Sudan (MNN) — The situation in Sudan is not improving. Renewed clashes between the Sudanese army and rebel group RSF killed dozens of civilians on Friday.

Fighting is relentless, and according to the UN, Sudan now holds the most displaced people in the world. Half of the displaced population are kids.

Sudan’s two warring factions have given the UN until March 1 to leave the country, removing a critical lifeline for the Sudanese people. Yet hope remains. The “Sudanese are running as sheep without a shepherd,” an unfoldingWord partner we’ll call John* says,

“They’re looking for security, and many are finding that security in Jesus.”

Three decades of severe Islamic rule have left most of Sudan’s ethnic communities without access to Scripture in their languages. unfoldingWord is changing that through church-centric Bible translation.

(Photo courtesy of unfoldingWord)

Their work couldn’t come at a better time. “In Islam, God speaks Arabic. Most of the people we are working with to translate the Word of God have never spoken personally to God in their language,” John says.

“It is transforming people as translation is taking place.”

Translation work continues despite the war, albeit with more caution. “[When] they (translators) go into a village to test their translation, the whole village comes out because they’d never heard about God in their language,” John says.

“As they go through these Open Bible Stories, we’ve seen people come to the Lord.”

Meanwhile, Sudanese church planters are sharing minority-language Open Bible Stories in displacement camps, and Muslims are turning to Jesus. In an email update, John writes:

Many of these translators lead Discovery Bible Studies with people from their tribes who have come to Christ. What a miracle! Four UPG refugee new believers want to attend [our organization’s training school.]

Here’s how you can help through unfoldingWord.

“Pray for not only our workers but anyone working to bring the truth of Christ to the people of Sudan. Pray that God will give them courage as they witness,” John requests.

 

*Pseudonym

Header image is a representative stock photo depicting the Sudan flag and emblem overlaying a map outline of Sudan. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.