Sudanese Christians request prayer for an upcoming court hearing concerning several pastors of the Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC) in Al Thawra in Omdurman. The hearing, at which the defendants are expected to put forward their defence, is scheduled to take place tomorrow (21st November, 2017) at 09:00 AM (local time) in Omdurman.
On Sunday, 22nd October 2017, the authorities entered the church building in Omdurman and ordered for the church to be closed. When the church members and pastors refused to comply, the authorities detained five church members and detained them for a few hours. Those arrested are Pastors Ayoub Talian Tutu (head of SCOC), Ali Al Hakiem Alam, Imperator Hammad and Habeil Ibrahim, and the Church’s Executive Committee member Sheikh Abdelbagi Tutu.
Following their arrest, all men were charged with “public nuisance” as a result of their worship and prayer in church. The police authorities in Omdurman have brought the charges against the five men.
They were informed that the Sudanese Ministry of Endowments has appointed a new administration for the SCOC that would determine who can worship at which church and when. The SCOC maintain that the Ministry of Endowments has no right to appoint committees in the church denomination, but that only the denominational leadership can appoint committees.
Prayer Request
Sudanese Christians request prayer:
a. that government efforts to intervene in the SCOC will cease, together with efforts to demolish its church buildings and those belonging to other denominations
b. for wisdom and peace for Pastor Ayoub Talian Tutu, Pastors Ali Al Hakiem Alam, Imperator Hammad, Habeil Ibrahim and Sheikh Abdelbagi Tutu and their lawyer as the legal proceedings continue
c. that the judge will act fairly and acquit all men
d. that Sudanese Christians will experience the peace of the Lord, and that pressures against them would ease
e. that the church in Sudan will stand strong in faith and perseverance, despite pressures and persecution, so that all may see the light of Jesus
