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All member churches of the council and the entire body of Christ in the country are expected to pray continually from 10 June-18 August under the theme “Fulfill your good promises; oh lord.” The churches are holding the prayers in partnership with the faith networks, the Intercessors for South Sudan. and the Prayer Network for South Sudan.
“Please ensure that your members commit to pray…for South Sudan to overcome the challenges and steps to development and prosperity of its citizens and institutions,” Kon told the churches in a statement on 9 June.
The prayers come amidst intensified political tensions between president Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first vice president Reik Machar Teny. President Kiir has detained Machar over allegations that he was attempting to start a rebellion.
He has ordered the bombardment on tribal militia linked to Machar called the White Army, resulting in deaths and displacement of 65,000 people in the Upper Nile State, according to the United Nations. In June, over 100,000 South Sudanese people had sought refuge in the neighbouring countries, the UN said, bringing the total South Sudanese refugees to 2.3 million.
At the same time, while local challenges weigh down local churches, they are also shouldering the burden on refugees fleeing war in the neighbouring Sudan. Many of them are South Sudanese who had fled to the northeastern Africa country, while others are first-time refugees.
Kon, a pastor of the South Sudan Evangelical Presbyterian Church, urged the churches to pray everywhere, continually and strategically, as the country marks 70 years since the start of war in Sudan.
“Pray at home, local church, and on all occasions including at all platforms, whenever it is possible,” he said, urging a focus on the seven spheres of influence, including the family, church, governance, economy, education, media (including art and entertainment), and health.
On 18 August, it will be exactly 70 years since the start of the war that later resulted into secession and independence of South Sudan. On 18 August 1955 in Torit, Equatoria State, the Equatoria Corps, a unit of the Sudan Defence Force mutinied against the British administered Sudan government, marking the start of the first Sudanese war.
This war ended in 1972, but a new one broke out in 1983 and went on for 21 years. It ended with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which paved the way for South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Referring to the book of Jeremiah in the Bible, on God’s promise to Jewish people that, “when 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place,” Kon highlighted a similarity with the 70 years of conflict in South Sudan.
“Since then and during the recurring 21 years of war and after independence, South Sudan has been yearning for peace,” he said.
