Refuge in His Wings

On November 27 of last year, a 16-year-old Christian girl was stopped by police. Without the notification of her parents, she was taken to court, tried, and immediately punished with 50 lashes.  Her crime?—wearing a knee-length skirt in Khartoum, Sudan. Despite the agreement not to impose Sharia law on non-Muslims, Christians in Khartoum have been facing punishment for not following certain Islamic rules.  

On January 9, 2011, Sudan is scheduled to hold a referendum on whether the south will secede. No matter how the election is decided, Christians in the north and south could face serious challenges. At the request of a Sudanese Christian leader, Middle East Concern has done a helpful study of a variety of scenarios and the impact on the church.

Possible dangers include Sharia being implemented more consistently and severely against Christians in Khartoum, increasing numbers of refugees as Christians are driven into the south, and weakening of the northern church as Christian leaders are forced out of the region. Middle East Concern writes, “The implications for the church are profound, with the threat of serious challenges for Christians and the Churches. Of note is the risk to the Church’s position of acceptance within society in the North, or restricted opportunities for engagement in meeting social needs, and the challenge of supporting an influx of displaced people in the South.”

Pray that God will provide refuge for Christians in Sudan during this turbulent time. 

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” –Psalm 51:1-2

Read the Middle East Concern report on Sudan here.