Evangelical Relief Ministry Seeing Gradual Success in Sudan
by Allie Martin
February 21, 2005
(AgapePress) - A ministry that seeks to spread the message of Christ in persecuted nations is involved in ongoing work in war-torn Sudan.Oklahoma-based Strategic World Impact has been working for the past five years in Eastern Sudan, reaching out to refugees and nomadic Muslims with the gospel. SWI president Kevin Turner recently talked with Mission Network News about the ministry and how it has worked gradually to establish a rapport with the natives of the area.
"When we first started our outreach in this region, the people were pretty closed," Turner explained. "They were very withdrawn; they weren't sure if they could trust us or not. But over five years, we've been able to build credibility with them," he says.
Now, the ministry leader says, the people of Eastern Sudan "know that we truly care about them." And because of their trust in the ministry workers' genuine concern, he notes, "We've been able to share the JESUS Film, distribute some literature for them to read, and we've even had several Muslims now request Bibles."
And even in its outreach among Muslims, SWI is seeing successes. "By the grace of God, we're starting to see converts. We're seeing people turn from Islam to follow Jesus, and it's really very rewarding in this area," Turner says.
Each success contributes to the SWI's goal of reaching Eastern Sudan for Christ, one person at a time. Still, the SWI spokesman admits there are many challenges involved in working in the remote region, including trying to build relationships with two of the world's most "un-reached" people groups. However, he says many of the non-Christians in the area are open to what he calls a "two-fisted gospel" approach.
"We minister not only with the Word of God, but we also minister in the power of God by responding and helping people in their physical distress," Turner says. "That gives us a platform and an opportunity to show love -- and from that, people want to know more."
SWI is a global ministry dedicated to caring for the most oppressed people in times of crisis. The organization works to assist the Church in extending to those people the hope of the gospel and "gently opening locked doors and closed hearts" by delivering food, shelter, and medicine.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
