Remember Ambassadors

The current international news is full of stories from Darfur, a region in western Sudan where active genocide is taking place.  Many aid groups serve suffering and hungry people in southern Sudan.  News from Khartoum is plentiful, full of teddy bears and politics.

But the center of the country, in the border zone between north and south, the area most damaged by the civil war, has been almost universally forgotten.  It is a Christian area that has been assigned to the Muslim north, an area where fundamentalist militias wreak havoc on Christian ministry, and where poverty is all but universal.

Into this place, the Nuba Mountains of the South Kordofan state, God is opening the doors for our ministry.  It blows me away to even say that.

Over the past couple of days, we fellowshipped with fellow Christians in the city of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, and to see first-hand the needs that they have.  Let me tell you, their faith is genuine, and only strengthened by the fact that they claim the name of Jesus Christ when doing so could cost them their lives.  When they worship, you can feel the Spirit of God move, and worship with them in spite of the language barrier.

Thanks to the team that God is raising up, from three different organizations, it appears that all systems are a "go" to make our dreams a reality.  We have met with government officials, each of which has expressed excitement about the possibility of this ministry, and church leaders who are overjoyed about our involvement.  Over and over, they thank us for caring about their needs.

We are in the beginning stages of laying out a budget for the building project, and Mark has begun to design the building for them.  There are lots of steps yet to complete, with input from many different sources, but your prayers, my friend, are being answered.

More to come… 

 

International trips tend to spark good friendships, so I post this picture of Mark Searcy, our building expert, knowing that he will quite probably forgive me.  But I post it for another reason, too–we leave tomorrow (or bukra, as they say here) for the Kordofan city of Kadugli, where we are planning our building project.  This will be Mark's magnum opus, where his expertise will shine, and I ask you to pray for him in particular as we travel down to lay the groundwork for this task.

You can see a little of Mark's passion in this picture, which I shot from the hip in the middle of a conversation, but he has a heart for the people of Sudan, and indeed, the people of the world.  That heart, combined with his incredible knowledge, are serving Remember's ministry well, and serving the people of Sudan.

Please pray for us as we head south tomorrow!

Our first day in Kadugli has been very profitable, but it has been far more than that–it has been a blessing.  We had an excellent first trip to this country back in January, but being able to come back has been even better.  We already have an established rapport with the local church, with pastors, and with people.

The air of excitement was palpable in the churches that we were able to visit throughout the day.  Remember is partnering with two other ministries to provide the Nuba Mountain area of Sudan with a facility that will serve as a clinic, safehouse, Bible college, school, and perhaps much more, and the Sudanese Christians are overjoyed at the prospect.  And what a delight it is to be able to bless these persecuted, suffering believers!  From giving candy to the little children in what was essentially a refugee camp for Nuba Mountain Christians, to working on this building project, we are blessed to be a blessing.

The camp in which many Nuba Mountain Christians, moved to Khartoum to try to find work, live and worship.

Sharing greetings with our brothers and sisters.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I am once again reminded of the inestimable privilege it is to be a part of God's work.  While I have an overwhelming amount of things to be grateful for, that one has been at the top of my praise list this Thanksgiving season.

The holidays always remind me of the value of family.  I have been blessed with a wonderful family in the physical sense, and I have also been blessed with the opportunity to see the family of Christ all over the world.  I am looking forward to the privilege of spending time with that family, and ministering hope and encouragement, as we head to Sudan on Friday.

Our schedule is pretty straightforward–leave the USA on November 23, and return on December 5.  After subtracting travel time, that should give us about 10 days in-country.  Those 10 days should be pretty full, as we travel down to Kadugli to view the land we will be building on, meet with government officials to take care of administrative details of the project, and price supplies, labor, and transportation.  Lord willing, we will also have the chance to meet with Sudanese pastors, as well as the widows and orphans of martyrs, to expand our impact even before the building project begins.

Please pray for us!  Here are some specific requests:

• For safety and travel mercies as our team goes to an area of the world known for its danger and sickness.
• For wisdom and guidance as we plan and coordinate with other ministries on this huge project.
• For the leading of the Holy Spirit as we discern where to give funds and supplies.

Stay tuned!  I will keep you updated wherever I can find an internet connection.

The violence that pervades the country of Sudan is nothing if not complicated.  In Darfur, it is a complex mix of racial hatred, tribal warring, and political opportunism.  The civil war between the Muslim north and the predominately Christian south was a little simpler as far as motivation, but has suddenly grown very complex.

A few years ago, the north and south signed a peace agreement that ended the civil war as such, though it did not stop the violence against Christians perpetrated by the ever-present Islamic militias.  The peace agreement allowed members of the southern government, based in Juba, to have representation in the northern, Khartoum government, so that both sides would work together.  Last week, that peace agreement took a blow as the representatives of the southern government (Sudan People's Liberation Movement, or SPLM) pulled out of the northern government in protest.

This move has many, including myself, wondering if Sudan's imminent future contains another civil war.  The last one was the longest civil war in Africa's history, causing the deaths of 1.5 million people, and going back to war could have tragic consequences.  Much remains yet to be seen, and of course, God is in control.  (I think particularly of Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.")  We need to be praying not only for the country of Sudan, but for our brothers and sisters in Christ that have so much to lose if war returns.

I would also ask you to pray for our upcoming trip and long-range projects planned for Sudan.  Our planned work is in an area controlled by the northern government, even though there is a large population of Christians.  It is an area that was devastated in the last civil war.  Now, more than ever, our work is needed, and pray that  God would open all of the doors as He leads this project forward!

For More Information–

War Fears in SPLA, Khartoum Feuding

SPLA Pulls Out of Government 

After about 22 hours of flight delays yesterday, I am now back in the office.  You could certainly make the argument that travel is consuming my life, despite my best efforts!

That is not all bad, though, especially when travel plans afford such a great opportunity for ministry.  When I got back into the office this morning, one of the e-mails that I had waiting for me was on just such a trip.  In just a couple of months, Lord willing, we will be following up on our survey trip to Sudan last January and kicking off our building project.

The dates that we are currently planning on are November 24 through December 7 or 8.  Our tentative itinerary has us flying into Khartoum and traveling by bus down to Kadugli, in the Nuba Mountains, where we will be doing the building.

A trip like this takes a ton of planning and coordination, and I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we launch this new, vital ministry.  Our building project has the potential to bless–and even save–hundreds of lives.  And if the Holy Spirit should lead you to donate towards this project, you can indicate "Sudan Fund" in your giving.