Sudan (MNN) — Last week, a rumor circulated that the opposing sides of Sudan’s civil war were having indirect peace talks hosted by the United States. But Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council chilled hope for peace by denying the regional media outlet reports. 

“We hope that something is happening. We will pray for that. But in [the] real scene, the war is intensified, even with drone [or] with air bombardment,” says Reverend Tut Kony with Greater Reach, Inc. 

Case in point: The reopening of the main airport in Sudan’s capital city, Khartoum, was postponed last week due to a surge of drone strikes from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary. It would have been the airport’s first opening since the war began in April 2023.

The two-and-a-half-year conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced about 12 million, and left 30 million in need of humanitarian assistance. It’s considered one of, if not the worst, humanitarian crises in the world today.

(Photo of Khartoum, Sudan courtesy of Ammar Nassir via Unsplash)

“The bigger problem is that people are dying without hearing the good news,” says Kony. “Our church planters are around. They are in the [IDP] camps. But the problem is that they will be targeted by those who are against the gospel. They can also be killed [by] crossfire.” 

The desperate need for food is both a daily struggle for Christians and an open door for ministry. 

“In Islam side, they [Muslims] see a lot of war, a lot of atrocities,” says Kony. “But from Christian side, who they considered their enemies, they are seeing they are coming with food. They are risking their life to bring food for the needy people.” 

If you have supported the gospel work of Sudanese believers, Kony thanks you.

“With your help, we have seen light coming out from the darkness. We have seen a lot of people coming to Christ when the atrocities [are] happening, because [through giving aid] we are able to show the love of Christ,” he says. 

Sudan’s population is 93 percent Muslim and less than 1 percent evangelical Christian. Pray that that will change!

“The bulk of people who are attending [church] here, they are Christian-background, but some of them are from [a] totally Muslim background, [who have] dedicated their life and consecrated to be ministers and pastors,” says Kony.

As you pray for Sudan, Kony asks that you focus on “the emerging church in Darfur, in [the] Nuba Mountains, in Blue Nile and even the far north. They need a lot of prayer. They need courage so that they can testify [to] their faith.”

Header photo courtesy of Aladdin Mustafa via Pexels.