“His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5, The Living Bible).
Recent news from Sudan has focused on the ongoing civil war that began in April of 2023. This is a war between two armies – each led by a general who wants absolute control of the country, its people, and its resources.
Half of the country’s 48 million people face severe food shortages. In October, the NY Times described how the war has created a famine that is “…one of the worst in world history.” Many Sudanese have been displaced, murdered, and raped by troops from both armies. Each side points to the other as the perpetrator.
And yet the world’s leaders stand by and do nothing, or they exploit the situation for their own advantage.
But the most important story about Sudan is not reported in the media.
Borrowing from the Apostle John’s bold claim about Jesus in John 1:5, there is a bright light in Sudan that is shining through the darkness of war and famine and is not about to be extinguished. This light shines in the Nuba Mountains because Jesus is present there in a growing band of disciples in the Nuba Mountains. It is in this place – with these people – that Pax Dei for Nuba has built a thriving partnership with the Anglican Diocese of Kadugli.
Just this week I returned from a two week trip to visit our partners.
One thing is very clear: God is on the move in the Nuba Mountains! The faith of His people is strong. The church is growing by leaps and bounds. Thousands have come to Christ – leaving behind tribal superstitions and militant Islamic teaching. Areas formerly closed to Christians by radical Islamists are now opening up. Leaders in those areas have invited the Diocese of Kadugli to bring the faith of Jesus into their communities. Churches have been planted, schools re-established, and food provided by Christians who themselves have so little.
Let me highlight a few things that I saw while visiting there.
Grace Christian Secondary School has moved onto its new 80-acre campus. Over 360 students attend (some walking 6 hours from home to attend classes each week). In 2023 the entire graduating class scored passing marks on the national exam. We have high hopes for the 60+ seniors in this year’s class. Grants from Pax Dei for Nuba have helped Grace grow from 30 students meeting in grass huts in 2020 to a successful school on a new 80-acre campus built with funds from Relay Trust and Anglican Aid Australia. We will continue to support this school in 2025.
- Bishop Andudu and I led a two-day Partnership Building Workshop. This workshop focused on mutual support, accountability, and communications between the Diocese and Pax Dei for Nuba. It was attended by 31 members of the Diocese Leadership Team. This workshop was critical for building operating capacity in the Diocese and for assuring accountability and clear, timely communications with Pax Dei for Nuba in those projects we sponsor.
In Tobo county, the largest and most remote county in the Nuba Mountains, we visited the Al Buram refugee camp, which contains more than 56,000 people who have fled there from the civil war. For the past six decades, the Christian faith had been silenced here, churches burned, and schools repurposed for Islamic indoctrination. But in the past 18 months, county leaders have asked the Diocese of Kadugli to help them deal with tribal conflict through peace-building workshops that Pax Dei for Nuba sponsors. They even donated a large plot of land for the Diocese to establish schools and a church. Pax Dei for Nuba grants sponsor the peace-building efforts, evangelist outreach, and humanitarian support in this remote place. Through these efforts, many are coming to faith.
The Christians in the Nuba Mountains do not run from the crisis in Sudan. Instead, they turn toward that crisis and toward the people who are suffering at the hands of leaders who want to be the “Lords of Sudan.”
When I spoke before another large crowd at a worship service on November 24, I told them that they are the great hope for Sudan because they know something that the fighting generals don’t know. They understand that those generals are not the Lords of Sudan – Jesus is.
When I said “Jesus is Lord,” the entire crowd of 1500 people stood up, started cheering, beating drums, and singing. It made my skin tingle!
Yes, indeed – Jesus is Lord, and the Christians in the Nuba Mountains live by that reality every day.
Pax Dei for Nuba needs your support to meet our year-end goals. Your gift will help us continue our work in 2025. With the Diocese of Kadugli, we will be able to educate young people at Grace School, bring education, peace, and the gospel to Tobo County, and develop leaders across the region.
Your prayers and financial support for this work have been invaluable to sustaining and growing this vibrant partnership between Christians in the U.S. and those in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains.
Would you consider making a year-end contribution to continue this work?
Thank you for all you have already done. May God bless you in this season of Advent as we all await the renewal of all things through Jesus, Lord of all!
On behalf of the Pax Dei for Nuba Board and the Nuba People,
Mike Deaton
President, Pax Dei for Nuba
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Pax Dei for Nuba
Pax Dei for Nuba is a 501c3 organization. All donations are tax deductible. Pax Dei for Nuba is accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and is a member of Anglican Global Mission Partners.