As we begin 2011, please remember to keep Southern Sudan in your prayers.

As the referendum vote for South Sudan approaches on January 9th, pray that peace will prevail. As part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended 21 years of civil war in 2005, the south is scheduled to vote on secession from the north. There are strong spiritual, political and tribal power-plays going on in Sudan that need God’s intervention.

What some of our partners are saying about the upcoming elections in South Sudan

From Terry Duncan, African Director - World Gospel Mission

I am both excited and sad for South Sudan (SS) when I think of the upcoming referendum vote.

• Sad because I see no way that SS will escape going into another war. The north will not let go of the oil and all the other resources in SS without a fight. They loose too much. It is also, in my opinion, a loss of a good path for Islam to move southward into other East & Central African counties. I hope I am all wrong in this assumption and they have a smooth transition.( I am also assuming that SS votes to separate…… as I did not hear one person say they were voting to stay one country)
• I am excited for the people of SS as they speak and pray for hope for their future. From the very beginning when Sudan got its independence the people of SS have been oppressed. There are clear differences in the two peoples: as the north is predominately Arab and Islam, whereas the south predominately African and Christian. It is not a surprise to me that they have not worked together. Let me also define what I think “Christian” means in SS. It means “I am not Muslim” and mission groups need to help teach and train pastors how to lead their people into knowing what a true disciple of Christ really means. This training is one of Mango Ministry's focuses.

The future may not look so bright in the first part of this New Year, but let’s pray for SS and its people. God has this big country in His control no matter what man may think they have planned.

• May I ask that you also pray for Joy Phillips (Joy has been a huge help to us at PCC/MCH) as she takes the lead into all the miniseries that WGM is trying to do for Sudan. It may be we have to go to plan B if we cannot go into SS. We will focus more on the Sudanese outside their country (KE&UG). Pray also for the WGM Sudan Board as they make decisions that effect many people. Pray for more people to be called to this country with the gifts and abilities that God needs to use in WGM ministries.
• WOW with Sudan in the world’s focus, I would love to see God somehow be glorified in a great way in all of this. Thanks for praying!!!

Ajak, Prayer and the Sudan Referendum and Vote

Dr. Ajak talked to the staff at MCH about the Sunday Jan 9th South Sudan Vote. (This vote is to stay or secede from (North) Sudan and become their own country. Here he compares there vote with our revolutionary war and other revolutions.

“Receive my sincere greetings for the New Year 2011, a year which determine the future of our country, nine days to come from now. As you all know First of January 1956 was a year that Sudan got it’s independence but was not a real independent because there was a war in South Sudan.”

“I went over the world revolutions such as: American Revolution 1776, French Revolution, October Revolution (Russia), Cuba war of independence of 1868, I and II war world. Also mentioning the world communist philosophers (Lenin, Karl Max and Engels, etc). I knew that no(t) many of our staffs have knowledge of what I was talking about but they learnt something new, which is their additional knowledge.”

Local Church Prays with the Hospital Staff

“This is my 3rd year at MCH without enjoying firework (our forth of July), neither on TV but this morning while I was doing round in the hospital. Werkok Adventist Church paraded through MCH and prayed for the patients, PCC, MCH and it staffs. It was one of the greatest gift for the New Year we have ever experienced.”

January first prayers were unique, because God was paraded through MCH with his children. While I was giving medicines to patients, it was a greatest gift we have received for the New Year! I thanks our Almighty Lord for doing that for us.”

“May God Be With You All!”

Dr. Ajak Talks About His Cuban Upbringing

Dr. Ajak talked about his years in Cuba where he was mentored by the Christian Church there and where he learned to know and accept Christ . As you read this remember he is thinking and talking about the impending Sudan vote for separation (revolution) and how God has been working through all of this:

“Frankly speaking, as a Sudanese-Cuban. January first, 1959 is more important to me than January first, of 1956. Reminding little bit when I left Sudan I was 9 year-old and I live in Cuba for 15 years it shows that I am more Cuban than Sudanese. As matter of fact, Cuba today is celebrating it 53 Anniversary of Victorious Revolution.”

“You might ask what is that: exactly is that those Communist Philosophers (Lenin, Karl Max and Engels, etc) they were against our Almighty God because they destroyed Churches, burn Bible and persecuting people for worship the Gospel. The communists were brainwashing people around the world to worshiping their leaders instead of our Lord, what a pathetic? Those day if you carry a Bible they take you to prison if you were lucky if not you die. Bible have been smuggled into those countries of Europe, even to Cuba.”

“However, God has showed himself by using his people to mention few such as John Paul II and Billy Graham. Now in Europe Christianity is open and in Cuba too. The arrival of John Paul II to Cuba 1998 it gave the opportunity to Cuban people to celebrate Christmas ever, Cuban people acknowledge the presence of God now days.”

“Those changes in Europe, Cuba and others countries are the testimony of presence of God. I would like to pay tribute to those Christian leaders whom have done tireless effort to keep the Gospel viable around the globe. I did have a chance to watch Billy Graham preaching in NY in 1996 when I was in Cuba, half the world population had watched him. What a marvelous God!”

“Then, I thanked Simon Kon (Werkok Adventist Church and see picture in news item “LOCAL CHURCH PRAYS ….”) for sharing Hebrews 11: 1-11 with us on Dec 31/2010 in the morning and the contribution of Aaron, and Peter. I felt it’s good to share those things with you. Happy New Year!”

Blessings, Ajak

Our Prayer, Staff and Funding Needs

In addition to the Election Dr. Ajak talks about the immediate PCC need for staff at our MCH hospital. Please help PCC in hospital staff funding.

“Certainly, needs are lack of personnel (2 nurses: day nurse and overnight nurse, and Lab tech assistant), We prayed for peace in Sudan, patients, MCH staffs so God can give them strength and wisdom, PCC that God will provide funds for it projects in Werkok (for Sudanese People) in the nearest future, Volunteers, and American brothers and sisters whom have been providing us with materials (funds), etc.”

Blessings, Ajak