Across Sudan

Across' Purpose

Our resolve is to walk with the broken hearted and proclaim freedom - a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61).

Across' commitment is to see spiritual, social, mental and physical transformation in the lives of individuals and communities. We understand spiritual transformation as a unique motivation and sustaining force for change in the other areas. It is a prerequisite to all mental, physical and socio-economic transformation.

Our Ministry Approach

Working with the church is vital for achieving our mission. We believe that the church – as God’s agent – is the most appropriate actor to address the brokenness of the world. Our strong relationship with the church is critical because the local church has invaluable knowledge and understanding of the Sudanese context.  The church is made up of the people who are in need as well as those who are offering help. Across, too, is made up of people who belong to the Church.  Neither partner is utilized or perceived as a means, but we both are relevant agents of transformation based on our complementary strengths.

Central in our approach is the community mobilization process, in which Across facilitates Bible studies, envisioning resource mobilization and practical development responses at a community level. This process impacts individuals and communities in a way that confronts an attitude of dependency on external parties and integrates Kingdom values into the development response (Christ-centeredness). Responses to people’s circumstances are not limited to a few sectors, such as education, health, or livelihood.  The community envisioning and mobilisation process allows for a wide range of responses in many sectors.

Discipleship 

Thus discipleship becomes the focus of Across’ ministry: not only in a narrow sense of bringing people to Christ, but rather in a comprehensive, holistic understanding of teaching obedience to biblical principles in every sector of (public) life. The avenues for this are:

1. Empowering Church congregations and Church leadership with a biblical worldview, vision, knowledge and holistic development skills
2. Programs that nurture appropriate technical knowledge and skills in the communities in many sectors
3. Reaching out to society at large with practical socio-economic messages from a Christian perspective, and
4. Responding to refugees and displaced people groups in need (Integrated Response).