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Serving
the Suffering in Sudan
Frontline
Fellowship has succeeded in delivering the largest shipments
of Bibles and Christian books yet to the suffering Christians
of Southern Sudan. Despite military offensives in the Nuba
Mountains and in Western Equatoria, Frontline Fellowship
mission teams delivered over 18 000 Bibles, Hymn books and
other Christian books in 13 languages to churches in these
areas. This was accomplished in defiance of the Islamic
Government of Sudan's (GOS) flight bans, the no-fly zones
and the prohibition against Bibles enforced by the United
Nations (UN).
The
Frontline Fellowship mission outreaches to Sudan from February
to April were an appropriate way to celebrate the 15th anniversary
of our mission.
The
logistics were complicated – involving 5 field workers,
a truck, motorbikes, bicycles, several charter aircraft,
boats and lots of walking in order to distribute over 18
000 Bibles and other Christian books, in 13 languages, to
6 different regions of Sudan.
The
various trips into Sudan were difficult – travelling
over some of the harshest terrain imaginable. The heat was
stifling – with temperatures of 48°C being recorded
in the shade in the Nuba Mountains. The roads were treacherous,
we suffered one motorbike accident and one vehicle we were
driving needed to be extricated out of a donga. The river
crossings were challenging and much of my ministry inside
Sudan was accomplished while sick. Scott and Miriam also
came down with various illnesses.
The
outreaches were dangerous as Sudan is officially an Islamic
country and it is involved in a vicious war with the Christian
South. We had to fly in no-fly zones, in defiance of flight
bans, and behind enemy lines. Much of our chaplaincy ministry
was completed at the battlefront. Our team to the Nuba experienced
the warm welcome of the government of Sudan and have some
of the Muslim tracts (shrapnel from rockets) as souvenirs
of this apparently preferred Islamic method of communication!
There
were many obstacles which needed to be overcome. After the
considerable logistical and mechanical preparations in Cape
Town, our team began the 7 000 km drive overland to Sudan.
At the first border post, Steve and Scott were harassed
and delayed for 23 hours by Zimbabwean customs officials
who demanded a 60% duty (tax) on all the (free) relief aid,
medicines and Gospel literature being transported to Sudan!
By God's Grace our team stood firm and persevered and ultimately
bypassed this bureaucratic obstructionism. They travelled
over some of the most challenging roads and passed some
of the most magnificent scenery.
Medicine
for the Soul
Finally, the two Frontline Fellowship field teams to Sudan
linked up and distributed over 600 Bibles and New Testaments
to the war wounded Sudanese patients in the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Hospital in Lokichoggio.
Over a year previously I had received permission from Geneva
to distribute Bibles to the Sudanese patients at the ICRC
hospital. On that occasion the patients had almost trampled
me underfoot as they eagerly and desperately clamoured for
their copy of the Word of God in their own language.
Several months later another Frontline Fellowship team had
attempted to distribute more Bibles to new patients at the
hospital. The ICRC officials explained that the Muslim government
of Sudan had complained about the Bible distribution and
therefore they could no longer allow it!
As
we had some medical equipment to donate to the Red Cross
Hospital we were allowed to drive into their compound. While
Miriam went off to deliver the medicines, Elton and Scott
let some of the Sudanese patients know where they could
obtain Bibles. Within minutes Steve and I were besieged
by an enthusiastic mass of one legged and one armed patients
pleading for a Bible in Dinka Bor, Zande, Bari, Nuer, Latuka,
Madi or English. We couldn't distribute the Bibles fast
enough. The excitement of the patients was electric. Some
of the tall Sudanese men were dancing (on their crutches),
raising their newly acquired Bibles high and singing a hymn
of praise.
A
Dutch ICRC official came to investigate the commotion and
was plainly upset. I explained to her that we had come to
deliver some medical equipment and when the patients saw
that we had Bibles in our truck they had requested their
own copies. “Well, of course they'd want Bibles!”
she exploded. “They're all Christians these Sudanese
– all of them!” This expatriate had a Hindu charm
around her neck and was clearly hostile to the chosen faith
of the Southern Sudanese. We were requested to leave.
The
next day we drove into Eastern Equatoria to deliver 500
Bibles to the pastors of Toriet and Bor. At one church we
found 12 pastors (representing more than 100 Dinka congregations)
providentially gathered together. They warmly welcomed our
teams and provided valuable research. Each of the pastors
looked forward to returning to their congregations with
the Scriptures and books we had provided.
Shortly
after we returned to Lokichoggio an official from the Red
Cross Hospital tracked our team down and urged us to return
with more Bibles! Those patients who had not received a
Bible were most upset and their discontent had forced the
ICRC official to make a list of how many more Bibles were
needed in the various languages. Our team promptly returned
to the hospital with a further 136 Bibles – this time
by official invitation!
On
the night before we flew into Sudan, Frontline Fellowship
hosted a special supper for the representatives of Open
Doors and Voice of the Martyrs. It was a great time of fellowship
and another example of how mission groups need to communicate
in order to be more effective. Throughout the last 15 years
Frontline Fellowship has continuously strived to network
and co-operate with other ministries. We have recruited
and trained many workers for other missions. We have provided
many photographs and research reports for other missions.
We have often taken workers from other organisations into
new areas and introduced them to our established contacts.
We have organised vast quantities of Bibles and other Gospel
literature for other ministries and engaged in many co-operative
ventures.
One
example of this inter-mission co-operation is how six ministries
have had a part in the shipping of a 20 ton container of
baby food to Sudan. Gerber donated the food, Christ For
Humanity designated the consignment to Frontline Fellowship
and arranged with International Christian Aid to ship the
food container to Kenya. Voice of the Martyrs cleared the
shipment through customs, Operation Nehemiah transported
the consignment to Lokichoggio and there delivered it to
our local representative. Now Frontline Fellowship needs
to transport the baby food into Western Equatoria and see
that it is carefully distributed to the displaced people.
As
Steve and Scott prepared for their trip to the Nuba Mountains,
Elton, Miriam and I loaded our charter aircraft with over
4 500 Bibles, Hymn and Prayer books and other Christian
books. We also took with us an off-road motorbike, two mountain
bicycles and equipment, tools and paint for the restoration
of a hospital and field clinic. We took off early in the
morning while it was still dark. It was an awe inspiring
sight to cross the mighty Nile river shortly after sunrise.
There
was an enthusiastic crowd to welcome us when we landed in
Western Equatoria. There were embraces and lots of handshakes
as we exchanged news and sorted out our cargo. The bikes
soon came in very useful as we began our varied ministries
in the town.
Civil,
military and church leaders gathered for the official opening
of the Medical Workshop where our Registered Nurse, Miriam,
was to train 17 medical orderlies and nurses. Elton organised
a team of cleaners, carpenters and painters to repair and
restore the Hospital for War Wounded. Elton also painted
the Chaplains’ Office at the military base.
I
conducted various chaplaincy services for the local SPLA
unit and presented lectures on the Christian Work Ethic
and Grace, Faith and Works. We also delivered boxes of Bibles
and Christian books to local churches, the Bible College,
the Chaplains’ Office, and to the local police and
prison.
A
Thousand Tongues to Sing
It was a privilege for us to deliver a thousand copies of
the new Zande Hymn Book to the Maridi Diocese. On a later
flight we delivered 2 660 Zande Bibles for the Yambio and
Maridi Diocese.
Frontline Fellowship had also sponsored the printing of
the new Moru Hymn Book and Moru Prayer Book. It was a special
joy for us to deliver a thousand copies of the Moru Hymn
Book and Prayer book to the pastors of Mundri Diocese. There
was much rejoicing and many of the pastors publicly expressed
their gratitude to those friends of Frontline Fellowship
who had literally enabled “a thousand tongues to sing
our great Redeemer's praise”!
We
were shown some of the disintegrating remains of the only
available previous Hymn and Prayer Books, which had been
paperback. They had clearly been well used! The new Hymn
and Prayer Books sponsored by Frontline Fellowship are tough,
quality hardcover books – each stitched and bound by
hand. These will last for a long time.
On
Sunday we conducted 5 services – including a special
children's service by the burnt out remains of the Episcopal
church. The church building had been destroyed by a helicopter
gunship attack.
We
sorted out the medical supplies and equipment which had
been donated by friends of Frontline Fellowship and visited
the field clinic which had been established by a previous
team.
Twenty-one
field medics gathered for the Medical Training Course. Many
of the medics had walked from the battlefront, several had
walked for 3 or more days to participate in the course.
Miriam dealt with Vital Signs, Infection Control, First
Aid (Breathing, Bleeding, Breakage's and Burns), IV Fluids,
Shock, Chest Wounds, Abdominal Wounds, Field Sanitation,
Heat-stroke, Snake Bites, Injections and Medications.
Elton
presented an evangelistic message to the medics and many
of them responded by committing their lives to Christ. I
contributed some discipleship lectures and Bible studies.
On some nights we sat around the camp fire discussing a
wide variety of medical and spiritual questions.
Half
of the Medics had attended the First Aid Workshop which
I had presented last year. Most of them understood English,
however the course had to be translated into Arabic for
those who struggled. They related how they have had to stitch
up abdominal wounds with ordinary needles and thread –
without any anaesthetics, pain killers, antibiotics or anti-inflammatories!
It was good to entrust the boxes of medicines and equipment
into the hands of these diligent, innovative and battle-proven
medics.
At
a special service attended by the local civil, church and
military leaders, we presented medical textbooks and handbooks
to those who had excelled in the course. Badges were awarded
to all who passed the written examination. The commander
impressed upon the men that they are the beginning of the
new Medical Corps of the SPLA forces. They had a vital responsibility
to train others to care for the wounded – whether civilians
or soldiers, enemies or friends: “You must present
prompt and efficient medical care even for captured enemy
troops. You are to be Christian medics,” he said.
Straight
after the formal conclusion of the course we drove the medics
to the new clinic near the battlefront which Frontline Fellowship
has helped restore. There we delivered the men with their
medicines and held a dedication service for the Field Clinic.
Motorbike
Mission
While Miriam was conducting the Field Medic Training Course,
Elton and I were travelling each day, often by motorbike,
up to the Yei battlefront. There we conducted chaplaincy
services and distributed Bibles amongst the SPLA soldiers
in the forward trenches.
It was an exhilarating experience to worship the Lord Jesus
Christ with hundreds of enthusiastic soldiers as they joyfully
raised high the newly acquired Bibles and books and cheered.
The distinctive Christian flag with the red cross on the
blue square on white flapped in the wind as the SPLA soldiers
wholeheartedly sang songs of praise.
The
commander stepped forward and raised his AK-47 assault rifle.
The men chanted some slogan. Then he raised a copy of the
Dinka Bor New Testament and the men cheered. As the commander
lifted up a copy of Faith Under Fire in Sudan the soldiers
cheered enthusiastically.
The
commander expressed their appreciation for Christian friends
who prayed and who spoke up for them in their struggle for
survival. “The Muslim government is trying to destroy
the Church,” he said. “We are fighting for freedom
of religion. We are not only fighting for freedom for Christians
but for all people. Not even the Muslims enjoy freedom in
Sudan. No Muslim is free to change his religion. We are
fighting for freedom for both Muslims and Christians. Freedom
to know the Word of God and to obey it.” It was a special
joy to proclaim God's Word to these people.
Unfortunately,
I was sick with a fever for the last 2 weeks of this trip,
but I could not let that interfere with the wonderful privilege
of proclaiming the Word of God to such enthusiastic and
receptive people. I just swallowed the medicines and kept
pushing myself every day.
Sometimes
we could hear the sounds of fighting as the SPLA exchanged
gunfire with nearby government forces. On a couple of occasions
we heard and saw Antonov bombers flying by. We met with
soldiers who had deserted the government forces and come
over to fight for the South.
Our
ministry in the area coincided with a dramatic new offensive
by the SPLA. In a series of bold lightening strikes the
SPLA succeeded in capturing the strategic towns of Kaya,
Yei, Lainya and Kajokeji. By the end of March the SPLA had
liberated 24 towns and had killed, wounded or captured 16
000 GOS troops. They had also captured a vast quantity of
weapons and ammunition, including tanks and anti-aircraft
batteries.
The
SPLA victories provoked the GOS to place a total flight
ban on the area we were ministering in. This presented potential
problems for our flights which were bringing in other team
members and the next shipments of Bibles. However, by the
grace of God, every one of our varied flights (although
all were illegal and risked being intercepted by the GOS
airforce) succeeded in breaching the blockade against Bibles.
By the end of March we had safely delivered over 11 000
Bibles and other Christian books in 13 languages to 5 regions.
Elton
and I, and later Steve and Scott when they had returned
from the Nuba Mountains, used the bicycles and motorbikes
to good effect. We crossed rivers and fair distances to
deliver boxes of Bibles and preach the Word in remote areas.
It was on the return trip from one of these outreaches that
Scott and I were injured as our motorbike came crashing
down on a treacherous stretch of a rocky road. Scott now
had cuts in both of his legs – one from the gunship
attack and the other now from the bike spill. I lost a chunk
of meat out of my elbow and was bleeding profusely. I most
certainly regretted not wearing my customary leather jacket
that day! But we still had hours of travelling ahead of
us that day, and the sun was going down so we just had to
patch up and press on.
Breaching
Blockades
Following the completion of our chaplaincy, medical and
Bible distribution work in Western Equatoria, Steve, Scott
and Elton drove through Uganda to deliver other shipments
of Bibles into Sudan. This required travelling with Ugandan
military escorts who had to fight their way through various
ambushes by the L.R.A. guerillas in northern Uganda. They
successfully delivered a shipment to rejoicing Sudanese
Christians and at the time of writing are busy attempting
to get through a further shipment.
The recent SPLA victories have, at last, opened the road
to Uganda for relief supplies and Bibles to be driven into
Equatoria. The GOS stranglehold on Western Equatoria has
been broken. The ban on Bibles will now be almost impossible
for the GOS to enforce. However, the GOS surrogates in Northern
Uganda, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) still threaten
the life-line as they continue their reign of terror and
ambush relief and mission vehicles en-route to Southern
Sudan.
Dr
Peter Hammond
Related Resources:-
Terrorism
and Persecution (video)
Sudan,
the Hidden Holocaust (video)
Faith under
Fire in Sudan (book)
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