During the first week of November, the Church in Sudan was caught in the crossfire of two warring parties, as bombs destroyed two sanctuaries.
On Friday, 3 November 2023, around 6:30 am, a bomb fell on the mission house of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco in Khartoum, El-Shajarah. Since the start of the war, the nuns have welcomed Christians and non-Christians alike. Open Doors sources share that a group of children and two nuns sustained injuries, as well as the headmaster of a school. Altogether, 23 people, including children and teenagers, sustained injuries.
On Saturday, 4 November 2023, the church building used by both the Evangelical and Episcopal Church in Omdurman was also bombed. The explosion not only damaged the church but also the orphan boys’ house situated in the church compound, killing six children.
It is believed that these buildings were hit because they are situated in between the two warring factions. Sources suspect the bomb was fired by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
A partner on the ground in Khartoum shares that there is no way to know for certain if the church buildings were bombed intentionally. However, the Salesian nuns were providing much-needed shelter and care for many who had been unable to leave Khartoum.
“The nuns gave people a safe place to stay, water, food, and electricity to charge their phones. They even provided medical care,” shares an Open Doors local partner. You can see a video of the nun’s ministry from the field here.
“Please do not forget Sudan in your prayers.”
Fikiru* Open Doors Persecution Expert, East Africa, reached out with a message of thanks and a request for continued prayer from the Church in Sudan:
“We are immensely grateful to members of the body of Christ who have remained in Khartoum to be Jesus’ hands and feet serving marginalised people. Indeed, it is devastating to receive the news of church buildings being destroyed; it physically illustrates the pressure the body of Christ is under in Sudan, which is clearly an unwanted minority.
“When I spoke to a Sudanese church leader after the attacks, he asked me to tell brothers and sisters around the world praying for Sudan that if it were not for their continued prayers, many more would have died in those attacks.
“Please do not forget Sudan in your prayers; pray for displaced Christians, for church leaders serving in uncertain times, and that God will bring good out of this difficult situation the church finds itself in.”
Pray for Sudan
- Pray for complete healing and quick recovery for the injured and that God will comfort those who are grieving.
- Pray that relief will reach the Church in Sudan, especially those positioned in the middle of the conflict.
- Pray for God’s protection over Christians who have decided to continue helping and serving the Church, irrespective of the circumstances.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
