Cush4Christ

Many of you know Andrew & Beth & their boys, who are now serving the Lord in Africa. I just came across the website from this mission & wanted to make sure others know about it...



"Cush4Christ is a ministry of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). We exist to serve the people of Cush (Sudan), beginning with the people of Aweil." (taken from their website)

Here is a great slideshow, and following is their latest update.

Dear Prayer Partners:

"Waters will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert."
(Isaiah 35:6b)

The dry season is here but it is still tolerable. We have reprieve when it
can be relatively cold at 18C (64 F) in the early morning. During the day
wind is refreshingly cool as the sun bakes the earth. We enjoy these cooler
days in January knowing that the unrelenting heat and hot wind is coming
upon us soon.

Despite the dryness of the season we can see the Lord opening the heavens to
pour out the blessing of His Word to water the earth and bring the increase
to what we have planted. We are co-labourers with God in Christ in bringing
His kingdom to this area of His world. PRAY that in 2009 we might enjoy a
great harvest with the other gospel preaching churches.

The people of Aweil area, like the rest of Southern Sudan, are identified as
'Christian' but this is sometimes simply a label. Let me illustrate:
Our county Commissioner called for a change of market day from Sunday to
Thursday in the village/town of Wanyjok. After a few weeks the Commissioner was visited by a large representation of Dinka Diviners (Benybith = Master of the Fishing Spear). These are the people who carry (muk) the life of the community according to Dinka tradition. They hold the power. They told the Commissioner that if he wants to change the day they need bulls to be sacrificed so that they can get approval (through the sacrifices) from their dead brothers who were part of choosing Sunday to be the market day. There were many other factors but I am told that the Commissioner was overwhelmed with the opposition from many sides. So the tradition continues and most of the Christians in the county flock to Wanyjok to do business on Sunday. PRAY for true Christianity to be expressed on Sunday, the Lord's Day and every day of the week!

Every Sunday some of our neighbours (many children and some women) gather under shade of the beautiful Kuel tree. The worship is laboured but glorious. Immanuel has been pleased to meet with us. Thomas faithfully preaches a simple gospel message and calls people to faith in Christ while in the distance ladies walk past with grass mats on their heads heading to market day. We are all there by God's grace. If the Holy Spirit did not call the church they too would be thinking of how to make it big or simply how to make a living. PRAY for these passers by to be drawn to join the chorus of praise.

While many people's priorities are not yet in line with God's, we still
see Him drawing many to Himself. As we have been taught, 'the church is the
hope of the world', we can testify of that truth. It is not true because
we have slick services (the services are quite disorganized at times). It is
not because we have programs that can mobilize and motivate people into
action (we pray that our programs will do that). It is because of the
message of Jesus Christ, the sin bearer, that the church preaches and lives
out before the community - that is what brings hope to everyone who is
willing to receive Him.

I am personally very excited about the mission church in Magnar Akuac, the
fellowship in Parot and the new fellowship group in Majak that is starting
tomorrow, and another community that is preparing to start Lord's Day
worship services. But, I know that all this growth is a work of God. We
have planted the seed (gospel) that God has given us. We have watered (the
Word) that God has given us. God has brought the increase. GIVE PRAISE TO
GOD for the increase. PRAY for more workers to be sent out into the
harvest. PRAY for the gospel to do it's work of transforming whole
communities.

In service of the King,
Vince for the Sudan Team