Barnabas Fund has transported over 2,300 Christians from Sudan since the start of its rescue mission four months ago. The Christians are being evacuated because of increasing hostility in the majority-Muslim country. After South Sudan gained independence in 2011, the largely Christian Southerners living in Sudan lost their citizenship rights and were ordered to leave. There is little sign of conditions improving as Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has vowed to bring in a fully Islamic constitution and strengthen Sharia law. The Christians in the Barnabas evacuation programme are being taken to South Sudan, which is largely Christian. The evacuees, who include women and children, are being transported by bus in partnership with Africa Inland Church Sudan. There are plans to rescue another 1,500 from Sudan. Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, said: ‘It has been wonderful to see the Lord’s hand at work in the Exodus mission.’

Pray: that God will continue to bless this work so that many more Christian women and children trapped in Sudan can be helped to safety. (Ps.34:22)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.evacuated.from.sudan/31398.htm

Dozens of Sudanese Christians were thought to be trapped in a Sudanese prison Saturday, February 23, as violence raged in renewed fighting between two Arab tribes, killing scores of people. At least 55 Christians were detained by the government of Sudan over two weeks ago on ‘false accusations’ of allegedly receiving money from foreign countries, including Israel, according to Christians with close knowledge of the case. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the group, which has no political affiliations and includes church leaders, was jailed as part of a wider crackdown on Christians in the volatile Islamic country. ‘CSW is deeply concerned at these arbitrary arrests and the wider news of an escalating crackdown on Christian citizens in Sudan’ said CSW’s Advocacy Director. ‘We urge the Sudanese government to release these prisoners and end its campaign of harassment against the Christian community.’ Also on Saturday 60 people died in fighting over mining rights in northern Darfur.

Pray: for detained believers and other Christians forced to flee areas of Sudan because of clashes and Islamic pressure by the government. (2Pe.1:2)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/26685-sudan-detains-dozens-of-christians-violence-kills-60

Following last week's Prayer Alert report of thousands fleeing burning and looting by North Sudan forces in and around Abyei, the Sudanese government has presented a package of proposals to resolve the issue of Abyei’s disputed oil-rich area. The proposals included deploying African Union troops and appointing a new chairmanship for the area on rotation between north and south Sudan. Elsewhere conflict continues as Sudanese authorities arrested a Christian woman in a Darfur camp accused of possessing and distributing Bibles. Sources said she could also be tried for apostasy, which carries the death sentence in Sudan. In Khartoum a wounded Christian mother of a 2-month-old baby and her husband are destitute because they left Islam for Christianity. Northern Christians are becoming more vulnerable. Source:

Pray: that Sudan’s spiritual atmosphere changes from death to life and the proposals resolve the conflict peacably. (Is.2:4)

More: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=590670

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) have condemned the destruction of a church in Sudan. The Episcopal Parish Church of Saint John, Haj Yousif, in Khartoum was reportedly demolished on 18 June on the orders of Sudanese government officials. The WCC and AACC have denounced the action as the latest in a series of ‘calculated attacks’ on minority communities and Christians in particular. On 21 April, the Sudan Evangelical Church Bible School in Khartoum was destroyed and books including the Bible set on fire in full view of the police. Two days later, security forces occupied the premises of the Sudan Council of Churches and Sudan Aid in Nyala, Darfur, and confiscated property. The WCC and AACC warned that Christians of Muslim background were being targeted and dispossessed of their property and their spouses.

Pray: for God’s people in Sudan that they will be covered by the armour of God. (Eph.6:10-20)

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/alarm.over.demolition.of.church.in.sudan/30144.htm

June 21st the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli called Sunday June 26th a day of prayer and fasting ‘To end the Nuba Genocide and for the Peace of all Sudan’ as Sudan faces the nightmare of genocide in what the Bishop called, a final attempt to erase our culture and society from the face of the earth. It is not a war between armies that is being fought in our land, but the utter destruction of our way of life.’ See Meanwhile President Bashir threatened to shut pipelines carrying South Sudan's oil. Oil accounts for 98% of the south's income. Most pipelines, refineries and the main port is in the north. Talks between North and South continue regarding oil, citizenship and disputed borders while horrendous fighting persists between Christians and Muslims. See last weeks Prayer Alert and INSIGHT article.

Pray: for God in His mercy to place His hand over this situation and bring order out of chaos. (2Ch.14:11)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13870929

Last week Sudan and South Sudan signed nine agreements settling some disputed issues and established security cooperation between the two governments to stop rebel attacks from both sides through a number of measures including a 14 mile buffer zone of pasture land on the common border. Some Dinka think they have been abandoned by their government, believing this agreement gives another opportunity for the marauding Murahaleen to resume their rustling; while others view it as a trading off of their land for a region that initially in terms of law and administration chose not to be part of South Sudan. Meanwhile, although they welcomed these agreements, the rebel alliance Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) said they are determined to bring down Khartoum's regime. An SRF spokesperson said they doubt Khartoum's regime will implement what is agreed in Addis Ababa. See also: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210030016.html

Pray: for peace between the two Sudans and for speedy implementation of all the agreed provisions. (Lk.6:37)

More: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210020985.html

Angry protesters stormed the US embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, on Thursday as regional discontent over an amateur US film mocking Islam spread throughout the region. Police used water cannons and fired warnings shots to drive the protesters out of the building, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. There were unconfirmed reports of casualties on both sides. The protests in Sanaa come two days after a similar attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi resulted in the deaths of four US citizens, including the US ambassador in Libya, Christopher Stevens. There were also reports of fresh scuffles outside the US embassy in Cairo on Thursday, a day after protesters scaled the embassy walls, ripped down the US flag and replaced it with the black Islamic flag.

Pray: against further unrest in the region see above..

More: http://www.france24.com/en/20120913-crowd-storms-usa-embassy-yemeni-capital-sanaa-film-youtube-benghazi-unrest

Catholic leaders in the UK have spoken of their delight over the election of Pope Francis. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor praised the selection of a ‘humble, very simple and very intelligent man,’ and said the Church was ‘very blessed. Above all, I think he is a holy man, a spiritual man and I think he will bring a new kind of style to the Catholic Church,’ the Cardinal told the BBC. He noted the significance of the Pope's choice of the name Francis, known as a man of the poor. Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said ‘the simplicity of Pope Francis’ life would be a great example to people. For many people, this may be a surprise selection. For me, it was an inspired choice and I am very, very happy not only for the Catholic Church but for the world,’ he said.

Pray: that Pope Francis will be inspired by the Holy Spirit as he takes on the role as leaderof the world-wide catholic Church.

More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/pope.francis.is.an.inspired.choice/31830.htm