Masalit encounter Gospel despite Darfur slaughter

A Western coalition has called on the United Nations to formally investigate atrocities in Sudan. The decision comes one week after a Reuters report revealed the scope of genocide underway in Darfur since fighting began in April.

“People are killed in their homes and the streets; women and girls are raped; hundreds of thousands are fleeing Sudan, and Arab fighters are scorning ethnic Africans as slaves. That has been going on for over a decade, but [one thing is] different now,” says John*, a Gospel worker focused on Sudan.

“Because of the war, there’s no restraint. There’s no effort by the government to present itself to the world as a civilized country.”

More than 100 of Sudan’s 570 tribes call the Darfur region “home.” “The Masalit, the third largest tribe in Darfur, has suffered more than any other people group in the country from the current war,” John says.

Yet hope remains. We cannot name John or his organisation for security reasons, but he says: “By God’s grace, we’ve seen Masalit come to the Lord in the last three years, and they’ve started a house church among the Masalit refugees.”

Although the Masalit are primarily Muslim, the Gospel is making inroads.

John says Masalit believers are “in the tens, not in the hundreds, but they are positioned with their people” as witnesses during this uncertain time.

“We know them [Masalit believers] personally; we train them. They have translated passages of Scripture and the JESUS Film in Masalit.”

As The Voice of the Martyrs USA explains, Sudan is one of the world’s most challenging places to know and follow Jesus. Yet the current crisis is giving believers unprecedented opportunities to share their faith.

“Because they (displaced Masalit people) are on the border, they’re away from the normal restraints” governing Sudan, John says.

Pray for healing and Gospel growth as the Masalit encounter the God of the Bible. Ask the Lord to comfort Masalit believers and give them strength to endure devastating loss.

“They’ve just lost everything. Their homes were burned, their families have been killed, and yet they stand in the middle of this [crisis] proclaiming and living out Christ Jesus. What a powerful thing,” John says.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:

>> Donate  >> Become a Super Subscriber

VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100

COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.