Trouble strikes again for South Sudanese pastors

Sudan (MNN) — Last week, South Sudanese pastors Yat Michael and Peter Yen were finally released after the judge decided that although some charges held, they had served the sentence in the time they had already spent in jail. However, Open Doors USA says the battle isn’t quite finished.

There’s still the travel ban to contend with. There is ban in place preventing the pastors from leaving the country. That means both pastors are being held in Sudan, prevented from returning home to their families and congregations in South Sudan.

However, things took a turn for the better on Monday. The lawyers representing the pastors met with Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). There were concerns that it was the NISS who had placed the ban, which would make the process a long and difficult one. Instead, the NISS ensured that this was not the case.

It was actually the prosecution that issued the travel ban; but upon further investigation, it was discovered that the court’s file had no record of it.

The lawyers have appealed to the attorney general, but they won’t receive the decision until the court has finished its ruling.

It’s not the first time such a situation has caused problems in Sudan. Over a year ago, Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death for holding to her faith, and when she was released, she was forced to spend weeks in the United States embassy.

However, the lawyers in this situation wouldn’t be surprised if the pastors are released within a few days.

The pastors and their lawyers, friends, and family all ask for prayer. They’ll need courage to make it through the coming roadblocks, and it can’t be done without the guiding hand of God.