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The Sudan Council of Churches USA, based in Overland Park, Kansas, has 38 member congregations that are stepping up to the task of rebuilding. Recently, they said, "We believe God is calling us to reach out to our former persecutors in love, forgiveness, and mercy." These Sudanese church leaders also have rallied Americans to their cause because they see themselves as missionaries to America, not just refugees from Africa.

In November, they helped to lead a missions team to a refugee camp in Chad. This outreach was an important moment of Muslim-Christian reconciliation because the Khartoum government practiced "using a slave to kill a slave." That means Muslim soldiers from Darfur were conscripted to kill southern Sudanese.

Advocacy is also important. American evangelicals are in a rare position to be listened to, not just heard, in Washington and the United Nations. One goal for evangelicals is to bring political priorities closer to biblical values. International relief groups know firsthand that when American evangelicals speak with one voice, policymakers in Washington pay attention. And high-level pressure gets results overseas.

In the face of genocide and crimes against humanity, the consequences of our inaction are staggering. Sudan's January peace accord holds the high promise of a shared future for Muslims and Christians, united under a secular self-government. Their success may model a means for reconciliation in other religio-political hotspots.

Creating peace is costly, but it is well worth our persistence. Paul Aciek Ater, a Sudanese pastor in Kansas, says of the people in Darfur, "They are God's children, and they are suffering terrible injustice."

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Books & Culture discussed the moral and political message of Tears of the Sun, a movie about humanitarian action in Africa.

Our past coverage of the attempts for peace in Sudan include:

Never Again? | Genocide in Sudan tests our commitment to justice. A Christianity Today editorial (Aug. 03, 2004)

Confronting Sudan's Evils | Western Christians and governments should press Khartoum on multiple fronts. A Christianity Today editorial (April 3, 2000)

Fragile Accord | History, resentment, and ethnic tension imperil long-term peace in Sudan. (Feb. 07, 2005)

A False Cry of Peace | Wilfred Mlay, World Vision's regional vice president for Africa, discusses the crisis facing black Muslims in Darfur. (Sept. 09, 2004)

Sudden Death in Darfur | John Danforth, new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, demands Sudan stop murderous Arab militias (July 16, 2004)

Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, and Plain Old Murder | What Tony Campolo and the State Department mean in recent comments about Palestine and Sudan. (June 23, 2004)

Freedom for Sudanese Faith | With new peace accord signed, Christians prepare to meet needs (July 12, 2004)

Ambassador: Sudan Accords Only One Step in Peace Process | Continued effort to implement and monitor Sudan's peace agreement will be necessary to ensure safety for its population, Michael Ranneberger says. (June 04, 2004)

Hope, Caution Follow Signing of Sudanese Peace Agreement | After 21 years of civil war, Sudan may finally be on the verge of peace. But don't stop praying. (June 04, 2004)

Submitting to Islam—or Dying | Ceasefires and peace talks bow to greater powers in Sudan (Oct. 8, 2003)

More Christianity Today coverage of persecution is available on our website.

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May 2005, Vol. 49, No. 5