Doug Ingram, our CEO, met recently with several bishops from Sudan ahead of the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA) Bishop’s Retreat in Lwesa, Uganda. It was the first time in more than three years that they had been able to gather. The reunion brought both joy and sorrow as they shared stories from a country torn apart by war and hardship.

For the last few years, Relay Trust has walked alongside the Episcopal Church of Sudan, offering encouragement and support as it seeks to stand firm amid conflict. The bishops’ accounts painted a vivid picture of a nation where everyday life is marked by uncertainty and suffering, yet also by resilience and hope.

Archbishop Ezekiel Kondo spoke of the devastation in Khartoum, where churches have been looted and congregations displaced, but still people gather to pray. The cathedral has reopened after months of closure, and worship continues in homes and courtyards. The chalices and vestments may be gone, but faith remains.

In Port Sudan, Bishop Abdu has seen his diocese swell as thousands flee from the fighting in the capital. Families share what little they have with strangers, united by faith in a God who provides even in scarcity. Their ministry extends far beyond the Christians who have fled to their Muslim countrymen, showing them some of the love Jesus has shown us.

In Wad Medani, Bishop Samaan shared how people shelter families who have fled from the capital, sharing what little they have.  He also pointed to the way God uses all things for good, as the once unreachable Blue Nile people have become open to the live of the Gospel.  

Perhaps most moving was the account of Bishop Ishmail in El Obeid. His city has been under siege, cut off from the rest of the country. He described nights of gunfire, his own home struck by bullets, and the constant fear that grips his people. Yet he spoke without anger or despair. “God was always there,” he said. His words came not from comfort, but from conviction. Even under siege, he found peace in the presence of Christ. His courage is a living testimony to the strength of faith that endures when all else fails.

The meeting in Uganda became a moment of fellowship and renewal. After years of isolation, these church leaders prayed together, shared meals, and encouraged one another. It was a glimpse of grace amid turmoil, a sign that God’s Church, even when scattered, remains one.

Please continue to pray for Sudan. Pray for peace to return to its cities and for safety for its pastors and people. Pray that, even in displacement, the Church may remain a light. In a land of broken walls and scattered congregations, the Gospel is still being proclaimed, and that is a miracle worth telling.