April 18, 2012

Church hopes for justice and peace


 Reverend Thabo, Archbishop of South Africa, and Reverend Deng, Archbishop of Sudan

The call for peace between nations comes from many organizations. The church in South Africa has written to the church in Sudan, to encourage her.
We pray for your country and faithful Christians there.
We also pray for implementation of a real peace between the two countries and the successful outcome of negotiations.
The Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, The Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, wrote a letter to the Most Revd Dr Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan during Easter week.

Unlike the political states which have separated into two countries, the Episcopal Church [Anglican] of Sudan has remained as a single organization, working in both countries.

There has been renewed military action over the past few weeks, as the Sudanese Forces and the South Sudanese Army [SPLA/N] have engaged in various forms of engagement, airplanes have bombed oil well regions, they have been shot down, towns such as Heglig in disputed territories over where the border actually is have been attacked, and then counter attacked. Convoys and military bases have been attacked. Humanitarian aid has been refused. People have left their towns to avoid the confrontations, thus creating a desperate situation to deal with internal refugees. South Sudanese in the north have been expelled from Sudan.

Political statements by leaders have called on national pride. Techniques such as police crackdowns on demonstrations and outlawing certain people have occurred. Bashir has called for mobilization.

A couple of articles analyze the latest difficulties between Sudan and South Sudan.
Sudan: Country Is Waging a Wrong War Against the People of South Sudan

Active Fighting Between Sudan and South Sudan Must Stop to Allow for a Negotiated Settlement of the Conflict

Church leaders follow the revelation of God, the Bible, and their Lord Jesus. Jesus was a peacemaker and interested in reconciling people to God. This means restoring broken relationships. So it's not unexpected that Bishop Thabo finished his letter to the Sudanese Church this way.
May Sudan and South Sudan come to a settlement which will bring lasting peace with justice to both nations and all who live within their borders. And in this, may you and your church be blessed, and be a blessing to others in sharing the sure and certain hope that Jesus Christ has won for us all.
Yours in the service of Christ, crucified and raised to new life for the redemption of the world,
Thabo Cape Town

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