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Sudan's Muslim north has been attempting to impose Islamic law on the country's Christian and animist south. Some 2 million people have died and more than 4 million have been displaced in the civil war, which began in 1983. However, both sides are negotiating a peace settlement that could be signed this month. Daniel Bul, 53, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan for the Diocese of Renk, spoke with CT's associate news editor, Stan Guthrie.

What can you report about church growth in Sudan?

Well the church is growing, especially the Anglicans now. [The church had] over 500,000 [adherents] when the British left Sudan in 1955. The independence of Sudan came in 1956. The number of Sudanese priests was at that time about 5 or 6.

But the priests in the Sudan now for Anglicans are 3,500. And the number of Christians is 5 million Anglicans. And there is big growth going on in other churches like the Catholics, like the Presbyterians and Pentecostals. Other smaller churches are growing. The growth of the church is really tremendous. And we hope … in the southern Sudan … everybody is going to be a Christian.

To what do you attribute this growth?

We were in a situation where we had nobody to turn to. Everything was difficult in the Sudan and the war was very hard on the people. You know, we have been in war for 20 years now. … This hard situation has really sharpened the eyes of the people and the only place to turn was God. And when we pray, we have so many miracles that God's been doing in the southern Sudan. And the Holy Spirit was moving as a revival was happening. There was no food, there was no medicine, but when people gather and pray for a person who is sick, he gets healed. And that turns the people to Christ. There was no medicine, no anything at all. So you could see to it that it was only God who protected his church in the Sudan.

Are most of the converts from nominal Christian backgrounds?

Formerly, so many people in the southern Sudan were enemies. When the war started, so many people were not really believing in God. But when the war really became very severe, only the Christian churches were [able] to support people and to pray for people and to help people in all areas of life. … That's how many people have decided really to join Christianity.

How is the church reaching out to people?

Well, we have churches under the trees. We don't have [church buildings]. Everything has been destroyed in the south, so we have these open praying places. We gather under the trees to pray every Sunday. And then we do all occasions like marriages, like funerals, in the open air. So anybody is always invited to come and listen and hear the word of God. So if God [speaks to] him, then he comes forward and declares that he wants to be a Christian. So it is actually through this movement of revivalism going on in our country now. That's what brings people, because we have this open air preaching from place to place, all around the southern Sudan.

Have you heard any reports of Muslims becoming Christians?

Yes, this thing is also happening in the north. Some of them really heard the gospel of God and as they are enticed by the Holy Spirit, they become Christian.

Do you have any idea how many?

I have no idea, but I know that it is about 100 in Khartoum [the northern capital].

How are the other church communities doing?

The same. We are working together. We formed an ecumenical cycle of prayer together. So we really moved together in prayer, in preaching. They are growing in their own areas. So it's not only the Anglican Church that is growing, but so many [others] have been—Catholic and Presbyterian. But [we are the] fastest growing church in the Anglican world.

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January 2004, Vol. 48, No. 1