April 2023

CRM Partners,

Psalm 20:1-2, 7-9 reads, “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary and strengthen you out of Zion…

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stand upright. 9 Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.

At this time, we are praying this entire Psalm over our brethren in Sudan who have since Saturday been caught up in the fresh fighting happening all around them.

As a result of the outbreak of war, I have been forced to cancel our trip to Khartoum. Qatar Air cancelled our flights on Sunday afternoon. We thank God our team is not caught up in this mess.

Adam is in Elfashir. He has not reported in yet today, perhaps due to his phone’s battery being dead, but as of Monday evening everyone in that compound was OK. I am sure that like everywhere else, they are running short of water and food. He reported Monday that a mortar hit a house near his mom’s house in Zalengei. Two residents of that house died and two of his nieces were hurt. His mom’s house and others burned to the ground. He does not know where his family members have sought sanctuary.

Alamadin is in Omdurman, sister city to Khartoum. He has had electricity throughout and thus has been our main source of on-the-ground reports. However, because his brethren in various locations within Darfur have either run out of phone credit, or have no means to charge their phones, he is of today receiving few reports.

We will follow the events as they unfold as closely as possible and pass on news to you as we receive it. In the meantime, we ask you to pray for the peace of Sudan and for the Great Shepherd to protect His sheep.

Reports of Bibles
Received in Darfur

I mentioned in my last newsletter that Alamadin had not yet translated the reports of those who received Bibles during the recent distribution of almost 1,300 diglot full Bibles. I have copied and pasted below three of the messages he sent last week. The first one from Naima is very special. A donor to CRM read Naima’s plea in a March newsletter for Bibles on behalf of the 60 women who meet in her home for Bible study. That lady sent CRM $1,000 to buy 60 Bibles for Naima’s group. We praise God that Naima and all the others received their Bibles before this new conflict broke out. We trust all of them are hearing from the Lord as they hunker down together wherever they are seeking refuge.

Naima said,

What a wonderful gift that I have never thought about it. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace. I will now commit myself more to tell your deeds to my people. For, “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

My brothers and sisters, I and my people are very excited over your wonderful gifts of Bibles. We will know our Lord Jesus Christ better. We will also grow deep in faith. We may not be able to reward you, but our heavenly father will reward you abundantly. My friend Shima got very happy she said, “I thank God now I have got my Bible; I can share the gospel with my friends everywhere.” Rugia said, “Reading is new thing for us, and to get such a valuable book to read is indeed a blessing from God.” Isra said this sister of ours is teaching us how to take care of our brothers and sisters around us. If she can love us who she did not see us one day, what about us who are with our brothers and sisters daily? May God bless our sister, who blessed us with the word of God.” All the ladies in the Church say thank you so much for the incredible gift from our sister who has considered us as her priority. Our pastor Alamadin told us about the lady who has given her special donation of our church. Thank you so much. God bless you,

Your sister in the Lord Naima.

Usman wrote

Pastor Alamadin thank you so much. We are seeing this as a miracle. I am telling my people that God has already heard their prayers. They did not believe that they can have Bibles in their hands. Everyone has wondered when we call them to give them their Bibles. Our next request is please pray that God will help us use these Bibles to share the gospel with our families and our neighbours. Please pray that we shall obtain the knowledge and wisdom from the Lord. Yours in Christ.

Pastor Hadid wrote

In our churches brothers and sisters express their thankfulness for your love and support. What we have to tell you is that your kindness brings inner peace for our societies. Please know that you are coworkers in advancing the kingdom of God in this dark world. Two days ago, four brothers from our neighbouring villages came to pick their Bibles. They stayed the whole night at my home. I could hear from their stories, how they are able to share the gospel with their friends. Our Lord is miraculous God, He sometimes does things in a way that we don’t understand. Please pray that we will continue to work hard to endure hardship and share his love with our brothers and sisters. I am happy that my family is now sharing the gospel with their different friends. Before five days my daughter came with her friend and told me Dadi my friend wants to God, can you explain for her? I praise God for that, and the lady ended up accepting the Lord as her personal Lord and savior. May the blessing of the Lord follow your lifetime.

The Lord Jesus said he was sending us out as sheep among wolves. The Apostle Peter wrote that we should not be surprised whenever fiery trials fall upon us. Therefore, we will take it as a given that those people and organizations which seek to empower gospel movements among least reached people will also be numbered among those who are forced to deal with higher levels of opposition and frustration. Thank you for standing with our Sudanese partners who can relate to such scriptural warnings far better than we.

David Crane