Sudanese Christians Detained, Tortured for Their Faith

Join us at PrayerWall.pw for the International Day for the Unreached May 19.

More than a year of brutal war in 92% Muslim Sudan has left nearly 15,000 people dead and displaced about eight million people. Although both warring sides are Muslim, persecution of Christians has persisted in the nation ranked among the top ten most dangerous countries. At least five church buildings have been burned by Islamic extremists, and Christians fleeing the war have endured beatings from both Muslim militants and fellow refugees.

In January, Rapid Support Forces looted Hidar Al Amin‘s home in Omdurman, stealing all he had, and then shot and killed the member of the Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) for his Christian faith. Two days later, they beat a Christian merchant, Al Thahir Kafi, unconscious in the same town. Yet another member of SPEC, Karbino Bla, died at the hand of RSF militants earlier that month in Wad Medani. (Morning Star News, January 26)

“You have messed up this country with your Bible,” accused a Muslim soldier as he beat Hamza Haroon Ahmed with a stick, breaking his hand, “and you are still going to Darfur to cause more confusion among the people.” Hamza and two other refugees newly converted from Islam had attempted to re-enter Sudan from South Sudan in order to rescue their families from the war. At a checkpoint in East Darfur State, a soldier discovered an Arabic Bible in Hamza’s bag, and threw all three Christians in Khartoum’s Soba Prison, where they endured torture for weeks. Praise God, they have recently been released. (MSN, April 30)

Fatima Adam and her husband fled Sudan together with all of their children, with the exception of their 22-year-old son, who is still missing. Shortly after the Muslim couple’s arrival at a refugee camp in South Sudan, two of their babies died due to lack of food and inadequate medical care. But a few weeks later, Christians ministering at the camp shared the gospel with Fatima and she believed. When her husband found out, he beat her with a metal rod and threatened to kill her if she didn’t return to Islam. (MSN, April 17)

At Wedwiel Refugee Camp just across the Sudan border in South Sudan, Hawa Ismail Abdalla, a mother of seven, sustained head injuries when her Muslim husband beat her upon discovering her Christian faith. “Why did you believe in Issa (Jesus)? You are an infidel,” he said, even as she forgave him.

An estimated 2,000 displaced Sudanese are now converts from Islam. Many of these, like Hawa and Fatima, have come to faith while in displacement/refugee camps. But lack of food and medical care may drive their families back into war-torn Sudan. (MSN, February 14)

Rev. Antar Abbas Abu Hidiaa, general secretary of the Sudanese Church of Christ, was traveling to a denominational assembly in Shendi last month, when he was detained by RSF and incarcerated in Khartoum’s Soba Prison. No reason was given for his arrest, and he was released a few days later without paying the required ransom. (MSN, April 16)

Lord, thank You for these who have been released from prison. Please comfort the families of Hidar and Karbino in their terrible loss. Heal Al Thahir, Hamza, Fatima, Hawa, and all other persecuted Christians from their injuries. Restore their strength and give them courage to forgive their persecutors, as Hawa has. Please help Fatima find her missing son, and bring that whole family to faith in You. Bring to justice those who rape, torture and kill. Replace lies with Truth, hatred with a desire for Love so strong extremists will lay down their weapons, repent and seek Your salvation. Give all Muslims a craving for a better way, for salvation, for a God who loves, heals and restores, for a nation that blesses its people, rather than destroying them. Meet Muslims in their dreams and give them visions of You. Open their hearts to Truth and give them courage to lay down their traditions to follow Christ. Lift the veil from their eyes so they will see You as You truly are. Be a Shield around every Christian, protecting them from harm and bringing their families to safety. Provide for all their needs and bring Christian pastors and aid workers to them and to the lost to bring healing and share the gospel. Make Your people a beacon of light in the midst of so much darkness, shining the way to salvation and eternal life, and showing the lost abundant love, joy and peace that can be ours in Christ, even in such tragedy. For those who have witnessed and endured terrible torture and abuse, please heal their hearts and minds. Be merciful to them, O Father. Set them free from nightmares, panic and fear. Plant deep within them faith, hope and love so fierce, fear must flee. Topple every lie with Your truth and save lost Muslims by the thousands. Make a way for the Bible to be translated into the languages of all 141 people groups yet unreached with the gospel. Multiply Your church and awaken every mind and heart to You. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Don’t miss a day of prayer. Be an integral part of seeing the nations come to Christ. Enter your email address below to get free daily prayer guides delivered to your inbox in time for your morning quiet times with the Lord:

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through a donation, or by shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, click the buttons below:

For a free guide to knowing God’s voice, as well as Dare to be a Mighty Warrior and other powerful devotional Bible studies for all ages on walking as one with Christ and defeating the enemy, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him.

Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please contact Mikaela.