Tim Flatman - Abyei

Abyei is a contested region on the border of South Sudan and Sudan.  The Dinka Ngok residents of Abyei want to be part of South Sudan and were promised a referendum to decide whether Abyei should be part of the North or the South in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which led to the independence of South Sudan.  However, this promise was never fulfilled. Instead, the Sudanese Army invaded the area in May 2011, destroyed the main town completely (burning down homes and churches) and forced nearly 150,000 people out. Those people are now trying to return and assert their right to self-determination.

                 

Tim Flatman travels regularly to Abyei and acts to encourage prayer for Abyei in the global church, undertake advocacy in partnership with the local church and community, and mobilise practical assistance for the community and especially those who have taken the bold step of returning to Abyei.

In 2013 this practical assistance has included distributions of sorghum and seed to those newly returned to Abyei and who international charities and UN agencies would not help, provision of local building materials for returnees to rebuild homes, and bibles & devotional/theological books to the churches. 

Tim is not a member of the Sudan Link Committee and operates independently in partnership with local churches in Abyei.

Contact Tim on 07595 908 405 or at tflatman@gmail.com to find out more or to receive prayer updates. Tim is happy to speak on Abyei at local churches/missionary prayer meetings, etc.

PLEASE PRAY:

That the African Union and UN Security Council would act to guarantee the self-determination promised to the Dinka Ngok people of Abyei;
That the displaced people who want to return to Abyei would be able to do so quickly and safely, with assistance from the international community;
For God to remove all political and financial obstacles to the rebuilding of Abyei; 
that promises to restore water provision and rebuild schools would be kept;
For the churches in Abyei: thank God for church growth during the period of exile and for using them in his provision for the community's needs; 
pray that a permanent presence among the returnees would soon be possible, that they would continue to offer hope and effectively testify to God's action in the history of the community.