4/25/2024 Kenya (International Christian Concern) — In the face of persecution, three men risked their lives to follow Jesus in Sudan. Today, with help from International Christian Concern (ICC), they’re graduating from university.
James, John, and Joseph each faced persecution during a war and escaped Sudan to begin a new life in Kenya.
Surviving the Violence
James first experienced persecution for his Christian faith at a young age. He remembers Muslim men visiting his home to kidnap and persecute his father, an ordained pastor. Fearing for his life, his father would only come home during the day, leaving James, his six siblings, and their mother to fend off the attackers.
Each night, the family faced violence, bringing them within inches of death. They faced other challenges, too. With little money, the children learned not to expect medication for their injuries as the hospitals raised prices after learning their patients followed Christ. Unable to receive education, medical treatment, or a peaceful night of sleep, James’s family moved to South Kordofan to begin a new life.
When James was 13 years old, the war broke out in Sudan and greatly affected South Kordofan. All three men vividly remember the war.
“There were massive killings of Christians and destruction of property,” recalled John, the only member of his family who was able to escape. “Many people were also wounded, houses burnt, and women and girls raped. Little children were also killed in numbers since they could not escape easily.”
Fleeing from city to city, John survived off small rations at refugee camps across various countries bordering Sudan and eventually settled in Kenya. He worked several jobs to support himself but never excelled past manual labor due to his lack of education. John lived in the Kakuma, Kenya refugee camp for nine years.
Joseph was in university when the war broke out. Never fully understanding the Muslim faith of his family, he used his time at the university as an opportunity to learn about Christianity. Joseph took a class on the Christian faith, and a lesson on the teachings of Jesus Christ captured his heart. He decided to put his trust in Jesus. After keeping his conversion a secret for a year, Joseph finally gained the courage to share his faith with his family and friends. They had him arrested, and authorities put him in jail.
Authorities released Joseph after four months, warning him to stay away from Christianity. Soon, local Muslim men followed Joseph and beat him for refusing to reconvert immediately after his release. Less than two years later, authorities arrested Joseph again and sentenced him to death. After staying in prison for seven months, the prison transferred Joseph to the Red Sea prison, where he planned to die.
God saved Joseph from prison through the kindness of an officer who helped him escape. Joseph struggled to leave Sudan but eventually escaped to Kenya in 2019.
New Life
James, John, and Joesph each found themselves in Kenya, wanting more from their lives than the brutality they faced for so long.
Friends from ICC met the three men and offered to help fund their education. They are now on schedule to graduate with various degrees and go on to contribute to Kenyan society with successful careers.
“ICC has walked with me for three years, and now I am just taking my last course in my journey,” Joseph said. “Soon, I shall be done with my degree education, which ICC has been part of. I attribute my success to ICC for enabling me to come this far. The Lord bless you.”
James added that he, too, is grateful for ICC’s support.
“Despite setbacks caused by the renewed conflict in Khartoum, a ray of hope emerged in the form of ICC, who have steadfastly guided me through life, and for that, I am profoundly grateful,” he said.
John shared that ICC has changed the trajectory of his life in a way he’ll never forget.
“Through ICC’s steadfast efforts, I found my way to university. At this critical juncture, the intervention of ICC marked a transformative chapter in my life, for which I remain deeply grateful,” he said. “Out of the many refugees, the Lord connected me to ICC, and this has become more than just aid, but friendship.”
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