KHARTOUM, SUDAN-- Sudanese Christians have urged fellow believers around the world to pray for them as armed groups are kidnapping and killing church leaders and other Christians, an advocacy group with close knowledge about the situation told Worthy News Tuesday , September 15.
In one of the latest known incidents, an unidentified armed group attacked the town of Wernyol on August 29, killing “many people” including Archdeacon Joseph Mabior Garang “who was shot at the altar while conducting a service,” said Middle East Concern (MEC).
Earlier, three people, including an Episcopal Church lay leader, were murdered August 12 in the town of Ezo of the country's Western Equatorial State during a raid by the militant Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), according to MEC investigations.
"In addition to the murders, several children were kidnapped. The town's clinic was attacked, with medical supplies being stolen and equipment destroyed, which made care of the wounded more difficult," MEC added.
The LRA is led by Joseph Kony, who proclaims himself the "spokesperson" of God and a spirit medium. Rebels aim to overthrow neighboring Uganda's government and to establish a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments of the Bible's Old Testament and local traditions, but have also stepped up their presence in Sudan.