A New Family
Stories of Following Jesus in the Face of Persecution.
We partner with Paul* and Ecclesia Ministries (formerly Community Transformation Ministries) in western Sudan.
Recent political changes have now made it legal for Christians to worship freely in this historically Muslim country, but many followers of Christ face daily persecution. Paul shares with us a few stories to help us better understand the situation they face as followers of Jesus.
Allan*, is a 23 year old young man. He is from the Masalet people in Sudan. Allan said, “Before I become a Christian, my life was going in a very dangerous direction. Early in my life I was seeking very destructive behaviors.”
Allan was exposed to harmful drugs, opium smoking, and excessive use of alcohol.
“There was no one from my family who cared about where I was heading. All knew I was to die at any time as the result of my destructive behaviors. But God called me out from this situation. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, my life begin changing. My spirit began to revive! The Holy Spirit began to substitute all my addictions in my life. I have seen a new window of life and the perspective of my life has become different. This is why I thought I should go to school to study the Bible. The Bible has answers and hope to those who are in the same situation like me.”
Allan came to our Bible School. He became a very different person. God has gifted him with leading others in song.
His father heard that Allan had become Christian and he was studying in the Bible School. He set out on a journey of 8 hours driving to take Allan back home and force him back to his former life. But Allan told his father, “My life was damaging, my father, and there was nobody who cared about me. I was saved by the Good News of Jesus; the salvation message. And now you see my life is not like that of before.”
“Are you asking me to go back to that life again?”
He continued, “No I can’t, my father!”
When his father saw the persistence of Allan in his position he said to him, “Now, I am Muslim and you are an infidel! There is nothing in common between you and us. Go with your Jesus!”
And he then called all his family members including Allan’s mother to tell them, “Allan is no longer part of us; he is Christian.” So he said to Allan, “Now get lost from my side or I will kill you now!”
Allan said, “Okay.” and he came back to school.
Allan has lost a relationship with all of his family members because he chose to be a Christian. He said, “My home, my father, my brothers and my family members is the church.”
Darlene* has a son studying in the Bible School. Her community began harassing her. They demanded that she call her son back home or they threatened to burn her house down.
She replied, “This is the decision of my son. Since he is convinced to be Christian I have not seen anything wrong with this choice. But if you want to burn my house down because my son has become Christian, then you can do what seems good to you.”
Allan and Darlene and the countless like them face persecution every day from their families or their communities for their decision to follow Jesus. Paul and Ecclesia Ministries faithfully multiply mature disciples like Alan and Darlene, who are standing strong in the face of persecution for their faith.
*Names altered to protect the identity of those working in areas of increased persecution.