Sudan (MNN) — Sudan’s atrocities fade into the background as the world watches war in Israel.
Last week, paramilitary forces took the capital of South Darfur, potentially tipping the power balance in their favor. Rebel militia now control much of the territory in Darfur. Conflict between Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces began in April.
(Graphic courtesy of unfoldingWord)
John*, an unfoldingWord partner, says, “The horror that is the current war is what they’ve been doing over a decade, but now on steroids without limitations.”
As megalomaniac generals wage relentless war, Sudan’s people pay the highest price. Every week, Sudanese citizens see “people killed in their homes and on the streets; the tragic rape of women and girls, and the displacement of millions,” John says.
“What is happening now in Sudan has several levels of trauma.”
Sudanese church planters offer the hope of Christ to survivors. “Trauma healing is being done by various ministry groups that are all indigenous,” John says.
“Many of them are the few believers in a specific unreached people group.”
Slowly, survivors begin to see the light amid never-ceasing darkness. “The trauma healing is [done in] the African way, which is relational,” John says.
“You hear someone’s story; you validate the story. You share the hope that is the Gospel, and we see God immediately bring relief.”
The partnership between John’s ministry and unfoldingWord provides Scripture in minority languages. As they work with trauma victims, Sudanese church planters “offer the Word of God the promises of God, beginning with who God says He is in the Bible,” John says.
“He is a God of love; He is the God of compassion.”
While God’s Word provides hope for the future, trauma counseling helps survivors process today’s hurt. “One example is a woman who would have to sit on the floor because she was shaking so much. She had no understanding of why this was happening to her,” John says.
“In trauma, healing, [church planters explain that] these are the effects of trauma on a person. They (survivors) come to understand and put their lives together in their minds, and they say, ‘I’m not crazy. I’m a victim of trauma.’”
Ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage church planters as they bear the weight of others’ pain. Pray believers and survivors will leave trauma and hardship at the foot of the cross.
Support trauma healing and physical relief efforts in Sudan here.
*Pseudonym
Header image courtesy of unfoldingWord.
