RESOLUTION #5 – REGARDING THE SUDAN

WHEREAS, genocide is reportedly being attempted against Christians in the Sudan:

1. More than one million displaced; up to 50,000 killed; Arab militias accused of ethnic cleansing (Colin Powell speaking before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee);

2. May 22, 2003; Longochok and nine other villages in Eastern Upper Nile attacked by Sudanese forces; Homes burned; 59 killed; women and children taken captive; and Pastor Jacob Gadet Manyiel burned alive in his home. (Freedom Now News/Servant’s Heart); and

WHEREAS, Sudanese government policy is:

1. Forced conversion to Islam;

2. Churches closed, destroyed, and not allowed to rebuild;

3. Christian home groups considered a public disturbance and teachers arrested;

4. Open preaching prohibited and punishable by beating and a jail sentence; and

WHEREAS, the Sudanese government has ignored peace initiatives by the U.N.; and

WHEREAS, the Bible states that we should encourage our Christian brothers (1 Peter 2:17); and

WHEREAS, we are to pray for authorities that we may live a peaceful existence for the spreading of the gospel (1 Timothy 2:2);

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the messengers to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, meeting in Plano, Texas, October 25-26, 2004, object to violence against any person for religious reasons and we urge all nations to allow personal freedom regarding religion; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that retaliation against Muslims is not acceptable Christian practice; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we object to the persecuting, killing, enslaving, and forced conversion of Christians by Muslims or others; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SBTC urges the President of the United States, the U.S. government, and the United Nations to use whatever means necessary to bring these atrocities to an end; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we encourage believers in Texas pray, give, and support the Sudanese Christians in this time of suffering that God’s kingdom may grow.