From the Call to the Plane: A Post About the Journey to Sudan

Written by: John Jefferson

Returning from a church planting mission to Southern Sudan in April of this year, I was shocked to read a New York Times Article by Nick Kristoff that graphically depicted the horrible situation and plight of the Nuba people of South Kordofan, Sudan.  Though I knew about the border wars and instability that followed the separation of the two Sudans in 2011, I didn’t quite grasp the impact on the Black African people groups left to fend for themselves north of the dividing line between the two countries.   It was apparent they were being intentionally starved by their government in a program of what can only be described as genocide. (In the case targeting a people because of their race, ethnicity and/or religious preference)  

 The credibility of the source led me to contact every missionary involved in Sudan ministry I knew from the past eight years, only to find out that yes, the report was true, and worse, no one was familiar with any plan to get food to the affected people.   

Worse still, the rainy season was fast approaching, and the likelihood of doing so was diminishing by the day.  The initial emails led to a conference call that included genocide scholars, human rights and political activists, short- and long-term missionaries and a pastor.  Soon, the group that was formed took on a sense of urgency about delivering both food aid and pressuring DC and the international community to act.   

The End Nuba Genocide project was born, and within less than three months; a substantial amount of money was raised to purchase food, significant contacts were made to ensure safe passage to deliver it, and a tenacious will to overcome the myriad of obstacles, human and natural, all with the goal of breaking the deadlock in getting some form of aid to the region.  Sitting on the charter plane en route to the refugee camp closer to the border, the call that started as a whisper was becoming louder and louder, such that many were hearing…finally.