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July 2002
Dear Friends,
Recently while on a mini-vacation Betsy and I were certified
in Scuba (as open water divers). We made several open water dives
down to 50 feet). No matter how choppy the surface was or how
high the waves were cresting, once we got down about nine feet
everything was calm and serene. We were able to enjoy a whole
other dimension of God’s marvelous creation, with no concern
for the action of the ocean at the surface. No matter what difficulty
we had at the surface, once we got a little deeper we could truly
experience God’s magnificence at work.
This past year and a half has been one of struggle for the churches
we are serving as well as for ourselves. There have been times
when we felt that if we wrote what we were really feeling, then
no one would want to send or read a newsletter from us.
In the past year the Presbyterian Church of Sudan has been struggling
with several crises within their leadership and regarding their
finances. Several times they were on the brink of major divisions
because of these problems. There were many accusations and painful
confrontations between them and those who work alongside of them.
Regarding the financial difficulties, Nile Theological College
and the Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church were having their
fair share of problems as well. These difficulties were compounded
by the situation within Sudan. During these times we have both
felt the pain and frustration, especially Barry who deals with
administrative and financial activities of the churches.
This year has been one of testing, with all of the questioning
and doubting that go with times such as these. The news from the
world around us and from within the PC(USA) itself added to our
heaviness. The financial problems within PC(USA) and the pain
on both sides of the different debates were on our hearts and
in our prayers. Then the events of 9-11 and how it has affected
everyone, especially those of us living and working in this part
of the world. We could feel the anguish of the victims and of
those who worried about possible repercussions.
However bleak the situation is we are to remember that we serve
a God who has already won the battle, and the victory is not only
promised to us, it already is. In one of our recent Bible studies
the scripture was Matthew 14: 22-23, the story of Jesus walking
on water and Peter asking to be allowed to go to him. Once he
started, Peter looked down and sank. How like Peter we are. This
story comes in Matthew after the feeding of the five thousand,
but it seems so quickly that the disciples have forgotten about
the miracle and what was done before their very eyes. They’ve
gotten caught up in their own circumstances and have become afraid
of the wind and the waves that currently surround them. When Jesus
comes to them during the darkness they were afraid until he called
out to them. Peter instantly wanted to go out to him (imagine
what it must of felt like to briefly be able to walk on water!)
but then he looks down and looses focus and sinks.
How like the current situation here, in Sudan, with all the difficulties
facing the churches and their institutions. It seems as if we
have lost the focus of what God is really doing here and have
looked at the problems and started to sink. We need to see all
of the good that God is doing: the continuous growth of the churches,
the gospel reaching areas that have been the stronghold of other
religious beliefs, and the signs of conflict resolution in some
areas. In the past several months the PCOS, both in the government-controlled
areas and the liberated areas, has moved to bring its leadership
quarrels to an end. PCOS Malakal had elected new officers during
the recent General Assembly following the PCOS’s centennial
celebration. This General Assembly was marked with a Spirit-led
process of peace and reconciliation. A recent ceasefire in the
Nuba Mountains has made it possible for families to return and
be reunited after many years of separation. Evangelists and pastors
are now able to go into the area where until this cease-fire no
one had been allowed to enter. There had been only one evangelist
in an area of at least 15,000 people. The PCOS in Akobo has moved
its operation up to Lokichogio in northern Kenya, which makes
them closer to the border and allows for a little easier access
into Sudan.
In Ethiopia I (Barry) was able to be with the South West Bethel
Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekene Yesus when they
celebrated 50 years of having the gospel in their area. Mere words
(at least ours) will never be able to give you a true picture
of that wonderful event where at least a thousand people came
from the different areas to remember those who brought the gospel
to their area, many of them PC(USA) missionaries. It was a true
tribute to these men and women who after so many years are still
talked about, remembered and loved for bringing to the people
there the good news of God’s love for them.
And so as we reflect on all of this we see that indeed God is
working in and through all the happenings of this world of ours
and that now more than ever we need to keep our focus on Him who
created us all and who has already claimed the victory—and
not on the problems and difficulties that may appear to be about
to overwhelm us. We need especially to continue to see how we
can be a part of this work and how, with God’s help, we as
Christians and members of the PC(USA) can move beyond the present
difficulty. Whether the difficulty is of a financial nature, a
leadership problem, or even as divisive as a question of morality
we need to not lose our focus but must remember that we are to
be always looking toward Christ.
An African proverb that Barry recently heard told about a young
lion cub and his mother going out to hunt for their day’s
food. During the hunt, the young cub got separated from its mother
and could not find his way back. Eventually, he found himself
in with a herd of sheep. The cub stayed within the herd and after
sometime found himself becoming more and more like a sheep, eating
and doing the things that sheep do. He still looked like a lion
but he acted like a sheep. One day a lioness came over the hill
towards the sheep and let out with a mighty roar which scared
away all of the other sheep. However our lion/sheep did not run
but looked at this creature making such noise and after some time
looked down at himself and back up at the new creature and finally
realized the he was not a strange looking sheep but in fact he
was a lion. He then let out a roar of his own and ran up to this
lioness. They went off and created a pride of their own. Like
the lion cub, we sometimes allow circumstances to cause us to
lose sight of what we are (and whose we are). The good news is
that Christ is continually coming looking for us to remind us
that we are his people and we are partners sharing together in
the victory that He has already won.
Let us with our brothers and sisters around the world celebrate
the fact that we have a God who cares deeply for us and who has
called us all to work together in advancing his Kingdom, but never
forgetting that the final victory is already ours. Let us not
get caught up in our problems and difficulties in such a way that
we loose this focus.
I am listing a few items for prayer that we would ask each of
you to add to your prayer list during the next several months.
- Pray for the new leadership of the PCOS in both areas, that
they may regain their focus
- Pray for PCOS, NTC and the Bible schools, that they may see
beyond their financial problems
- Pray for more pastors and evangelists to go into the Nuba
Mountain area
- Pray for the PC(USA) and the Worldwide Ministries Division,
as they face financial problems of their own
- Pray for Barry and Betsy to keep their focus
- Pray for Sudanese Christians who continue to suffer from
many different causes
- Pray for the continued advance of the gospel into new areas
in Sudan, Ethiopia, and the rest of the world.
Yours in Christ’s service:
Barry and Betsy
Khartoum, Sudan
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 49
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