November 11, 2002

Sudan Peace Act hailed as positive for Christianity
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___The Sudan Peace Act, signed into law Oct. 21, is historic legislation, according to a Texas Baptist laywoman who was present for the signing.
___"It was a very memorable, moving experience," said Deborah Fikes, a member of First Baptist Church in Midland.
___Fikes first became aware of the plight of Sudanese Christians about a year ago.
___"Last year, Midland was the site of the World Day of Prayer for the persecuted church," she reported. "It was from that gathering that our community

VILLAGERS in Sudan prepare to view the "Jesus" film on a makeshift screen.

really found out about what was going on in Sudan."
___The Islamic government in Sudan reportedly has bombed, raped, murdered and enslaved hundreds of thousands of Christians and animists in southern Sudan for nearly two decades. The Sudan Peace Act declares a formal finding of genocide against the government of Sudan and requires an investigation of war crimes. The act also condemns slavery, aerial bombings of civilian targets, manipulation of food aid and other human rights abuses.
___The law provides for a decision every six months as to whether the Sudanese government is negotiating in good faith with the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement in the south. If not, the law says, the United States will seek an embargo against the official government in Khartoum.
___Also, $300 million in humanitarian aid over the next three years is linked to changes in Sudan's humanitarian record.
___"The pocket of Christians there are the only barrier between the Muslims of the north and the rest of Africa," Fikes said.
___An ecumenical alliance of people in Midland concerned with the welfare of the people of Sudan was invited to the White House to witness the signing.
___"We are so happy that this bill has been signed into law, so that funds, food and medical supplies can be sent to this place where they are so badly needed," Fikes said.
___However, the bill was not the ultimate solution to the problem in Sudan, she said.
___"This is a spiritual battle, and no amount of money will change that part of the world," Fikes said. "The hope of the gospel is the only thing that will change that part of the world."
___While many people in Sudan are persecuted for calling themselves Christians, the label is more of an ethnic relationship than a spiritual relationship, she explained.
___"Many identify themselves as Christians but really have had no exposure to the gospel because they have no churches, no Bibles, no way to hear," she said. "We are trying to help with that by sending the 'Jesus' film in the five languages spoken in Sudan and getting the projection equipment needed."
___Since the projector and the film reached Sudan in April, more than 100,000 have viewed the film.
___"It's been a tremendous experience to see what can be done with very inexpensive equipment," she said.
___

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