The Persecuted Church Of Sudan
Date
2001-02
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Tangaza University College
Abstract
When I started to go deeper to understand better the problems of the Sudanese
Church and the Islamic government of Khartoum, I wasjuzzled by the discriminations
taking place in the Sudan. I stayed with the Sudanese Christian Communities in the
northern Sudan-Khartoum, in the refugee camps in Kenya and Uganda experiencing
the hard life poverty, diseases, famine and other difficulties Christian have from the
hands of the Muslims. The atmosphere I lived in was all about questions, why are all
these persecutions done to the Sudanese Christians and when shall the Sudanese be
free? The Church in Sudan remains a Church of consolation and hope to its people.
The Christian community in Sudan lives in its communities by teaching, communal life,
sharing the joy and the sufferings, helping one another, celebrations and prayers like the
early Christian community (Acts 2:42-47). Seeing and experiencing all that the
Sudanese have undergone while their faith unites them inspired me to choose this topic,
"The Persecuted Church in the Sudan": the present challenges in the Christian
communities in the Islamic state. This long essay has been the chance for me to
research more for my future work in the evangelization and missionary work in the
Sudan or wherever I might work world-wide.
From my present way of thinking in this long essay, I want to look at some of
the questions that can help me answer the problems of the Sudanese Churches between
Christians and Muslims, for example: What is the cause of the war between Muslims
and Christians? What can the Church do to encounter and to overcome these challenges
and difficulties? Are the other Christian denominations in the world relevant to solve
the Church crisis in the Sudan? These questions are to help and accompany me work the theme of "The Persecuted Christian Religion in Sudan".
For more than forty years Sudan has been experiencing civil wars, which have
caused untold suffering for thousands of people. During these civil wars which have
continued from the very moment of the country's independence in 1956, the Christian
religion has suffered the blows and effects of the wars. 11tis is because, the Christian
religion has spearheaded the move to preach about the social injustices effected by the
Islamic religion. So without any prejudices the Church in the Sudan is persecuted on
religious grounds. The Church's problem in the Sudan I shall present in this long essay,
to show how the Church has been discriminated by the Islamic government of
Khartoum, especially the Christians in the South Sudan. The Muslims prevented the
Christians from worshipping God fully and from continuing with Christian
evangelization, actions which are meant to categorize them as the second class citizens.
In addition, the Islamic government oppresses their fellow Muslim tribes of the Beja
Arabs, the Adandawa tribe, and the tribes in the Eastern Sudan from becoming
Christians.
The Objective of this long essay is to present the main challenges of the
Christian Churches in the war areas in the Sudan, to reflect on some of the notorious of
biblical suffering, the Church teachings and the theological aspect of the Church's
evangelization.
In the first chapter I shall present the history of the Christian Church in the
Sudan, its origin and how it has continued to be persecuted by the Muslims under the
Islamic laws. The second part of Chapter One, I will present the growth of the
Christian Church through evangelization and martyrdom.
In the second chapter, first part, I shall look on the use of the evangelization through the use of language translations and how they are a help in any process of
evangelization in the South Sudan. The second part of chapter two, focuses on agents
to the evangelization and the challenges the Christian Church faces in the formation of
priests, laity and pastors. Also the question of the Christian refugees in exile will be
discussed, especially the help given to the people by the Church leaders.
While in the third and final chapter, which is "The Christians and Muslims
Inter-Religious, I will focus on the Christian-Muslim Initiative to solving the country's
religious crisis through "Dialogue", Inter-Religious dialogue as an act to know and to
understand the exercise of religious freedom. This is the result arising from the
necessity of dialogue for bringing peace and unity among the Sudanese communities. In
the second part there is a reflection on the Sudanese women the initiatives of Muslims
and Christians contributing to bring about justice and peace through the formation of
women associations, such as the WAG (Women Association Group-Khartoum) and
SWAN (Sudanese Women Association in Nairobi).
I hope this long essay will be a benefit to the readers, especially those
missionaries who want to research more work with the persecuted of the Sudanese
Churches. This text is also a key to understanding the Christian life in the period of
hardships in African Christian Churches.
Description
Keywords
Church, Sudan, Persecuted, Evangelization, Christian