insight
Students Sacrifice for Sudan
A dedicated group of Oklahoma Wesleyan University students has put faith toward a $72,000 building project by teaming up with the leadership of Make Way Partners. The money will help build dormitories for homeless Sudanese orphans, protecting them from lions, inclimate weather, and other dangers of the African bush. Kassy Wright, a student at OWU, said, “It’s hard to think that they are out there just waiting, waiting to be helped.”
Only a portion of the children under the care of James Lual's orphanage.
The children are victims of an ongoing history of war and genocide. In 1953, the UK pulled out of Sudan and relinquished its power over the colonized country. Immediately, war broke out within the Sudanese borders. The media called it a civil war, but a closer look revealed it to be a land ravaged by Muslim extremists. More than 2 million Christians have been killed. With thousands captured, the girls were forced to marry Muslim men or sold into sex slavery, while the boys were forced to fight in the Muslim army. The ones who survived without capture fled to the desert. In the 1990s over 20,000 orphan boys, later called “The Lost Boys,” traveled together, overcoming extreme danger, until they reached Kenya and were given visas to gain safe passage into countries outside of the African continent. Meanwhile, the genocide continues in Sudan. (Paul H. Liben provides an illuminating historical overview in the journal, First Things.)
One lost boy, James Lual, felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and knew his calling was to stay behind and help the orphans of his devastated country. Many more helpless orphans remained in the desert and bush. Though locals scoffed at his great ambition, James remained faithful to the Lord. He now has 203 orphans under his care. With no housing, Lual and his orphaned children sleep, eat and hold school in the open desert, with the help of ten teachers, two cooks, one nurse and two armed security guards.
Here in the United States, Oklahoma Wesleyan University student, Whitney Terry-Smith, is heading up the local effort to assist these workers and orphans. Her mother, Kimberly Smith, Director of Make Way Partners, provides the organizational support. Whitney is asking students to do more than just donate money because they have it. She desires the funds to come through personal sacrifice, as students give up things that aren’t necessary for daily life. Instead of stopping for a morning latte before class or going out for late night snacks, she and fellow student leaders are asking their peers to do more.
Whitney Terry-Smith,
OWU Sudan Project Organizer
The inspiration for the project came from the article, “Raising the Compassion Bar,” in Christianity Today. The story tells how an 18-year-old student and her Christian high school classmates set a goal to raise $53,000 for a ministry project. The money was to come through personal sacrifice and other fundraisers. The project got off to a rough start, with very little funds, enthusiasm or faith. With nine weeks to the deadline, and falling $33,000 short, the students desperately searched for new approaches. They sought the counsel of an adult mentor who wisely told them that success would not come until they devoted themselves fully to prayer.
When the students committed to pray daily, money started pouring in. By May 2, the $53,000 goal was met. Twenty days later, $24,000 more came in, and by the end of the school year the students had passed the $80,000 mark. Within two years the project topped off at $250,000. The testimony of this mid-American school encouraged Terry-Smith and her friend, Kassy Wright, to pursue the project, and to trust God to come through.
Terry-Smith and Wright began planning the project at the start of the academic year, and they recognized the intense need for prayer. Terry-Smith said, “Without prayer nothing would happen.” Their small group meets every week, and members have agreed to pray individually. Amanda Beagle, a committed member of the Sudan Project said, “Prayer is the most valuable thing to do for this project … prayer is the foundation.” When asked why she became involved Beagle said, “I know I have a purpose. Loving these kids is part of fulfilling my purpose.”
"I know I have a purpose.
Loving these kids is part of
fulfilling my purpose."
~ Amanda Beagle
The group’s original goal was to raise $9,000 for the three motorcycles. Now the focus has shifted to raising the money for the dorms. Make Way Partners has advised that contributions would best be used toward putting roofs over the orphans heads. Construction relies heavily on the climactic conditions, so the actual building had to be started before the rainy season hits and prohibits any work at all. Currently Make Way Partners has a team in Sudan, the rest of their team arrives in February for a two week stay.
OWU students have raised over $3,500, which has already been sent to Sudan. Now the group is hoping to raise $68,500 more. Wright stated, “There’s no way in the world we can do this on our own.” Terry-Smith followed up by saying, “It’s not my project, it’s the Lord’s.”
James 1:27 states there are two things the Lord accepts as “pure and faultless” religion. The first is “to look after the orphans and the widows in their distress.” “God loves these kids,” Terry-Smith said. “Since I love God, I love these kids. It’s not an obligation. It’s a privilege to serve.”
Three ways to get involved:
- Commit to pray each day for the Orphans, Teachers, and the OWU Support team.
- Give an immediate love offering.
- Commit to an on-going sacrificial pledge.
If you would like more information please contact:
Whitney Terry-Smith at WhitneyS@makewaypartners.com
Or go online to www.makewaypartners.com