Hope for Sudan: Phase 4

Things have been quiet over here for a while, as the story has been developing.

The Lord graciously allowed people from the Hope for Sudan team several opportunities to access this war-torn country. He has allowed our people here in the states to pray, and give, and tell about Sudan.

The last few years have been short window of peace, and we give all the glory to God for spurring us onward into it.  We saw His hands on everything. Orchestrating the first trip, the second, the third, and especially the 4th.

As news of more bombings and turmoil in Sudan have come out, our team began to see that window as closing.  We praised the Almighty God for His provision and guidance. We thanked Him for allowing men from our group to GO, to LOVE, and to SERVE the Sudanese while there was peace and access to the region.

However, the story did not end there. We were naive to think it would. God was not finished with us and he is most definitely not finished with the Sudanese people just yet.

The Lord did something beautiful, beginning with the stirring of John Jefferson's heart all the way through miraculous visa approvals and travel arrangements. In a matter of weeks, John was en route to what we had believed was a closed door, which was actually swung wide open. God mightily and sovereignly fed, clothed, and healed some of the Sudanese people on this last minute trip.

John will be telling the story of this 4th Phase of the project in 8 parts. We urge you to follow along with the beautiful telling of God's story in Sudan as we post here daily.

Preparing to Go

Written By: Jonathan Pham

“Bro, so a spot just opened up. Do you want to go?”

“What about the air fare?”

“Air fare and costs are taken care of.”

“Mind giving me some time? Give me till Monday”

“Alright”

That’s pretty much the convo in a nutshell between Dave and I concerning a return trip to Sudan. I had a fair gist of what was going on—our church was planning on sending a couple of guys who would initiate a humanitarian and spiritual outreach to the people of the Nuban Mountains. 

What I knew about the situation had been gathered from newspapers, blogs, and online videos summarizing what was going on for the past 2-3 years of genocide. What was captured in those images left me slightly disturbed—how and what would drive people to do such atrocious acts? I was glad that I was part of a body of believers who were compassionate and desired to act in response of evil. I was proud to pray and lift up those who were already supporting and financially support the cause.

However, the desire to actually go in person and to be the hands and feet of the church hadn’t manifested. Going back to Sudan hadn’t crossed my mind at all—hadn’t crossed my mind until the opportunity had been given. When I was told of the opportunity, I was both excited but reluctant. 

Is this what God really wants me to do? 

Am I being impulsive? 

What about things left back home? 

Am I well conditioned to perform the task ahead? 

The trip would take off in two weeks. This was happening so fast. Not wanting to make a rash decision, I asked for time to earnestly seek the Lord through prayer to ask Him for guidance. In my times of prayer, I started to realize that many of the things I believed disqualified me were really my own insecurities and relying on myself rather than upon Christ.  

One excuse was that I wasn’t physically fit enough to endure the strenuous demands of the trip—it is God who I should be relying for strength, do I believe He will provide it?  Another related fear was the fear of failure, and not being able to accomplish what we set out to do—God will accomplish what He ordained. 

Through prayer, God taught me that there really wasn’t any reason why I couldn’t go and that He has provided an awesome opportunity to serve Him—an opportunity that was not given to many Christians in America. My heart became excited at the thought of being used by God and the opportunity to see God actively move in a way that could be attributed to Him in this journey ahead.

In anxiety concerning danger, the Spirit spoke to me through Psalm 27 and Romans 8. 

Concerning my inadequacies in physically preparing for the trip, He spoke through Isaiah 40 and 1 Kings 18: 44-46. 

My mind was set. I was resolved to go, for the sake of Christ and His Bride.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6: 9-10

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.