Horrific images and videos have emerged this week of mass killings in el-Fashir, North Darfur State’s capital, after an 18-month long siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary force formerly operated by the government of Sudan. The latest violence has put the war in Sudan on the world stage, but the conflict has been raging for more than two years now with no end in sight.
Here are 10 things you can pray for Sudan and the Sudanese Church
1. Pray for a swift and peaceful end to the war. From a human perspective, it seems like an end to the civil war that began on 15 April 2023 is impossible. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces, as they vie to control parts of the country and its natural resources, has turned civilians into chess pieces. There have been several efforts to broker peace, but they have all failed. Pray for world leaders to make every effort to bring the SAF and RSF to the table and find a peaceful resolution. “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14
2. Pray for the millions displaced, in and outside of Sudan, because of the war. Most civilians have been displaced several times as they flee the fighting. The country represents the largest and fastest displacement crisis in the world with nearly 12 million inside the country and more than four million refugees in Chad, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Egypt. Pray that the displaced will find safety and provision where they are and that every effort will be made to ensure they are protected from further violence.
3. Pray that lifesaving relief aid will reach people. Sudan is the world’s worst humanitarian and hunger crisis right now with more than 30 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Both warring sides continue to restrict aid agencies’ access to the starving. Pray for God to bring relief through various means to the millions who are caught in hunger. “Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from ash heap.” Psalm 113:5-7
4. Pray for God to comfort and emotionally and spiritually restore the traumatised. The Sudanese people have witnessed and experienced horrific acts at the hands of the SAF and RSF, from sexual and physical violence, to torture and executions. Even just fleeing the insecurity has emotionally wounded millions of people. Pray that all those who are hurting in various ways will meet the Saviour who knows their pain and offers complete healing so the violence will not repeat itself in generations to come.
5. Pray for God’s wisdom and protection of the Sudanese Church. The Church is an unwanted minority, making up only 4% of the country and faces an additional layer of persecution by the SAF and RSF who are both followers of Islam. In addition, they are marginalised wherever they flee to. Despite this, many church leaders have told us that they want the Church to be present in Sudan and continue with the Great Commission. Pray God grants the Church wisdom and strength to persevere through this. Pray that the Church will be salt and light wherever they are and that because of their faith, many will hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
6. Pray for Sudanese people to meet Jesus in this situation. Sudan is a Muslim majority country with 92.2% being adherents of Islam. Pray that, in all this, many will turn in repentance to Jesus Christ and accept Him as their personal Saviour who paid for their sins. Pray they will find Christians and a church that can disciple them well and support them in their walk with Jesus.
7. Pray that God will protect all women and children who are vulnerable to sexual violence. Shocking reports reveal that women, girls, and even children under the age of five have experienced sexual violence. This type of violence is used as a weapon of war to terrify and purposefully traumatise civilians. Pray For God to bring complete healing to every Sudanese individual who has experienced sexual violence; pray it will not leave lasting scars and that they will know they are valuable, each made in the image of God. “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
8. Pray for boys and men who are either killed or forced into fighting with either the SAF or RSF. Civilian men and boys are not spared in any way in this conflict. They are often the first to be killed in the fighting, and boys also face sexual violence. Pray for God to protect them, not only physically, but also emotionally.
9. Pray for General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the SAF, and General Mohamed Dagalo (Hemedti) the RSF leader. Pray for God’s Spirit to work in the hearts and minds of these leaders so that they seek peace and justice. Pray for their repentance, that they will use their power to serve people and not their own interests.
10. Pray for justice to be administered swifty and transparently where there have been clear violations of human rights like in el-Fashir. Both warring parties have been found to have violated human rights in this war, but the systematic and mass killing in el-Fashir this week only highlights how shocking the injustice and treatment of civilians is in this fighting. Pray that perpetrators will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. May the perpetrators also be humbled and repentant knowing that they are ultimately responsible before God for their actions. “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
