South Sudan (MNN) – The East African proverb, “When elephants fight, the grass suffers,” is playing itself out in South Sudan. There, Stephen Wesley with Voice of the Martyrs Canada has just been on the ground, getting a sense for what it’s like to be “grass” under the feet of warring elephants.  

“It’s the women, it’s the children, it’s the men, it’s across the nation because the men are the ones going to war – there’s just devastation,” he says. 

Wesley and his team recently visited partners in South Sudan to encourage, teach, and provide trauma counseling. He says touching down in the capital city of Juba didn’t raise immediate societal alarms. But when he spoke with people: 

“All they would talk to you about was the fact that civil war is looming and that they don’t want it to come,” he says. 

Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has struggled to establish national unity, with skirmishes involving both ethnic and religious groups within the country and neighboring countries outside it. Furthermore, Wesley says corruption complicates a worsening situation. 

“Here’s the heartbreaking thing: aid is trying to come into the country, and it’s being robbed.”

He says International Aid Agencies are working to help where they can. 

“Now they’re considering air dropping things to the needy people – to the camps – but it costs 17 times more to do it that way. And yet, if you don’t, what is that going to look like?” Wesley asks. 

Yet against this heartbreaking reality stands another one: hope found in the doors of unassuming church

South Sudan flag. Courtesy of Aboodi Vesakaran via Unsplash. Header image courtesy of Speak Media Uganda via Pexels.

buildings and the hearts of humble Jesus-followers. In his experience of congregational worship, Wesley says the people’s joy and exuberance were unmatched. 

“I was overwhelmed. They have tapped into the reality that God is their strength in the midst of this hardship,” he says. 

And the substance of their supplication is clear. 

“The number one prayer is peace,” Wesley says. 

Without peace, war will continue to impede almost every kind of progress: economic, societal, educational. Please pray that spiritual progress would be the exception, and that God’s Word would go out with more force and power than any earthly weapon being wielded. 

“If there’s any believer out there who’s listening to my voice, and you’re hearing this story about South Sudan, join with us in praying for South Sudan,” Wesley requests. “All of the prognostications are that it’s going to go into civil war, and it’s going to go downhill. But God.” 

Let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s convicting work to transform leadership and the economic landscape in South Sudan. Pray for peace in hearts and peace in this nation, and ask the Lord to do a mighty work in this most difficult place.