August, but the four defendants were not brought to court from prison. An investigator from the prosecutor’s office has given his statement, and the next hearing is expected to take place on Monday 29th August. The prosecutor may question the investigator about his findings.
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Prayer points
Sudanese Christians request prayer:
a. that the four detained church leaders will know the Lord’s strength and comfort during their ordeal
b. for a fair judicial process, and that the four will be acquitted of all charges
c. that church leaders and other Christians will know the Lord’s peace in the face of the increasing pressure against churches
d. that all officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him