Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin – No. 239 – Wed 01 Oct 2003

****** PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN IDOP: 9/16 NOVEMBER 2003 ****** * The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church * * For resources and links to national websites – * * http://www.idop.org * *************************************************************

SUDAN: PRAISE, VIGILANCE & PERSISTENCE

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This World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Prayer (RLP) ministry has been following the Sudan peace talks closely, praying through each step with frequent prayer bulletins and updates. Since the final round of talks started in July 2003, our persistent prayer focus has been for God to radically intervene, softening hard hearts and turning them towards peace. That is because “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.” (RLP 227, 8 July 2003)

The talks that resumed on 6 July failed within days. The mediating Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) presented a draft peace plan built on the earlier Machakos Protocol, but made more inclusive with input from all other Sudanese opposition groups. It was simply a ‘roadmap’ for a way forward. The Government of Sudan (GoS) rejected it outright saying ‘IGAD and those behind it’ could ‘go to hell’. Islamists in the north were pressuring the GoS not to ‘surrender’ the scope of Sharia. The GoS was re- supplying its military garrisons in the south. Everything looked hopeless, but once again we prayed ‘for a miracle – for the GoS to want peace’. (RLP 230, July 2003 Update)

There were four unresolved issues when the talks resumed on 10 August. The first and most contentious matter considered was security during the six-year interim period. The GoS demands were unacceptable to the Southerners and the talks teetered on the verge of collapse for many tortuous weeks, in the context that their failure would mean war. Due to its enormous military advantage, the GoS had little reason to compromise. On 17 September, once more we prayed for a humanitarian will for peace to be ‘infused into the hearts of all Sudan’s leaders and negotiators’. Just last week (RLP 238) we saw our hope could lie only in God working a miracle to save the talks that were apparently doomed. We prayed again ‘for God’s intervention in the hearts and minds of all concerned (Proverbs 21:1)’.

What seemed impossible a week ago has come to pass – only by God’s gracious intervention in answer to prayer. A just security agreement has been reached. This was the most problematic and major of the four issues requiring resolution. Officials are saying that the peace deal is now 80% there and everyone is feeling motivated to achieve success. The GoS will have to start withdrawing troops from the south. When Sudan’s Vice President Taha addressed crowds in Khartoum after the security deal was signed, he was met with shouts of ‘Welcome, welcome hero of peace!’ (Reuters). The Sudanese people are sick of this war that costs them over one million dollars a day.

The adjourned talks will resume on 6 October to discuss the remaining three issues of power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and the status of the three contested regions. An acrobat knows that if he falls to his death from his tightrope, three steps out from the edge, then the first two steps were in vain, no matter how courageous and miraculous they were. Victory comes only with a successful crossing. While we praise and thank God for his intervention, we have a responsibility to remain alert, vigilant and persistent in prayer. There is a distance to go yet, but we have every reason to be encouraged because our hope and our confidence are not in men, not in the GoS, but in God.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR:

* the desire for peace to flood Khartoum and all Sudan until all leaders are convinced that talk of war is political suicide; may they have a deep, true, heart desire for peace and the development of civil society that can come from peace.

* God to drown the negative voices of Islamist ideologues, with positive voices of congratulations, peace, support, encouragement and accountability.

* God’s Spirit to be present and active in the next stage of the talks, directing the hearts and minds of all leaders and negotiators towards justice and peace, for the glory of God and for the sake of his long-suffering children.

“The king’s heart is in the hands of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1 NIV

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ————————————————————

SUDAN: PRAISE, VIGILANCE & PERSISTENCE

Sudan has inched closer to peace through the recent signing of a security agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Southerners. The deal (recently thought unachievable) is one of four issues requiring resolution, yet it was the most difficult and major issue. Officials are saying the peace agreement is now 80% there. Believers have prayed over recent months for God to radically intervene and turn hearts towards peace. The positive (miraculous) result is all to the glory of God. This is a radical breakthrough – praise God for his intervention. However, there is some distance to go yet with the three remaining issues to be discussed when the talks resume on 6 October. Be persistent in prayer for a just peace for Sudan. Thankfully our hope and our confidence are not in men, but in God.

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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 authored this message.

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