A message from Russ Randle to

Christ Church and Diocese of Virginia Sudan Prayer Groups

March 29, 2011

Thank you for praying for our brothers and sisters in Sudan, and for peace and justice as South Sudan begins to separate from Sudan. This provides today’s update. - Russ

Prayer Requests For: 

Safe travel for Bishop Ezekiel Kondo, Bishop of Khartoum, coming to the United States to visit the Carter Center and from there to Washington.

Wisdom for those negotiating the separation of South Sudan from Sudan

Avoidance of bloodshed in that separation and as tens of thousands return to their ancestral homes 

Additional funding sources for the Dinka Bible translation

Bible Verses for March 29:

So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands. -Psalms78:7

Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. 1 Cor. 15:58.

Today I spoke at length with Bishop Joseph, who reported that Renk continues to be peaceful, that the clinic Christ Church helps support is well-stocked with medicine for the time being because of Christ Church’s Christmas offering, and that the number of refugees is now around 5,000, more or less. Food deliveries remain erratic; some of the refugees had moved south towards Malakel but returned to Renk because of earlier fighting in Malakel. The Bishop is concerned that as the rainy season approaches, the hardship and illnesses faced by the refugees will grow worse, particularly because the local community does not wish to grant land to the refugees who did not come originally from Renk.

The bishop conveyed his great thanks for the continued prayers of people in Virginia and assured me of his diocese’s continued prayers for friends in America, specifically including friends in Virginia. He has made a point of telling his people about our continued prayer support, support which means a great deal to them. He is convinced that the continued peace around Renk results from the prayers of the many friends around the world. (It also results from the Bishop’s tireless work with Chief Bior and the Commissioner to tend to their people’s needs and to prevent conflicts from spilling over into bloodshed.)

God is opening doors for our partnership work with the church in Sudan. Today I received a request for information to support a grant application for the clinic; I also received a call from a Jewish friend who is interested in improving medical care in Sudan and is organizing efforts to improve such relief. In the past two weeks others have approached me with serious plans to help support those making peace in Sudan. As God opens these doors, keep praying so that we can walk through them faithfully to bring relief to those suffering, hope to those laboring, and effective support to those working hard to keep the peace. 

Let us pray: Lord, we pray for continued peace in Renk, for the relief of refugees there, and for strength, wisdom, and resources for Bishop Joseph and the church in Renk Diocese. We pray for Dr. Paul and the clinic in Renk and for the church and civic leaders working so hard to keep the peace and relieve the suffering of the refugees now in Renk.

We pray for the church in Sudan, that it will continue to be an effective peacemaker, leader and teacher. We pray for all those working to bring about an equitable and peaceful separation of South Sudan and Sudan, for the safety, prosperity, and harmony of both countries, and for the protection of religious freedom in both countries. And we pray that we will be steadfast in prayers for peace and for our partners in Sudan.

All this we ask in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Resources for further information: 

If you don’t routinely receive this by email, please contact Russ Randle. Click here to email Russ.  

Or you may read these on the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (AFRECS) website, www.afrecs.org.