As Sudan prepares for historic presidential and parliamentary elections, church leaders in Sudan are calling on believers across the nation and around the world to participate in a week of prayer March 21-27, culminating with a Sudan Global Day of Prayer on March 28.
“Churches nationwide are mobilizing prayer,” Pastor James, a church leader in Khartoum, told Samaritan’s Purse. “We are praying that everything will run smoothly. We are praying for the nation of Sudan.”
“In 17 years of doing relief work in Sudan,” said Gary Lundstrom, International Vice President for Samaritan’s Purse, “we’ve witnessed so much horrific violence in this nation. Yet with this historic election, Sudan sits at a crossroads and has an opportunity for long-term peace. We are asking every Christian to join us in prayer for the people of Sudan.”
More than 2 million people died in Sudan’s civil war before the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed five years ago. The 2005 accord ushered in an uneasy truce, tied to a promise that the people of southern Sudan would be allowed to participate in national elections in 2010 and vote in a referendum on independence in 2011.
Free and fair elections in April could help lay a foundation for lasting peace. However, if violence erupts it could start a chain reaction that plunges the nation back into civil war.
Government and church leaders in both the North and South agree that prayer is the key for maintaining peace in Sudan.
PRAY:
- that all polling places will be safe and secure
- for peaceful elections April 11-18
- for political stability throughout the nation
- for an end to the conflict in Darfur
