Faith Leaders Join 'Weekend of Prayer for Darfur'

By Michelle Vu

WASHINGTON – Christian leaders are joiniing other faith leaders this weekend in prayer for the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

The “Weekend of Prayer for Darfur,” Dec. 8-10, urges prayers to call attention to the estimated 400,000 deaths and 3.5 million people affected by the conflict in Darfur.

Churches and Christians across the country are encouraged to participate in the prayer weekend. The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) – the nation’s largest evangelical organization with around 30 million members – encourages churches to include a prayer for Darfur in their weekly services.

Many churches have also helped promote awareness of the Darfur situation by hanging a “Call to Your Conscience” banner outside their church.

The Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, spoke about the “urgency of now, the importance of speed” in addressing the Darfur crisis during a teleconference last Tuesday.

Edgar cited an African proverb that says: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.”

“This weekend, we are going to walk far together and we are going to walk urgently together in prayer hoping for the violence to stop, the killing to stop, the rape to stop, the burning to stop,” said Edgar. “This is spreading beyond Darfur. It is spreading into Chad and parts of Africa and the time for urgency is now.”

Edgar supports the idea of deploying 25,000 U.N. peacekeeping troops to the Darfur region to replace the under-equipped and under-funded 7,000 African Union peacekeepers. The idea to replace AU troops with U.N. forces has been strongly supported internationally with the exception of the Sudanese government, which has unrelentingly refuse to permit U.N. troops in Sudan.

The Sudanese government has been accused of backing brutal militiamen known as janjaweed who commit atrocities against villagers in Darfur.

“We hope that churches around the country will join together during this weekend to pray for the people of Darfur and an end to the atrocities taking place there,” concluded NAE on its website.

  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo