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As is the case in many countries around the world, the church often thrives in the midst of persecution and adversity. This has certainly been true in southern Sudan.

According to Operation World, Christianity in the south has grown from 5 percent in 1960 to 70 percent in 2000. There are an estimated 7 million Christians in the country, most of them in the south, compared to 19 million Muslims.

Daniel Bul, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan for the Diocese of Renk, explained the reason for the growth of the church in an interview with Christianity Today last December:

"We were in a situation where we had nobody to turn to. Everything was difficult in the Sudan and the war was very hard on the people. You know, we have been in war for 20 years now.

"This hard situation has really sharpened the eyes of the people and the only place to turn was God. And when we pray, we have so many miracles that God's been doing in the southern Sudan. And the Holy Spirit was moving as a revival was happening. There was no food, there was no medicine, but when people gather and pray for a person who is sick, he gets healed. And that turns the people to Christ."

Bishop Bul added that the Christians in Sudan will need the continued spiritual and physical support of Christians around the world as they take on the massive task of rebuilding their land and lives.

Open Doors has been ministering in southern Sudan for many years. The main emphasis is the Theological Leadership Training program. Currently the program holds 26 classes attended by 549 students. Open Doors also delivers Bibles and Christian literature, provides bicycles for pastors and holds seminars on such topics as livelihood projects, the training of teachers for Christian schools and Sunday Schools, women's ministry and literacy.

This year, Open Doors has also committed to providing textbooks, blackboards and other supplies for nine Christian schools in southern Sudan, which have few resources. The fighting has virtually destroyed the school system in the areas where Christians live.

International Christian relief agencies like Samaritan's Purse are providing medicine, water, and food.

While the violence in Iraq grabs the world's spotlight these days, the Sudanese situation gets little media attention. But, with peace within sight after 21 years of fighting, now is the time for Christians in the West to keep on the offensive. Continue to pray and support our brothers and sisters in Christ in southern Sudan. Thank God for the breakthrough in negotiations last week. Pray for a permanent ceasefire and relief for the suffering people in the Darfur region.

While ministering in a ravaged rural village in southern Sudan, an Open Doors worker stated: "War or no war, God Himself is and will always remain our Peace."

Carl Moeller is President and CEO of Open Doors USA. More information about Moeller and Open Doors USA is available on the organization's web site.

Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. for reprint information.

U.K.'s Church Timesreports that the peace agreement is offering hope to church leaders and mission agencies.

More Christianity Today coverage of Sudan includes:

Sudan's Biblical History | Sudan's ongoing civil war isn't the only reason Christians should be familiar with the region. (May 25, 2004)

Ethnic Cleansing | Christians among hundreds of thousands displaced. (April 14, 2004)

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May (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48