Please keep them in your prayers The following people used to be in Connect & Encourage, but it’s no longer possible to write to them (in most cases, this is due to security concerns), and we do not have the capacity to pass on your messages.
Egypt In the past we’ve asked you to send cards, but at this time it’s difficult to ensure they will arrive in a timely manner. While the situation has improved for the Christian community, religious minorities are still targeted, and there are a growing number of human rights defenders among the nation’s prisoners of conscience.
Iran Over the last few years we’ve seen a pattern of religious minorities being arrested on national security charges, and in a number of current cases it could put them at risk if they were to receive cards from other countries.
Nigeria
Sudan Church of Christ (SCOC) In October 2020 a criminal court in Omdurman acquitted eight church leaders of charges of criminal trespass filed against them by an illegitimate government-appointed committee. However, the case is now before the court of appeal.
The Episcopal Church of Sudan
Rebecca Sharibu Rebecca is the mother of Leah, a schoolgirl who was one of 110 girls abducted from their school in Dapchi, Nigeria by Boko Haram in February 2018. The next month, following negotiations by the government, the remaining girls were put into trucks to go home. But Leah wasn’t among them. She wasn’t released because she refused to convert in exchange for her freedom. Rebecca has been waiting for Leah to come home ever since.
Sudan There have been significant changes in Sudan since former President Omar al Bashir was deposed and a Transitional Government took over in September 2019. In October 2021 the country was plunged into a new political crisis when a military coup raised significant concerns over the nation’s future. The months since the 22
coup have been marked by excessive use of force against peaceful protestors demonstrating against the military takeover. The Church continues to support its members and the wider community through this extended period of uncertainty. Sadly, church leaders in many denominations are still grappling to hold administrative control over their affairs, with some facing criminal charges.
The Episcopal Church is one of the largest Christian denominations in Sudan, and has several schools and medical centres attending to the needs of the entire community. The church also supports IDPs of every religion, offering humanitarian aid in many IDP camps. In the past, the church faced government harassment over the ownership of their properties and land disputes. Many of its buildings located in expensive areas were confiscated.
Sudanese Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) An illegitimate pro-government church committee appointed by the former regime sold most of the church’s properties and rented many buildings for exceedingly long terms, including the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, which has mostly been demolished. Rafat Obid, who leads the church’s legitimate elected committee, has been arrested on several occasions for ‘impersonating’ a church official, and is now facing another trial.
Keep these people in your prayers
