Sharing the Good News

Give a gift that helps spread the Gospel around the world.Thousands of Christians in Sudan celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a special way this Easter. For the first time in decades, many worshipped inside newly rebuilt sanctuaries that are free of scorch marks, bullet holes, and the bloodstains of believers who died for their faith.

Samaritan’s Purse has rebuilt 275 churches that were destroyed during Sudan’s brutal civil war, with another 21 under construction. For those who survived the horrors of the government-backed siege, the new churches are symbols of faith and renewal, rising from the ashes of war to become places of worship and praise once again.

Members of Lukura Church in South Sudan share a special bond with a congregation living in a village of a different kind located nearly 10,000 miles away—Westlake Village in California.

Just over a year ago, members of The Filling Station decided to sponsor the rebuilding of the church in Sudan that had been bombed and burned twice during the war. The 30-member congregation in California gave their entire building fund for the construction of the church.

“We are really excited to see the whole thing come together,” Pastor Steve Ridinger said. “The Scripture says if you give to the poor, you lend to their Maker. That’s become the focus of our giving. The people in South Sudan have no other way to get the money together to rebuild their churches.”

In Sudan, 600 people attended the recent dedication of the new church in Lukura. Before they went inside, the people marched around the church three times in a joyful celebration. When the doors were opened, every seat was quickly filled, with the overflow crowd gathering outside around open doors and windows.

Visiting pastors and community leaders shared messages of encouragement. Henry Leju, the principal of a local college, captured the essence of what the new church building meant to the people.

“God has seen what have been done today God will live in this place and work,” he said. “If we pray to God He will not forget us in our country. If we humble ourselves before God and ask for forgiveness, God will come to us and forgive our sins. We are a temple of God. Our work now is to preach the Word of God!”

New churches made of brick and steel are beautiful symbols of hope in Sudan, but across the nation, God has literally planted “cathedrals” of another kind for His people. On Easter Sunday, thousands of believers gather under the shady canopies of mango, nim, and acacia trees to worship their Lord and Savior.

A courageous pastor in one predominately Muslim area recently mobilized his congregation to share the Gospel home to home and invite people to Sunday worship. “We will have the first church service under the tree at 10:00 on Sunday morning,” Pastor Morris told the villagers.

Pastor Morris arrived early on Sunday to find 300 people waiting to hear his message. The people were fascinated as Pastor Morris shared the Good News. At the end of the service, a Muslim elder from the community stood up and shouted to the crowd, “We are all Muslims. Do you people really want to be Christians?”

The pastor watched in amazement as nearly everyone stood up and said, “Yes we do want to be Christians!” One man spoke for the crowd saying, “This pastor has opened our eyes. We could not see before, but now we can. We want to know more about God. We are learning things that we never knew before.”

When the sun rose on Easter Sunday, it shined upon thousands of believers, gathered under trees or inside churches where the doors and windows have been flung open to let the sound of worship and praise echo through the nation. And across the land, words spoken by an angel nearly 2,000 years ago will be repeated over and over again: “He has risen!” (Mark 16:6).

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

PRAY:

For Sudanese Christians recovering from decades of war and persecution, and for our staff as we rebuild churches destroyed by the conflict.

GIVE:

Visit our donation page to support the Sudan Church Project.

GET INVOLVED:

Discover how your congregation can minister to persecuted believers in Sudan and help rebuild their churches. Download this fillable MS Word document (click here) to order materials. You can also call 1-800-538-1980 or e-mail to order a free Sudan Church Kit or to receive more information about the project.

Samaritan's Purse , Sudan , Evangelism , Easter Sunrise in Sudan