Amidst a spectacularly successful series of SPLA military offensives in Southern Sudan, the Director of Frontline Fellowship delivered a further shipment of Hymn and Prayer books, with medicines, to the persecuted churches. This was the 17th shipment successfully delivered by Frontline Fellowship into war torn Sudan. It brought to 26 000 the number of Bibles, Hymn and Prayer Books and other Christian books smuggled by Frontline Fellowship into the (officially Islamic) Sudan – in the first half of this year alone. This is what he reports: Christian Flags Fly Over Newly Liberated Towns During my latest mission trip to Sudan, in May, it was my privilege to visit some of the newly liberated areas along the Yei river battlefront. At every town I saw the distinctive (red cross on blue and white) Christian flags flying. There was a joyful atmosphere of thanksgiving to God for the remarkable series of victories the Christian soldiers had so recently experienced. Many soldiers related close calls and answered prayers during the recent battles.
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The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) has succeeded in fully liberating the whole of Western Equatoria. The fall of Bo, the last remaining Government of Sudan (GOS) garrison in the province makes Western Equatoria the first province of Sudan from which all the National Islamic Front (NIF) Arab forces have been eradicated. The distinctive red cross on blue and white Christian flags are now flying all over Western Equatoria. The dramatic SPLA offensive, “Operation Thunderbolt,” which began on 9 March 1997 defeated several GOS divisions and overran the network of Muslim garrisons, from Amadi and Lui to the important road junction at Jambo to the strategic town of Yei, the key border towns of Kaya and Kajo-Keji, the heavily fortified Lainya and the garrisons at Goja, Boje and Moga. This successful series of military thrusts was decisive as it firmly placed under SPLA control all the south western approaches to the Southern capital of Juba. A Frontline Fellowship mission team conducting Evangelism Explosion courses in Sudan, was bombed by the Government of Sudan Air Force – at a church on Sunday morning. Dr. Peter Hammond, the Director of Frontline Fellowship, who was leading the team wrote this eye-witness report: As we walked to the church just out of town for the Sunday morning service we could hear the unmistakable droning sound of an Antanov approaching. The people were somewhat nervous as the aircraft circled the town – presumably for reconnaissance. After a church service near the battlefront, Commander Daniel explained to us that, at the beginning of their war, he thought that their power for freedom came from their guns. "I was far from God and I trusted only in my own strength and the AK47. Then in 1997 I began to hear of the work of Frontline Fellowship. I saw the Christian flag over the military base in Maridi and I wondered what Christianity had to do with our struggle. How could a soldier be a Christian?
"But then I saw such a change in the behaviour and morale of our soldiers. It was explained to me that this was because of the chaplains Frontline Fellowship had trained. Now we had Bible readings and prayers before every operation. And I could see the results. With the Chaplains, the Bibles and the prayers came more victories and less casualties than ever before! Sudan Update 30 May 2001
Despite assurances from the Government of Sudan that they would cease air attacks against the Christian South, the National Islamic Front government has unleashed waves of artillary bombardments and ground assaults against Christian villages in the Nuba Mountains. Reports just received by Frontline Fellowship confirm that since 24 May, Sudanese government forces have subjected the beleaguered Christians in the Nuba Mountains to "a massive on-going bombardment and military attack. Many villages have been burned, many people have been killed...." Is there Slavery in Sudan and if so, what is Frontline Fellowship doing about it? Are you involved in buying slaves to set them free? What is Frontline’s position on slave redemption? We are frequently asked questions like these by concerned Christians eager to help make a difference in the lives of suffering Christians in Sudan. Here is a summary of our answers: Yes, there is no doubt that there is widespread slavery in Sudan today. This is not only done with the knowledge of the National Islamic Front Government of Sudan, but is in fact encouraged by them. Slavery in Sudan is used both as a weapon of terror to destabilise the South and as an economic incentive to induce Arab soldiers to go South, to wage Jihad against the infidel. The Muslim soldiers and militias can enrich themselves with loot and with slaves. Sudan is a most strategic country for missions. Sudan is the only country in the Muslim Middle East with millions of evangelical Christians. Muslims are coming to Christ in Sudan by the thousands. Sudan was the last country to become Islamic. By God's grace it could be the first Islamic country to be won back to Christ! The Church now faces the final missions frontier of the 10-40 Window – the block of Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist nations in North Africa and Asia between the tenth and fortieth degrees latitude. Frontline Fellowship is on the cutting edge of the great missionary thrust to storm this stronghold of false religion.
During 1997 Frontline Fellowship mission teams made 13 mission trips into Sudan delivering and distributing over 60 000 Bibles and Christian books in 17 languages inside Sudan. 12 April 2002 After much prayer and international pressure Bishop Bullen Dolli and Dr. Peter Hammond have been freed by the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA). They had been detained in Yei, the headquarters of the SPLA in Western Equatoria. Intensive investigation by the SPLA Public Security Office and Military Intelligence revealed an intricate plot to discredit and to murder Bishop Bullen Dolli and Rev. Peter Hammond. What else can go wrong on a mission trip?
"Don’t go to Sudan. There are orders to arrest you and Bishop Bullen," I was warned. "There have been serious threats made. Your lives could be in dan I was informed that within an hour of me flying out of Sudan in January, a truckload of soldiers had arrived to arrest me. Despite numerous warnings, Bishop Bullen Dolli and I determined to fly into Southern Sudan for the Easter services. On the mission aircraft, chartered by Frontline Fellowship, were 19 bicycles and a motorbike for pastors and teachers, lots of books and stationery for schools, and Bibles. In the first 5 months of 2001 Frontline Fellowship sent out 5 teams to Sudan, 3 of these drove overland. For an insight into what’s involved in these overland missions, Rev Bill Bathman (who is celebrating 50 years in missions this year) wrote this report:
In the last three months I’ve travelled, preached and witnessed for Christ through 7 countries, crossed the equator 6 times, saw all of Africa’s Big 5 animals (Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard), visited Kenya 4 times, used 3 means of transportation (vehicle, boat and aircraft), made 2 mission trips to Sudan and all in the service of the One who said: "Go." He sent, so we went. |
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