Sudan (MNN) — Crises like the one in Iran tend to overshadow Sudan’s ongoing war. But that doesn’t mean life is better on the ground.
Fighting between rebel forces and the Sudanese army has killed more than 40,000 people since 2023 and forced nearly 15 million people to flee their homes. Yesterday, rebel forces launched a drone strike that killed 17 people – most of them girls. Drone warfare adds a dangerous dynamic to the conflict.
(Student News Agency, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons)
Plus, Sudan’s war has become a proxy conflict for nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. As described here, Sudan is a critical geopolitical playing field for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The UAE reportedly supports rebel forces, while Saudi Arabia increasingly backs Sudan’s military.
At the same time, the U.S. targets Iranian-backed militia in Sudan, applying pressure to Sudan’s army. The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood is reportedly a significant supporter of the Sudanese Armed Forces, which called for a terrorist designation of rebel forces on Monday.
Though the war drags on, the Lord is at work amid death and despair. Church planters active in Sudan “are discovering new depths of faith and strength, and it’s a wonderful thing to see,” says John, a Gospel worker whose organization we cannot name for security purposes.
“Even though we weep with them, God is sufficient. As we walk through this war, we are seeing how sufficient God is.”
God works amid war
John’s organization operates a school of mission, which prepares new believers to make disciples in Sudan and surrounding nations.
“We’ve graduated 322 Muslim-background believers from Sudan from 89 tribes,” John says.
Plus, church planters are working with unreached people groups in 13 refugee camps. In their context, persecution and spiritual harvest go hand in hand. “The reality is they go together; we don’t find them separated in any way,” John says.
(Photo courtesy of Spoken Worldwide)
“In just two months’ time, we’ve had attempts on the [lives] of two of our leaders. One of our leaders was shot,” he continues.
Simultaneously, “there are baptisms in the face of persecution, because the Spirit of God is moving.”
How to help
Church planters risk their lives daily to share Jesus in Muslim-majority Sudan. Will you partner with them?
“Prayer is the mobilization of all that God does,” John says. “Just write Sudan somewhere, and you can say, ‘God, I was reminded of Sudan. Will You be with these precious people?’”
Use the prayer prompts listed alongside this article to guide your intercession. You can also donate to John’s organization here to ensure church planters have the resources they need to keep working.
Header image is a representative AI photo generated by ChatGPT.
