Samuel Enosa Peni, the 5th Bishop of Yambio and Archbishop of the Internal Province of Western Equatoria, ECSS, travelled to Washington, DC in early October for a meeting of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation on Unity and Mission. He plans to celebrate on April 11, 2025 the 100th anniversary of the diocese of Yambio, whose cathedral is the oldest church building in the Sudans. Peni recently led a three-day revival, along with an evangelist from a Pentecostal church, challenging witchdoctors and those who continue to trust in them.
Author: AmerFriendSudan
New Primary School Completes its First Year in the Diocese of Wau
by Susan Virginia Mead
Photo: Students and staff celebrate the launch of their newly constructed primary school in the Diocese of Wau, part of the Internal Province of Northern Bahr al-Ghazal, in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan.
Launched in February 2024 through the efforts of Gabriel Turich Dak, a former South Sudanese refugee educated in Kenya, the Kelly Hope Academy completed its first year November 8th. Beginning with 172 primary-level students, Dak recruited teachers among other returnees from Uganda. Speaking at the Grand Launch was Dr. Clive Kelly, a physician from the U.K. and primary benefactor of the school, which is also supported by Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, Virginia. More at wau.anglican.org
Sudan: the nation with the world’s largest population of internally displaced persons
by Thomas H. Staal
While heads of state, including General al-Burhan of Sudan, were in New York in late September attending the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced nearly $424 million in additional humanitarian assistance for people in need in Sudan and in neighboring refugee-hosting countries.
The war in Sudan has become the largest humanitarian disaster in the world. More people need food aid and stand on the brink of starvation in Sudan than in all other disasters in today’s world combined. The Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNet) of USAID shows close to 25 million Sudanese in need of humanitarian assistance. A large proportion are classified in the two highest need categories: Famine and Emergency.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimates that there have been 400,000 “excess deaths” per year due to the war in Sudan. Excess deaths are caused by direct war injuries, disease, and starvation. That means that there have likely been 600,000 deaths due to the war since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023.
The warring parties show no interest in halting the fighting. They dishonor ceasefire commitments they made in 2023, and not even agreed to attend ceasefire talks this year. The two leaders — Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) leader Gen. al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Hemedti — have no real incentive to stop fighting. They would likely be either jailed or assassinated if and when the fighting ends. So the war continues, with serious human rights abuses being committed across most of the country, by both sides.
Sacks of sorghum flour await difficult delivery to hungry people Sudan.
Both warring parties actively and consistently disrupt and restrict humanitarian assistance to needy people. Active fighting in many locations has caused all international organizations to withdraw international staff from all but a few areas under the SAF control on the east side of the country. Where local staff remain, of both local and international organizations, they face harassment, bureaucratic restrictions, and physical abuse, including death.
When aid is delivered, it is often looted, or stolen by the warring parties. Some success has been achieved by providing financial transfers through Starlink to community-level groups, enabling them to purchase food or other supplies from the local market. Those supplies are very limited, and those groups are often harassed by the warring parties and their funds taxed or stolen.
Tom Staal
Director’s Update: November 2024
Severe flooding has covered forty counties in South Sudan, affecting almost one million people. In Juba, President Salva Kiir signed into law a South Sudan Truth Commission and a Compensation & Reparation Authority, but he has not created the promised hybrid Criminal Court to investigate South Sudan war crimes.
War continues in Sudan — particularly severe in Gezira State since October, plus a seven-month siege of the city of El Fasher in Darfur which could end at any time with the city falling to General Mohamed “Hemedti” Hamdan Dagalo’s Rapid Support Force. I am distressed by the report that in Khartoum the RSF has turned its guns on those staffing the “emergency response rooms”, which have been providing one meal per day for starving people. There are no indications of serious peace talks in the offing, as the Biden Administration winds down.
Scrolling down, you can read details of Sudan’s humanitarian disaster from my friend Thomas H. Staal, a retired Counselor in the U. S. Agency for International Development, who recently returned to the U.S. after three months in Nairobi directing relief efforts in Sudan.
A Report from the Episcopal Church of Sudan
AFRECS recently received via the Church Association of South Sudan and Sudan in the UK a report from Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo, Primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan. We hasten to share this slightly edited version with you. Even in a country torn apart by war between two military groups, where the number of displaced is the largest in the world, courageous Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo, the provincial staff, bishops, the Mothers Union, and parishioners are struggling to support the Christians and non-Christians they are able to reach.
Three factors affect the Sudanese people since the war started in April 2023: bullets, hunger, sickness.
Due to the generous financial help from our partners in the UK and other parts of the world, the Episcopal Church of Sudan with its people have survived and continue to operational even where the war is ongoing (Khartoum, Wad Medani, El Obeid, Darfur and Kadugli town).
Since July 2023 the Episcopal Church of Sudan has sent funds to its five Dioceses so that people are given relief food each month or each two months.
Below are the highlights of food distribution to the people January to June 2024.
Diocese of Khartoum
One of the 33 Parishes in the Diocese of Khartoum receiving small bag of food items
Thirty-three parishes of about four thousand people, including non-church goers, benefited from food distribution within the Diocese of Khartoum. The Diocese covers greater Khartoum
(Omdurman, Khartoum and Khartoum North), Northern Sudan (Dongula) and River Nile State (Atabra). Most of pastors are still with the people though few have left to safer parts of Sudan or neighbouring Countries.
Stories from beneficiaries:
“Thank you, Archbishop and your team, for helping us to survive. Please pass on our appreciation to our friends abroad”, Pastor Abrahim Nugara in telephone call.
“We thank God for you for keeping us in your prayers and support”, Randa, secretary to the Mothers Union.
Part of food distribution items in the Diocese of Khartoum
Diocese of Kadugli
There are 4 parishes functioning. Kadugli town has been under siege for many months now. Now nobody goes out or comes in, there is no food coming in. Many people have left the town to find something to eat. The area of the Nuba Mountains has been declared a “Hunger Zone” by the SPLA/N movement, which defends it, while the government claims otherwise. It has been reported people eat tree leaves in order to survive!
Diocese of El Obeid
The Diocese of El Obeid, which covers North Kordofan and greater Darfur, is one of the biggest in size. El Obeid town has been besieged just like Kadugli for several months, while Darfur has been bleeding since the war began mid-April 2023. There are 4 major Churches in the Diocese and church centres. Bishop Ismail and Muslim Imams have joined hands to support those who in need by distributing relief food. The people are so pleased to see co-existence between Christians and Muslims.
Diocese of Port Sudan
The Diocese covers three Government States of Eastern Sudan (Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref).
There are 8 Parishes in this Diocese not counting the church centres. This Diocese, which now hosts the Provincial office, is considered to be the safest in Sudan. As a result it hosts many displaced people.
Diocese of Wad Medani
(pic) People & dishes
This Diocese covers 4 States (Gazira, Blue Nile, White Nile and Sinnar). It consists of 13 main parishes beside many centres. December 2023 Gazira was taken over by the Rapid Support Forces, and most of the people fled from the area including the pastors and the bishop. Bishop Saman now has relocated to Damazin which is part of the Diocese. He and his team are supporting the people with food distribution in Fao, Kosti and Damazin where majority of people took refuge.
Dioceses of Kadugli and Heiban (Nuba Mountains)
The two (2) Dioceses of Kadugli and Heiban in the Nuba Mountains have not been part of this food
distributions support due to their special locations. Recently, the SPLA/N authorities have declared the area “hunger Zone”. This is because of last year’s poor harvest due to inadequate rain fall. The Province is planning to include these two Dioceses with relief food support should extra funds are found.
Once again, I hope that our friends and partners will continue with the same spirit in supporting our efforts to alleviating the suffering of our people in the Sudan.
To God be the glory.
Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan
September 2024
Communique from Church Association for Sudan and South Sudan
From: CASSS
To: Sudan Church Message Group
Subject: PRAY FOR SUDAN – month 17
It’s hard to imagine, but life in Sudan just gets worse, immersed in the tragedy of war and its endless sorrows. Coptic Bishop Sarabamon of Omdurman and northern Sudan says the war in Sudan is “a story of pain, suffering and innocent blood shed every day. Everyone suffers and wants an end to the war, but we do not have the tools to achieve it.” A leader of Taqaddum, the Sudanese democratic people’s group seeking peace, has accused the two warring Generals of pursuing a zero-sum path to more destruction and suffering. “You do not feel the people’s pain, but rather laugh above this rubble that you have created.”
In many areas, people in Sudan are resorting to desperate measures like eating grass and wild leaves just to survive. In one community near El Fashir, the situation is so bad that famine has been declared. And it’s spreading.
International humanitarian law rests on the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires that in warfare, “persons taking no active part in the hostilities … shall in all circumstances be treated humanely.” That’s not happening in Sudan. Mutual acknowledgement of the need to protect innocent life could open a door to solving what is one of the world’s gravest crises. If the Generals would commit to respect and protect civilians, they couldn’t go on as they have, doing whatever they want.
The Economist magazine features serious, careful journalism and opinion. The 31st August issue has three articles on Sudan, giving an in depth assessment. They describe the human tragedy but also the geo-politics around the war, and how if not dealt with this war will have far reaching consequences. “The world has responded to Sudan’s war with neglect and fatalism, showing how disorder is becoming normalised.” “It is a grave mistake for the outside world to ignore Sudan, on grounds of both morality and self-interest. And it is wrong to imagine that nothing can be done.”
What can we, little people, do? We can be faithful in prayer, and we can give, and we can lobby the government to get engaged with the problem. Our Church Association is not an aid organisation and cannot work at the scale the situation needs, but World Vision comments that our funding of what the Episcopal Church is doing is effective:
“Cash transfers are often the most cost-efficient way for delivering aid because it reduces logistical costs and waste, ensuring resources go directly to those in need when markets are functioning. Cash assistance empowers families with a sense of dignity by allowing them to prioritise what they need most and helps stimulate local economies which is critical for long-term recovery.”
We can feel overwhelmed by the enormity of global suffering, but we know that “even a cup of cold water” has significance (Mt 10:42). Whether it is donating to relief efforts, advocating for policy change or simply praying fervently, each of us has a role to play in alleviating human suffering. Let us act with compassion. Let us enlarge our hearts and share our resources with those in need, demonstrating the love of Christ through our actions.
Attached is a new news sheet. Please circulate it to anyone who will pray for Sudan and the church members caught up in dire circumstances. Also attached a Prayer for Sudan that could be printed out and put out in pews in your church.
Also attached for wider reading, two of the articles from the Economist 31-08 edition. On sale now in newsagents at £10, this issue has a black cover with the word SUDAN prominently featured. The briefing article forecasts 2 million will die in Sudan this year from malnutrition. 2 million this year: more next. The third article (not attached) expands on the geo-politics that is touched on in the editorial.
The Economist: Sudan Editorial
For those interested, I’ve also attached part of the interview with Juma Idris.
Main thing is – please stay committed to the Sudan church and use the news sheet if you can to get the interest of others.
Yours
John
Crisis in Sudan Calls for Prayer and Pressure, say Bishops and Deputies
On June 28 in Louisville, Kentucky, before closing the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church, the deputies and bishops authorized our Washington office to advocate for US government efforts to persuade countries supporting the combatants in Sudan to cease supplying arms, equipment, and funds. They called also for high-level diplomacy to mobilize from many countries the funds and equipment needed to relieve the impending famine, restore medical care, and reconstruct Sudan.
Resolution: Response to the crisis in Sudan and support for the Episcopal Church of Sudan
AFRECS Board members, testifying before the joint legislative committee on World Mission, offered first-hand testimony from His Grace Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo, recorded during a BBC interview in April 2023 while he hid with a dozen Sudanese Christians as the Khartoum Cathedral was being overrun. Kondo’s closing words, as flying bullets could be heard in the background, were inspiring: “Nobody knows how and when this situation will come to an end. There is so much fear among the Sudanese people…. I thought about the boat, the disciples and Jesus. The disciples cried out ‘Don’t you care that we are about to die?’ And Jesus wakes up and commanded the wind to be quiet and be still. And it was. I believe God is able to do and does things. And this is the whole hope that we have. That [for] this sinking boat the waves and the wind will die out.”
The Presiding Bishop was asked to encourage donations to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans (AFRECS) to aid in this effort.
The resolution submitted by former AFRECS Board member Russell V. Randle, current Board member Susan E. Bentley, and Diocese of Virginia lay Deputy Cindi Bartol requested the Presiding Bishop to designate a season of prayer for Sudan later this year by our dioceses, congregations, clergy, and people.
The Right Reverend Sean Rowe, elected Presiding Bishop at the convention in Louisville, will take office on November 2, succeeding the Right Reverend Michael Bruce Curry.
Marc Nikkel Remembered September 8th
Grace Episcopal Church in Lexington, Virginia will hold its annual celebration of the life of Marc R. Nikkel (1950-2000) on September 8. Nikkel was ordained in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia by Bishop Heath Light , supported by the Church Mission Society of the UK, and served for 20 years as a teacher in the Episcopal Church of Sudan. His letters from Sudan (Why Haven’t You Left?, edited by Grant LeMarquand, available at churchpublishing.org) have inspired many.
Sightings in the Diaspora
Photo: Gathering at the AFRECS exhibit at the Louisville General Convention were (L to R) Archbishop Hilary Garang of South Sudan; Joseph P. Alaak of the Diocese of Nebraska; Dorothea Brooks, member of the Standing Commission on World Mission; Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion; Anderial Lual of the Diocese of Arizona; and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Capetown and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Three Sudanese rectors of Sudanese congregations in the United States were active at the recent Louisville Convention. The Reverend Agook Akuol serves a South Sudanese congregation in Houston, Texas. The Reverend Anderia Lual serves the congregation of St. Paul the Apostle in Phoenix. Arizona. Joseph P. Alaak, a graduate of Virginia Seminary serving as Assisting Cleric/Sudan Missioner at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church in Papillion, a suburb of Omaha, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop J. Scott Baker on August 16. Deacon Daniel Kuol assists at Messiah Trinity Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
Elsewhere, The Rev. Zachariah Jok Char and Deacon Abraham Muong Anei lead worship in English on the first Sunday and Dinka on the other Sundays of the month in Sudanese Grace Episcopal Church’s own building in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jacob Deng Aleer is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood August 31 at St. Andrew’s Church in Des Moines by Bishop Betsey Monnot of Iowa. The Reverend Kwathi Akol Ajawin, pastor of the African Sudanese congregation at Cornerstone Free Evangelical Church in Annandale, Virginia, plans to visit Sudanese congregations in Melbourne, Australia in the month of September. John Thon Majok directs the Refugee and Forced Displacement Initiative at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.
Artist Archbishop from South Sudan Shares Hope
Photo: Hilary Garang Deng, a retired Archbishop in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, shares with AFRECS leaders (L to R) Steven Miles, Anita Sanborn, and Dane Smith an artistic creation he made while visiting the General Convention in Louisville.
In the congested bazaar of the Louisville General Convention, a lanky African in a black suit and purple shirt attracted browsing visitors June 24-26 while he sat drawing with oil pastel crayons. Hilary Garang Deng, head of the art department at the University of Juba and retired bishop of Malakal in South Sudan, embraced old friends and invited strangers to pray for peace in their own hearts and for healing of the war-ravaged Sudans.
AFRECS Board Member Steven Miles said he was moved by Archbishop Hilary’s work as it expressed, in Steven’s words, “a re-creation, a spiritual expression of our Risen Lord as expressed by the empty Cross and the dazzling sunrise in the background.”