Help Rebuild Southern Sudan

“Sudan will quickly stretch out her hands to God” (Psalms 68:31)¹

More than 20 years of constant war has devastated Southern Sudan’s infrastructure. Over 5 million people were displaced throughout the country or living in refugee camps in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Within the Upper Nile and Southern Blue Nile States of Sudan in particular, where SIM and its Christian, faith based partner group efforts are focused, conditions are among the worst – because this region represented the front lines across which fighting was most fierce and devastating. Roads, schools, churches, hospitals and clinics were all destroyed there.

On January 9, 2005, Africa’s longest running civil war ended with the signing of a historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Islamic Northern government of Sudan and the nominally Christian or animist Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. God is merciful and answered the Sudanese prayer as well as prayers of many Christians around the world. Over two million people have died due to war, genocide and famine.

Recent UNICEF surveys have shown the “enormously high prevalence of common diseases …like malaria, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections. Children are almost constantly ill and malnutrition remains a major problem.” UNICEF further estimates that, in Southern Sudan “one out of every four children will die before the age of five” from preventable diseases, one of the highest child mortality rates in the world today. “Maternal mortality is astronomically high and access to health services, education, and clean water is minimal.” A young girl is more likely of dying during pregnancy or in childbirth than she is to complete her primary school education, as only one in 100 girls finishes primary school. Today, less than 20% of boys and 15% of girls of school age of are in schools in South Sudan.

Currently, there are only about 6000-8000 primary school teachers in all of Southern Sudan, and out of these less than 40% have attended some kind of teacher training courses. Most of these primary school teachers did not finish more than grade three to five themselves. With the coming of peace, children of Southern Sudan, and adults, are eager to learn.

The Opportunity: So now the clock is ticking. For the first time in a generation, Christian missionaries can work within this region again, churches can be established, the gospel preached, children provided education, and hospitals and clinics can provide health services. SIM has taken the lead in Upper Nile and Southern Blue Nile States to provide a Christian-led ministry to this region’s children and adults.² Five Basic Education Centers (BELCs) have been initiated in 2006, each to provide primary training for a group of about 20 surrounding villages (because there are no other schools), a lab training school or primary education teachers, and accelerated learning programs for local adults who have missed their chance for any education – with adult literacy and other life skills training. For Church building, teacher trainees will also be taught evangelism and church planting, discipleship of believers, and church leadership courses. Each training center will provide evening classes on evangelization, discipleship, and church leadership courses.

The Challenge: The need is almost overwhelming; the window of opportunity may be very small! The Christian Church needs to respond quickly! God is calling His people together to meet this challenge and He will not disappoint His people in this country. Are WE ready to do our part? As Nehemiah invites the Israelites to rebuild the ruined Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:17), we can help join hands in rebuilding a small part of Southern Sudan. Many Sudanese are our Christian brothers and sisters. We have been asked to come—like a “Macedonian” call (Acts 16:9). If we Christians remain silent in such an opening and welcoming time as this, relief and rebuilding of Southern Sudan will come from somewhere else. We don’t want to see Christianity overrun by the spread of Islam in many parts of Southern Sudan (Esther 4:14).

What can you do? Sharing Hope International has accepted the challenge to provide support towards one BELC, located in a village called Abwong, near Malakal, in Eastern Southern Sudan near Ethiopian border. We seek partners to meet the needs of at least this one center for the next three years. We have begun to develop a special relationship with the people of this Learning Center.

One Nigerian couple (Emmanuel & Aisha) and one Ethiopian couple (Hezehiah & Fireheywit) were placed in Abwong in April 2006 after a period of orientation in Nairobi, Kenya, to run each Center; their financial support comes from their own sending churches in Ethiopia or Nigeria. SIM, in concert with support such as our own, provides the infrastructure and basic operating expenses that are needed each year to support the training. The training centers will be turned over to the local church soon after 2010.

You can become engaged in a several specific ways.

(1) Nothing can be accomplished without God’s leadership and provision, so first of all, each of us can pray for Southern Sudan’s Christians - that their daily needs will be met, and that God’s purpose for them in these difficult days will be accomplished through His Church. Remember Hezekiah & Fireheywit, Emmanuel & Aisha, and Peter in Abwong.

(2) Give to one or other of the many listed needs (see Development and Operations Budget Lines ). If you feel called by God to either fully or partially support one of these, please make your intention known by signing up. Your payment can be made to Sharing Hope International, designated Southern Sudaan BELC at Abwong.

(3). If you would be willing to go to help in some aspect of the teaching, training, and Christian ministry there, communicate your interest to Sharing Hope. English will be the language of communication – but it IS a tough and challenging environment to work in.

Individuals interested in volunteering, providing financial support or seeking additional information, contact Sharing Hope International now. Consider organizing a group of friends or a church group to join us in standing behind this activity.