Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin – No. 227 – Tue 08 Jul 2003

————————— SUDAN: PEACE TALKS UNDERWAY —————————

For 20 years, Sudan’s civil war has delivered immense suffering and jihad to the African, predominantly Christian Southern Sudan, and poverty and religious liberty abuse to the predominantly Arab, Muslim Northern Sudan. The conflict has claimed the lives of some two million, whilst more than four million are now displaced.

Atrocities against civilians have characterised the Government of Sudan (GoS) jihad against the South, with bombing and helicopter gunship assaults on civilian sites and aid centres. It has included scorched earth raids on villages, the systematic enslavement of women and children, and forced famine in and deprivation of aid to vast regions and populations at a time.

In April 2002, US Special Envoy for Peace, John C. Danforth, went to Sudan and reported, ‘The human suffering I witnessed was staggering. I talked to people who had been attacked by government helicopters and had fled to the bush with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I talked to others who had been abducted by marauding Arab raiders, subjected to unspeakable brutality, separated from their children and reduced to lives of servitude. I also met many Sudanese who were struggling to hold to their faith in the face of privation and attack. One of my most memorable experiences was an open air Episcopal service near a bombed out church in the small southern town of Rumbek. The faith of the congregation was something that I will always treasure.’ Senator Danforth is due back in Sudan in mid-July 2003.

The GoS and rebels have been in peace negotiations for two years, with regional and US involvement. The historic Machakos Protocol was signed on 20 July 2002. On 6 July 2003, the sixth round of week- long talks began in Nakuru, 160km (100 miles) west of Nairobi, Kenya. They are centred on the main outstanding issues of power- sharing, wealth-sharing, and security arrangements during a six- year transition period, as well as religious freedom. Also, final documents will be drafted, for the parties to sign in mid-August.

Whilst peace is closer than it has ever been, the difficulties and challenges must not be underestimated. Past peace efforts have failed due to lack of will – ceasefires have always been violated and peace monitors hamstrung. What is needed is not a peace document, but a change of heart, a genuine will for peace. God can bring peace to Sudan. For him, nothing is impossible. (Luke 1:37)

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* the Prince of Peace to be present at the talks with God’s Spirit creating in all hearts a deep, genuine desire and will for peace. (Proverbs 21:1)

* the forces of evil to be bound so peace talks can progress according to the good pleasure of God, who has compassion on his suffering children. ‘… deliver us from the evil one.’ (Matthew 6:13 NLT)

* God to bless Sudan with a just and lasting peace that will bring him glory, enabling the Church to be strengthened and built up, and the gospel to advance.

—————————————-

AS WE THINK OF SUDAN, let’s praise and thank God for his mighty working in Africa in answer to our recent specific prayers:

* how he has held back the rebel advance in IVORY COAST.

* how he maintained peace during the election period in NIGERIA when religious tension was high and the possibility of religious conflict, even terror, was very real.

* how he has bound evil in CONGO, and just in recent weeks, has brought in peacekeepers and a gradual return to security after four years of horror.

* how he is working now in UGANDA, binding the evil of the LRA, limiting its activity, curtailing its ability to carry out its threats on the Church, and enabling the capture and defection of a number of LRA soldiers, as well as the rescue of significant numbers of captive children.

In all the above we can give God all the glory, whilst remaining vigilant and prayerful.

~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ———————————————————— PEACE TALKS UNDERWAY IN SUDAN

After 20 years of civil war and jihad, Sudan’s peace talks are at their most crucial stage. This week the warring parties are in Kenya, negotiating the final outstanding issues of power-sharing and wealth-sharing (between north and south), and religious freedom. A document will be drafted that should be signed in mid- August. A ceasefire is in effect. Past peace efforts have failed due to a lack of real political will for peace. Ceasefires have always been broken and peace monitors have been hamstrung. The Government of Sudan in particular needs not just a peace document, but a deep and genuine heart-felt desire for a just and lasting peace. Let’s pray for a work of God’s Spirit to change hearts and bring peace to Sudan.

—————————————————- Previous RLPs may be viewed at http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/rlc/ If you downloaded this message from a website or it was forwarded to you, you may receive future editions by sending an empty e-mail to <>

Please send this RLP to others, with attribution to World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Religious Liberty Prayer List <> —————————————————-

The WEA Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

RL Prayer is moderated by Ron Clough, a commissioner of the WEA RLC and convenor of the Australian EA RLC. Elizabeth Kendal researched and compiled this message.

— You are currently subscribed to rl-prayer as: To unsubscribe, forward this message to