ORDER MATERIALS

You can order materials to help promote the Sudan Church Project in your church by clicking the image above. Fill out the downloadable order form and e-mail it to to receive your free kit.The white paint on the walls was barely dry when the dedication of the rebuilt Aber Church began in South Sudan. The color symbolized a purity of spirit and a new beginning for a church that had risen from the ashes of civil war in answer to prayer.

The dedication was clearly a community celebration. People brought hand-made drums and instruments, crosses created from scraps of wood, or branches covered in new leaves. They joined a praise march that circled the new sanctuary three times.

Following a prayer of thanksgiving at the church doors, the people carried the celebration inside for a praise and worship service that lasted for hours.

The dedication of the new building that was constructed as part of the Samaritan's Purse Sudan Church Project followed themes of praise, prayer, and remembrance. It also served as a tribute to friends who were martyred for their faith.

Former Aber Pastor John Arik was murdered inside the original mud-walled church when Islamic troops invaded the village 25 years ago. A woman holding her newborn baby in her arms was forced to watch as soldiers executed her husband. Many others died that day when soldiers in tanks with automatic weapons raided Aber and burned the village and church to the ground.

The ceremony was also a time for reflecting on years of hiding in the rugged bush country of Sudan, always on the lookout for soldiers who were intent on killing Christians. Troops purposely patrolled the rugged countryside on Sundays, pausing to listen for sounds of singing and praise so they could discover and attack secret worship services. Many remember eating tree leaves and drinking dirty water to survive, but they never lost faith.

Most of all, the dedication service was a celebration of hope for the future of the community and the nation. Aber Church has become the center of community activity and a place where people can hear the Gospel and receive Christ as Savior.

“I tell people that I am not only happy because I have seen the building. I am happy because I have seen hope restored within the people,” Pastor Alapayo Kuctiel said. “And that is why now I’m very proud of seeing that a church of 50 people before the sanctuary was built now has 200 to 300 people.”

Pastor Kuctiel was also thankful that Aber Church is among more than 20 churches that are being rebuilt in villages through the Rumbek area. Believers in every village share a similar tear-filled past, but with the help of Samaritan’s Purse, they are being united to a future filled with promise.

In addition to rebuilding churches that were destroyed during the war, Samaritan’s Purse also is helping churches establish Bible study groups and providing training for young church leaders.

“I believe we will be working with Samaritan’s Purse until Jesus comes,” Pastor Kuctiel said with a large and gracious smile.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless the congregations that are being restored through the Sudan Church Project.

Join Hands with Believers in Sudan

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.

To support the Sudan Church Project, click here.

Samaritan's Purse , Sudan , Sudan Churches Project , From Persecution to Praise