MORE SUDAN CHURCH LEADERS ARRESTED

Faced with the threat of arrest would you continue to worship God? That is the challenge being faced on a regular basis by Christian leaders in Sudan. On Sunday police arrested five Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC) leaders after they refused to comply with an order to refrain from worship. Police officers arrived at the SCOC-Harat church in the Hai Al Thawra West area of Omdurman and ordered the Christians to cancel the worship service. Omdurman lies across the Nile from Khartoum. When the church leaders refused, police arrested them, sources told Morning Star News. One source said that they were charged with disturbing the public before they were released despite police initially threatening that they would not be freed. Please pray for those who were detained – pastors Ayoub Tiliyan, SCOC moderator, Ali Haakim Al Aam and Ambrator Hammad and two evangelists, Habill Ibrahim and elder Abdul Bagi Tutu, a member of the SCOC presbytery. The harassment came after police in Sudan detained and questioned another church leader in Omdurman last month and, in August, seven other church leaders were arrested, interrogated and released on bail. The Government of Sudan is stepping up pressure on Christians as it tries to take over leadership of SCOC.

• Please pray that all those who were arrested on Sunday and in previous weeks would stay strong in their faith and not give in to intimidation.
• Pray for wisdom for SCOC leaders and that congregations would know God’s peace and protection.
• Thank God for the courage and witness of Christians in Sudan and pray that they would be emboldened to share the gospel more and more.

(Source: Morning Star News)