The World Evangelical Alliance is encouraging the global Christian community to pray for Sudan ahead of a crucial referendum on January 9.

The WEA is asking Christians to observe a global day of prayer for Sudan on December 5 after it received a request from church leaders in the country for Christians everywhere to “pray, pray, pray” ahead of the referendum.

The referendum was one of the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended decades of civil war five years ago.

It is expected that the predominantly Christian South will vote to secede from the largely Muslim North.

Churches in Sudan are educating people on the need to vote but there are concerns that preparations for the referendum are behind schedule and that the South is not prepared to receive the anticipated influx of refugees from the North.

There are widespread fears that the results of the referendum could send Sudan back into another civil war after the government in the North indicated that it would not guarantee Christians living there safe passage to the South.

The WEA is asking Christians to pray that the referendum will be peaceful and fair; that the outcome will be accepted by the government in the North and the international community; that religious liberty will be safeguarded; and for the reconstruction of infrastructure and social services which remain poor after many years of war.

WEA Secretary General Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe told a recent forum of Christian and Muslim leaders in Sudan: “The people of Sudan have suffered for many years. Now is the time for a new future that will bring peace, wholeness, dignity, freedom of belief and freedom from extreme poverty. The people of Sudan deserve nothing less.”

Mary Kleine Yehling, executive director of the Tyndale House Foundation, has recently visited Christians in Maban county, Southern Sudan, and is supporting the WEA's call.

She said that many Christians seemed to be unaware of the enormous potential for another war in Sudan.

“I have asked people if they are praying for Sudan and they say ‘What am I praying for?’.

“They may know a referendum is taking place but they don’t really understand the full extent of what is happening and it’s not on our news.”

Ms Kleine Yehling said Christians could support their brothers and sisters in Sudan by getting informed about the situation and contacting their governments to ask them to do everything they could to ensure a peaceful and fair referendum.

“[The Southern Sudanese] are looking for any help and I think they feel like the world doesn’t care,” she said.

“My prayer for Sudan is that in the end the grace of God would be so poured out in Sudan that the referendum would be a beacon to the world of what God can do.”