The Horrible Situation in Sudan...and What Can Be Done

This coming Sunday, I will be preaching on Jesus' beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy" (Matthew 5:7).

One of the striking things I've been reminded of as I've studied and prepared this week, is that the Biblical notion of mercy entails sympathy for those who are afflicted in any way. But it moves beyond a feeling to action. God has shown sympathy for us by becoming one of us, dying on the cross for us, and offering new life to all who will turn from sin and receive Christ as Savior. But, Jesus seems to be saying, we build walls between ourselves and God when we harden our hearts and refuse to be merciful, actively compassionate for those in need.

This is hard for me to know and think about because I am so comfortable in my middle class American life style. It is so easy to live as self-contained creatures here.

For some time now, I have watched and read about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and not done much. The crisis is huge and it's easy to say, "Well, I can't do anything anyway." But as a Christian, I follow a Savior Who has told all of His followers that they would be empowered by His Spirit to do greater works even than He accomplished while on earth.

I'm a communicator and so, I want to use this platform to do several things:

(1) Inform you about the crisis in the Sudan;

(2) Ask you for your prayers;

(3) Encourage you to do what you can at your personal and local level, possibly contributing to relief agencies.

Below are links to stories about the Sudan crisis, as well as agencies and organizations to which you might wish to contribute. God bless you!

This article provides basic information on Sudan. It comes from the Division for Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

This article, by a BBC reporter, gives her experiences traveling through Darfur province in Sudan.

This is a great Q-and-A about the roots and disastrous consequences of the terrors in Sudan. It also was produced by BBC News.

Information and the opportunity to contribute to relief efforts in Darfur, through Lutheran World Relief, the world's most cost-effectively operated charity, can be found here.

This link presents information and a chance to contribute to efforts by Doctors without Borders.

May we all learn the meaning of mercy. God bless you!