Friday, May 16, 2025

It is the 16th of May 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

Today’s show takes us to Africa, and based on conversations and my own education through High School, I understand that this continent, despite its rich Christian past, is often overlooked. Today, we head to the Sudan - or more properly, the Sudans, as there has been a Sudan and South Sudan since 2011 (this makes South Sudan the newest country in the world).

To find Sudan, go to Egypt and head south- it is the country bordering Egypt to the south and the Red Sea to the East. Sudan and South Sudan border Eritrea and Ethiopia to the East as well, and this area, in “bible times,” is referred to sometimes as Cush, Nubia, or Ethiopia. The “Ethiopian Eunuch” was likely from Sudan, as “Ethiopia” generally referred to the region south of Egypt.

With the spread of Christianity, either due to Roman persecution or the migration of Christians fleeing Egypt to more remote areas, this region would attract a sizable Christian community. Sizable enough that from 350 we have a bishop in the region, and in the 6th century, the three kingdoms that made up this territory were all officially Christian. Islamic expansion in the coming centuries saw most of the Christian world pushed out of what is now Sudan. After centuries of Islamization, Egypt colonized Sudan in the 19th century, and then the region was effectively ruled by the British until 1956. This period allowed for a minority Christian population and missionaries, but still led to antagonism from the local Muslims.

Even before the British left in 56, they treated Sudan as if it were two countries- with a largely Sunni Muslim North and a Christian and animist South. With the British leaving, many in the south joined rebel armies to protect against the stronger north, and the first Civil War was on between North and South- an estimated 500,000 to 1 million died in the war that lasted until an agreement in 1972. There was a lull for over a decade until the president of Sudan disregarded the agreement he himself signed and, in 1983, declared Sharia law for all of Sudan- essentially outlawing Christianity.

This would lead to one of the more remarkable stands made by Christian groups in the last few decades. Leaders of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches- the two largest, primarily in the South came together on this, the 16th of May in 1983, to make a public statement that they would neither convert nor would they leave. In a joint statement, they claimed they “would not abandon God as God had revealed Himself to them”.  

The Second Civil War was thus underway, and it was bloodier than the first. I will spare you the gory details, but the use of terror, child soldiers, and indiscriminate destruction of whole villages marked the conflict that would last from 1983 to 2005. The Christian churches and schools were completely destroyed, but as it was in the early centuries of the church, the faithfulness and public confession of church leaders elicited a matched response from the faithful.

The church, without buildings and infrastructure, and under duress, began to grow.  

In 2011, South Sudan was created by a referendum, and today that country is estimated to be as much as 85% Christian- a remarkable growth. But still today, the minority of Christians in the North face attacks, and a divided and very poor South Sudan is riven with internal division and famine. It’s better than it was, but still unstable in both Sudan and South Sudan. If I may- this is from the Episcopal Church’s collect for today and seems appropriate to read:

O God, you will not be defeated and you are steadfast in the midst of persecution; by your providence the blood of the martyrs has become the seed of the Church in each generation: we remember before you this day the blessed martyrs of the Sudan and South Sudan who were steadfast in their faith in your Son which they refused to abandon, even in the face of death. Grant that we and with them may make the continuing offering of sacrifice that will bring forth a plentiful harvest, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today, we remember the remarkable stand and declaration of faith made back in 1983 on this day at the beginning of the Second Civil War.

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and back in the Psalms from Psalm 67:

May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—

so that your ways may be known on earth,

    your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, God;

    may all the peoples praise you.

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,

    for you rule the peoples with equity

    and guide the nations of the earth.

May the peoples praise you, God;

    may all the peoples praise you.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 16th of May 2025, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who has heard good things about a citrusy orange drink from that region: Sunni Delight… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man very sorry for that one… but with a topic like this, it’s hard to find the ha-ha’s…. I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.