Are You Weak or Empowered?

"Everything you are against weakens you, Everything you are for empowers you"

Wayne Dyer.

I ran across this quote after thinking and praying about the things in this world that are affecting Christianity.  In Sudan there are many, tribalism, Islam, and a corrupt political system just to list a few.  My first inclination towards these threats is to want to fight against them and prove them wrong.  I like this quote because it speaks to the way that Jesus would handle these.  Jesus, said "come as you are", he spent time with the untouchables and the people the the world considered evil.  Do you think he could have spent time with these people if he was standing on a corner protesting, or speaking out against other religions without offering something better.  I think this is the case if Africa, and Sudan in particular.  True change is going to be accomplished by empowered, Holy people sharing God's Love.  When God is reflected in such a way that people cannot help but change, the situation in Sudan will change.  It is hard to gain a voice in people's lives if your voice is all they hear.  There are some severe threats in Africa and Sudan alike.  The major one being Islam.  For them to change, Christians are going to have to change and mold themselves to the calling that the New Testament calls them to, that is to first Love the Lord your God, and second love your neighbor as yourself.  Think about it, if you are to love your neighbor as yourself, would you want people yelling at you and preaching to you about how wrong your life it before even getting to know you?.... 

While we worry..........

This is a photo of children picking up single kernels of corn as they fall out of the trucks that transport them as they are driving by.  I took this picture from the BBC's website, I could not help but think that with our current economic problems, as we fight for our standard of living, there are many more that are fighting to live.   

What God taught me in Sudan...

“Lord, I want to experience you in new ways, I want to go deeper, I am all yours”

This was my prayer the months, weeks, days, and hours that led up to my trip to Malakal, Sudan.  I was serious I sincerely wanted God to do all off these things for me.  Isn’t it interesting that these prayers are a lot easier to pray than live?  How God would answer this prayer I would have never expected. 

It was already known that Sudan was not a stable place with the atrocities in Darful and the great political divide between the North and South.  The situation as it was never scared me as we were traveling over there because I knew that Darfur was many miles away from Malakal.  Still praying the same prayer, I was about to live it.

The night before we were going to go to Sudan we were staying in Nairobi, Kenya.  It was then that I learned that the ICC was going to press charges against president Omar Bashir for the genocide in Darfur.  Following that news, it was posted by the State department of that the traveling to Sudan for Americans was not advised and they had evacuated all except key personnel from the US embassy in Khartoum.   President Bashir vocalized that he would retaliate against aid workers in Sudan since they are the one’s that were suspected of providing the evidence to the ICC. 

All of a sudden I was faced with the face that I was going into a dangerous place and I could not control or arrange for some sort of comfort level.  Still after the team prayed through the night, God said,  “go”.  I was left only to depend on Him, which led to experiencing God in new ways and going deeper.

One thing that I was not prepared for was the utter lack of concern for the situation going on in their country.  It was not that they were not concerned for the well being of the people, but what struck me is that they were not concerned for themselves.  This bothered me for much of the beginning of my time there, how could they not be concerned that something bad might happen?  Was it that they are used to living in a war zone? Was it that they did not care if they lived or died?  Or was it that they were living out the true gospel?  The verse that kept coming to my mind while there was “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” That was it, their faith seemed so simple yet so profound.  While many times our American faith sounds profound theirs you could actually feel. 

“To live is Christ, and to die is gain” This is how they lived, for them if they were going to go on living it meant a complete confidence in God for total provision.   Provision for both their physical needs but also a provision for them living out their God given place in this world.  And if they die, well then they go to heaven.  It is truly viewed as a win-win.  I think for most of us here in the US, the first part seems easy “to live is Christ” ok, that means that I need to live a Christ centered life here.  The part that we struggle with is “to die is gain” even though it says “to die is GAIN”  many of us don’t really believe this.  If we were really living the Gospel according to how it was written and the life that Jesus has called us to live  this second part would not scare us.  On the contrary and I am speaking for myself, we like to live out the Gospel according to the comfort level and standard of living that we think we deserve.  When I read the New Testament, Jesus never says you will have a great standard of living or some level of comfort.  He says things like, “you must die to yourself and follow me daily, and what you do for the least of them you do for Me” this is counter cultural for us, and we think that we are the most blessed Nation.  In many ways we are and I am both proud and consider myself very luck to be an American.  But I got to think that as right as we are on many things, we are getting farther and farther away from the most important, and that is, What is the life that God has called you to live?  It may or may not involved the big house, 2 cars, and 2.5 kids, but it should always reflect the true call that He has given us, and always bring Him glory.    

This is what God taught me in Sudan, while their living conditions are not good compared to American standards, I couldn’t help but be a little jealous in their complete confidence in God’s provision. 

 

I try to keep up with what is going on in Sudan, because of the current state of affairs trustworthy news can be difficult to come by. I have found a website for the Sudan Tribune which seems to have integrity. This article below talks about a development project in Sudan that will hopefully be a good thing and not just a facade to exploit the oil rich south.
Sudan begins demining of Peace Road in Malakal – Bor sectors
Sunday 14 December 2008 04:30.
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December 13, 2008 (MALAKAL) — Sudan has started on Saturday the demining of Peace Road Fulj- Malakal and Ayod-Bor sectors. The project is expected to link northern and southern Sudan.
The launching of demining operations was attended in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State by the minister of roads and Bridges Philip Thon Leek, the minister of humanitarian affairs, Harun Lual, the state minister for humanitarian affairs and secretary general of the national centre for combating landmines Ahmed Haroun, Undersecretary at the ministry of humanitarian affairs Charles Mayang and governor of Upper Nile State Gatluak Deng Garang.
During a visit to Juba last September President Omer Al-bashir said the government of Sudan had signed a loan agreement with the government of China for the construction of the Peace Road.
The Kuwait-based Arab Bank for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) also agreed to finance the project at a cost of US$75 million.
The Sudanese minister of transport, roads, and bridges, said this week that the national unity government plans during the upcoming 2009 to Sudan with neighbouring countries through construction of vital road like the Peace road which should facilitate the linking of Sudan with Uganda and Kenya.
The five year plan according to Philip Thon Leek, should link the 26 states with 30,000 of roads.
He said that the plan is part of Sudan’s five-year plan to bring development and peace. He added that the plan includes linking the states with 30,000 km of roads, noting that 3,000 km have been completed so far. He explained that the goal is a little more than 30,000 km.
The demining would be implemented by working groups composed of engineers from the Sudan Armed Forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army that have received training in the International Mine Action Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

I had the privilege to spend two weeks in Malakal, Sudan this past July. It was as eye opening as it was humbling. To see the oppression and standards of living and yet the resilience and joy of the people points only to God. How could these people be so content and have so much hope for their city in the midst of their circumstances? The only rational answer is their hope in Jesus Christ.

Few have heard or would even know anything about Malakal, it is the very most northern city of South Sudan. Sudan is split in the middle by the northern Islamic part and the southern Christian dominated region. Since Malakal is so far north and close to the same government that is responsible for the atrocities in Darfur, the enormous Muslim influence makes it difficult for the Christian population living in the city.

The reason Malakal is so important is because of its relevant size to other Sudanese cities. It is one of the largest and most influential in all of Sudan. It is a gateway to the oil rich South that the North desperately wants control of. Malakal was also at the center of the fighting that took place in recent years. The jockeying for control for Malakal leaves the Christian population there in great need of an ability to sustain themselves.

My sponsoring church was Fellowship Dalla, which is partnering with ALARM striving for long-term economic initiatives in Malakal. We are not looking to get in and get out, we are also not favoring the idea of handouts. We share the sentiments with the Pastors of Malakal that economic and leadership training is vital to their long term success. In future post I will share more about the project as my goal is to raise awareness to this forgotten and unknown region of the world.

As I have been studying God's word for His direction on my life regarding Malakal, I came across Isiah 58: 9-11
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression , with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your night will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."