Here is this month's Bible-a-month Extra. Read on to find out how you are helping children who have been hurt by conflict....
June 2017: South Sudan
Children in South Sudan have experienced conflict, violence, abduction and rape. This month your support will help the Bible Society there bring God's message of hope to those who have suffered.
South Sudan, the youngest and least developed country in Africa, gained independence from Sudan after the continent's longest running civil war.
Since its independence just 6 years ago the country has struggled to control rebel militia groups. This conflict between government and opposition forces led to a humanitarian crisis at the end of 2013. Millions of people were displaced, thousands killed and food supply became insecure. In 2015 a peace agreement was reached but then last year fighting again broke out between the groups. South Sudan has been plunged back into conflict.
Children in South Sudan have experienced trauma. For some their whole lives have been affected by conflict and violence. Families have been torn apart and thousands of children have been displaced trying to escape the violence. Girls have been sexually abused and tortured. Many watched while their families were killed and their houses burned. Children in South Sudan have had to flee for their lives. It is hard for us to imagine the trauma that children have been through.
The Church in South Sudan wants to reach out to these children who have experienced trauma, so they're working with the Bible Society to run Bible-based trauma healing programmes. The Bible Society hopes that by training church leaders in
Bible-based trauma healing and counselling the churches will become centres of healing for the children.
Bible-based Trauma Healing is an amazing programme that allows children to work through their problems in an engaging and appropriate way. Counselling sessions are put in place for trained staff and volunteers who get alongside these children and help them to recover from their trauma - physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. Children learn about Jesus and are helped to discover how God loves them and cares for them
It is so important that children learn to deal with how they are feeling. Their experiences and emotions shape who they are and who they will become. Helping children who have experienced trauma to come to a place of forgiveness, acceptance and love is key to them moving on with their lives and finding peace.
Each child who attends these sessions receives a Bible. The comforting, healing Word of God gives children who have lived in darkness a hope and joy.
Ayesha and her teacher using trauma healing resources supplied by the Bible Society
Ayesha (not her real name) was only ten years old when the war reached her town along the eastern side of the River Nile. Everyone ran for their lives and in the confusion Ayesha lost track of her parents. She didn't know what to do. She ran to the river to try and cross it, thinking that that's what her mother would do. Ayesha was standing at the water's edge crying when another woman from the town found her. The woman took care of Ayesha and together with her own children they walked for a week to reach Juba.
Ayesha became a member of this new family. Efforts were made to find her real family but today there is still no word of them.
One day, close to where they were staying, a trauma healing programme was set up by the Bible Society in South Sudan. Ayesha went along to the first workshop and that day she accepted Christ as her saviour. She said,
"Although I am an orphan, God gave me a mother and father. Now trauma healing of the Bible Society has opened my eyes to know Jesus. I feel free and the heavy burden in my heart is gone."
Pray
Please pray for this work...
For the children of South Sudan. Pray that God would protect them and that they would know His love and care in the midst of conflict.
That the Church would be equipped by the Bible Society in South Sudan to work with children who have experienced trauma. Pray that Christians in this place would continue to be shining lights for God.
For the staff of the Bible Society in South Sudan. They are faithfully carrying out God's work in very difficult circumstances, through conflict and famine - pray that they will know God's presence and provision.
What will your £5 do?
This month your gift of £5 will help equip churches throughout South Sudan, enabling them to be a place of healing and refuge to so many lost children.
Thank you for your contribution as a Bible-a-month partner. If you would like to make an additional donation to this project then please get in touch with Bible Society NI using the contact details below.
Text your donation now. Text BAMC17£5 to 70070
Bible Society NI | 27 Howard Street, Belfast, BT1 6NB | 028 9032 6577 | [email protected] | www.bsni.co.uk
