Faith-based influence in South Sudan
>From PRI's The World 12 April, 2011 01:41:00
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Photo of voters in Sudan (Image by Matthew Brunwasser, PRI's The
World.) American Christians were instrumental in ending Sudan's civil
war. Now some are worried about their continued influence in South
Sudan.
This story was originally covered by PRI's The World. For more, listen
to the audio above.
By Matthew Brunwasser
At Sunday morning services at the Pentecostal Juba Christian Center in
South Sudan, similar to American-style Christianity, the preacher
says, "the holy spirit is moving in this nation, a lot of prayers are
being poured..."
It's not unheard of for politics and pulpit to mix. But in relations
between states, faith usually takes a backseat to realpolitik. In the
case of the 2005 peace treaty between northern and southern Sudan,
though, it was the opposite. Douglas Johnston, with the International
Center for Religion and Diplomacy in Washington, says American
Christians essentially drove the politics.
"Because a lot of them were doing missionary work down there and they
had seen a lot of the very bad stuff going on," Johnston said. "They
would report back and then the churches got involved. Had it not been
for that element, I don't think we would've ever gotten involved in
Sudan. Nor do I think anyone would have ever cared about Darfur."
President Bush appointed retired senator and ordained Episcopal priest
John Danforth as his Sudan envoy. There was war between north and
south, and the Sudanese Council of Churches was lobbying for peace in
the US and Europe.
"They were to collect the data of every bomb dropped in the south by
the Sudan government air force, by location, by time, by whatever
injured the people, all this information proved useful, when John
Danforth came, he got that information, and he used it to press the
parties, both sides, the Sudan government in particular, to agree to
stop killing civilians," said Enoch Tombe, the Episcopal Bishop of
Rejaf, was at the time head of the council whose monitors documented
human rights abuses.
The story of the suffering Sudanese Christians resonated loudly with
American Christians. Aaron Shapiro works in the juba office of
Samaritan's purse, run by Franklin Graham -- Billy's son -- one of the
biggest faith based organizations in Sudan.
"I think it was probably a very easy story to sell, for better or for
worse," said Shapiro. "Arab Muslims versus black Christians. It
definitely goes over as a good headline and a good story, within the
Christian community. It's much more complex than that."
Political bedfellows
There was a strange coalition of political bedfellows pushing for
action in Sudan: conservative Christians, the congressional black
caucus and human rights groups. The signing of the peace treaty six
years ago ended the war and paved the way for last January's secession
vote in South Sudan. It also mandated freedom of worship. Christianity
is alive and well.
After services at the Pentacostal Juba Christian Center parishioner
Christine Poney said she expects Christianity to grow in South Sudan.
She throws around the names of American televangelists like they're
movie stars.
"I watch them on TV so many times," said Poney. "I'm a fan of TD
Jakes, sorry to call it a fan, but I really like his preaching, they
are real, practical. Benny Hinn is another Pentcostal gentleman... I
even subscribe to his incoming mails and so forth. despite the recent
issues about his family life, Benny Hinn is the man."
There's some concern here that a particular form of American
Christianity is spreading too quickly. Marina Peter, the European
coordinator of the Sudan Ecumenical Forum, said South Sudan is ripe
for exploitation by unscrupulous preachers. She expects independence
to set off a gold rush for souls.
"For those churches who want to have an influence, who want to grow,
its just wonderful," Peter said. "They have many people who are not
educated, who will just follow whatever they are told. My fear is that
these poor people will be misused."
Some amount of exploitation may be the price South Sudan pays for
progress. But however South Sudan's new religious freedom develops the
new country will have Christian believers to thank for its new
freedoms.
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PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering
a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe.
"The World" is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH
Boston.
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