'Gideon' country 194, South Sudan

We are pleased to announce the opening of 'Gideon' country 194, South Sudan in Region 6.

The country declared independence from the Republic of the Sudan on July 9th, following decades of civil war and the deaths of 2 million people.
South Sudan government officials urged citizens to attend churches and other houses of worship, pray for peace and thank God for their newfound freedom. Many churches even held special services.

South Sudan currently has ten Gideon branches within its new borders.
Prior to the independence of South Sudan, the region had a high persecution index due to genocidal conflict.  Also, slavery of the southern people had been sanctioned by the Islamic government.

But by God's grace, the church there has grown tremendously. In 1960, the Christian population of the southern Sudan region was approximately 5%; however, today it is estimated at more than 70%.

The Gideons International first established its ministry in Sudan in 1978. To date, more than 895,000 copies of God's Word have been placed in the Sudan through the ministry.

Please pray for the people of South Sudan as they adapt to their new freedom. Also, pray for the safety of Sudan's Khartoum Gideon branch, which is in a Muslim-dominant country. Pray that there will be more open doors and open hearts as God's Word is distributed and that more men, women, boys and girls will come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.