The life of the Sudan revolves around the great River Nile which divides the country north to south. It was along this river that the news of Jesus first travelled to the people. Later, Arabs used the Nile to bring the news of Islam to the north of the country.

For most of the last forty years, Sudan has been caught up in a civil war between the Muslims in the North and the Christians in the South. The war has brought great suffering to everyone. School and family life has been badly disrupted and crops and cattle destroyed.

Worship in Sudan

In Sudan, no church service would be complete without a drum! Here is part of a description of a Sudanese service from a English visitor.

Inside the church, people are already singing and beating out some strong rhythms on the drums. The first hour is mostly singing and the pace is really picking up - feet are tapping, hands are clapping. Soon we are all on our feet and going with the music. By now the Mother's Union are really going for it 'big time' and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Everyone is entering into the spirit of it and worshipping happily.

The following song from Sudan has the same meaning and uses the same tune as the children's chorus 'God is so good'. (Junior Praise No. 53)

Ngun a lo'but
Ngun a lo'but
Ngun a lo'but
lepeng nyany ar nan

A Prayer from Sudan

The following prayer was written by a group of Sudanese refugee children, who had to walk across a desert to escape fighting in their village.

God has not forgotten us.
Let us praise him. Let us praise the Lord
in time of war and in time of peace.
Jesus has united the world with his Father's words.
If we ask the Lord, then our hearts can be united in him.
God has not forgotten us.
The going away of evil and the coming of love are shaking the world.
Let us not look back.
Let us show the light of the Son of God.

The Sudanese Cross

The Cross is the symbol of Christianity. In Sudan, many crosses are made out of ebony and then decorated with beaten bronze.

For the bronze, the Sudanese use spent bullets, as sadly, there are plenty of these lying around as a result of the civil war.

These crosses are carried by Sudanese Christians as signs of hope in the midst of the suffering and the destruction in their land.

Activites

• Follow the instructions to make a Sudanese Cross.
• Stretch a balloon over the the top of an empty jar or tin to make a drum.
• Sing the song 'Ngun a lo'but'.
• Prepare an assembly on the Christian Church in Sudan.

Information on this page has been provided by the Church Mission Society.