Suffering for Christ's Sake

Hundreds of churches once bombed and burned to the ground are not only standing again but thriving in Sudan and South Sudan. Hear stories of pastors who experienced intense persecution and how their faith sustained them. Resources: Learn more about the Church Reconstruction Program in South Sudan https://www.samaritanspurse.org/construction/celebrating-over-500-new-churches-in-south-sudan/ To hear more about Ryan’s time in Sudan listen to Serving in Uncertainty: The War in Sudan https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/serving-in-uncertainty-the-war-in-sudan Listen to “Plane Hijacked in Africa: The Pilot’s Story Part 1 and 2” to hear the inspirational story of one of our ministry pilots who chose to fully entrust his life to Jesus even while his plane was being hijacked. SamaritansPurse.org/Listen Show Notes: This week, Kristy reflects on more than 20 years of church growth in Sudan and South Sudan following a two decades long period of civil war. Starting in the 1980s, as the government attempted to eliminate Christianity, Sudanese soldiers would come into villages, burning churches and arresting and torturing pastors. Even in the face of intense persecution these pastors maintained their faith in God. Rev. James Lagos Alexander, an archbishop in Sudan, was just a young pastor when the war broke out. He soon found himself in jail—not for a crime but for preaching the Gospel. His church was later bulldozed on Christmas Eve. Even as he was crying out to the Lord, Samaritan’s Purse was preparing to start a program that would eventually rebuild more than 500 destroyed churches and train new pastors for each one that was martyred during the war. “There's many ways for us to give up, but we say we will not give up. If we die, we die, but we must preach the Gospel in season and out of season.” – Rev. James Lagos Alexander Though they had been jailed, beaten, and persecuted for their faith they were joyful and relentless in sharing the Gospel. Kristy shared a verse from Colossians on suffering for Christ’s sake. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church.” - Colossians 1:24 (NASB) Ryan Boyette, who worked with Samaritan’s Purse in Sudan during the Church Reconstruction Program, was inspired by the immense faith he saw on display as he heard the stories of what these people had endured. “They had been beaten down over generations and decades of war and targeted attacks, but the construction of these churches has allowed that hope to remain. It’s a symbol that Christ is there and He loves this church and He loves these people.” – Ryan Boyette Today, more than 20 years after the Church Reconstruction Program began, these churches are not only standing, but thriving! Many have expanded into other villages and use their buildings throughout the week for schools, adult education programs, orphanages, and shelters for people displaced by conflict. “Instead of worshiping under the trees, now we have a place. We felt like the wall of Jerusalem has been rebuilt. We felt that God has come back home. We felt that our identity has been restored. What the enemy has taken from us, now God has brought it back again.” – Rev. James Lagos Alexander Their testimonies are an incredible reminder that out of hardship can come amazing growth. Kristy encourages listeners that God's plans can be so different than our own, but we have to trust that His ways are higher than ours, and He works all things together for the good of those who love Him. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.       Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.