South Sudan is the newest nation in the world, which gained their independence from Sudan in July of 2011. While Christians in Southern Sudan have faced persecution in the past from Islamic groups, the new constitution for this nation guarantees religious freedom. 27% of the children under five are underweight, and 50% live in poverty[1]. South Sudan also serves as home to about 250,000 refugees and 1.87 million internally displaced persons[2]. Finally, South Sudan is a source and destination country for women, men, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sex trafficking[3]. Let’s Pray…

-God we lift up this nation to you and we pray for protection and religious freedom for your South Sudanese people. Let radical Islamists live in peace towards your servants, and may they desire to become like your servants. Cover this people group with your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We pray that you Jesus would reveal yourself to all people. Help your Christians love you Jesus with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength. Let them live out the plans you have for them and produce harvests of righteousness.* 

-God, we lift up the Animists in South Sudan. Lord Jesus, we pray that you would you pour out your spirit on all people, that their sons and daughters would prophecy, that their old men would dream dreams, and their young men would see visions. We desire all people groups to develop an intimate relationship with the king of kings Jesus Christ.** 

-God we know that you raise the poor from the dust and lift the needy from the ash heap; that you seat them with princes and have them inherit a throne of honor.*** Let your will be done with your people. We pray for the provision of food, water, clothing, and shelter for those in South Sudan, and may they give glory to you Jesus.    

-God, we ask for a release for the trafficked victims in South Sudan. We pray that you would set free the oppressed in this nation. We press forward in your grace and ask for mental, emotional, and physical healing over the captives through the blood of your son Yeshua.  We ask that the captive would hear your word and accept your saving grace Jesus. Holy Spirit, we ask that you would convict the guilty of their sins and lead them to repentance, salvation, and the plans you have for them.        

-God we pray over the Refugees from Sudan and The DRC, along with the internally displaced persons. We pray that they would connect with Godly leaders here in South Sudan, and that each refugee and IDP could find a sense of comfort in their new community. We pray that they would find you God. May you dwell in their hearts, restore their dreams, reaffirm their identity, and lead them in all the things you have for them. Amen. 

Image Credit: David Peterson

[1] CIA World Factbook (Date Accessed October 2014).

[2] CIA World Factbook (Date Accessed October 2014).

[3] CIA World Factbook (Date Accessed October 2014).

*Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of Galatians 5:22-23, (1984); Deuteronomy 6:5 (2011).

**Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of Joel 2:28, (2011).

***Scripture quotations are based upon text obtained from New International Version of 1 Samuel 2:8, (2011).