Your gifts to Calvary Road Ministries make a real gospel impact in the least reached areas of North and East Africa.
Here are testimonies from new Christians and pastors in oppressed Sudanese communities who have recently accepted Christ as a direct result of the Gospel resources your giving has provided, including hard copy and audio Bibles, Story Cloths, solar powered MP3 players and Proclaimers, and solar powered projectors to show the Jesus Film—all in the native languages of the people groups served. These Sudanese brothers and sisters fervently believe that Christianity is the path forward to end the darkness of war and heal their country.
Your gifts also have been used to evacuate Christian families in harm’s way from Darfur and other war-torn areas in Sudan to the safety of refugee camps in South Sudan and Uganda, as well as provide them with medical care, food, and shelter.
*all names have been changed for their security
widow who lost her husband when El Fashir fell to the rebels wrote:
When I fled the violence in El Fashir, I left behind more than just a house; I left behind my husband, my sense of safety, and my peace of mind. I arrived at the Tawila refugee camp with very little, feeling the weight of displacement and the fear of the open sky. Because of your kindness, my reality has changed. I want to thank CRM from the depths of my heart for the tarpaulins, the sleeping mat, and the blankets.
The tarpaulin: it is more than plastic to me; it is the walls of my new home. It protects me from the wind and the dust, giving me a private space to breathe again. The mat and blankets: for the first time since leaving home, I do not have to sleep on the cold, bare ground. These gifts have brought warmth to my nights and rest to my body.
You did not just send supplies; you sent the message that I am not forgotten. You saw my struggle from far away and reached out your hands to help me stand. I have finished building my shelter now, and as I sit inside it, I pray for many blessings to return to you for the mercy you have shown me.
This is the field report from Pastor Emmanuel Laizer, CRM’s Tanzania Coordinator.
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We write with deep gratitude to thank Calvary Road Ministries for the evangelism tools you have provided us, especially the solar powered projectors and related equipment. These tools are powerful instruments for advancing the Gospel in remote and underserved communities deep in the Tanzania bush.
Because of your partnership, our outreach capacity has significantly increased, and we are witnessing measurable spiritual impact.
These numbers represent not just statistics, but souls reached, communities engaged, and territories exposed to the light of Christ.
The films draw large crowds — children, youth, elders, and even those who rarely attend church. After the film showings, the Gospel message is clearly preached, and many stay behind for counseling and prayer.
Because they can see and hear the message, they are no longer limited by their inability to read. The visual Gospel has given them confidence and clarity. They are now sharing Christ boldly in their villages. This has greatly expanded local leadership and indigenous evangelism.
As Romans 10:14 reminds us:
“How shall they hear without a preacher?”
Through CRM’s support, the Gospel is being preached not only through words, but through powerful visual proclamation that reaches both the literate and the illiterate alike.
We are deeply grateful for CRM’s Great Commission partnership. Your obedience and generosity are bearing visible fruit in Tanzania.
May the Lord richly bless Calvary Road Ministries and multiply your impact around the world.
Together in His harvest,
Pastor Emmanuel Laizer
CRM Coordinator – Tanzania
There was a very furious Muslim who wanted to cause trouble for the believers in our area. He mobilized Muslims in their mosques to fight Christians. I was praying to God for the life of this man.
Suddenly the idea came I should go and write Bible verses on a paper and throw into his house thinking he might find it and read them. I know it is only ignorance of the Word that it doesn’t allow them to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Then I wrote Luke 6:27-28, 1 John 3:15, and 1 John 4:20 on a piece of paper and threw it into his door. His child found the paper and took it to the man.
He took the paper and read it, but he did not know what he read. So, in his dreams he kept reading the verses repeatedly. Early in the morning he looked for the paper and read it again. He read the word from the book of Luke, “love your enemies.” He thought much about enemies and said, Arabs are my enemies, but most enemies in my mind are Christians. I want to go and tell them I love them.
He came to my house and told me, “Anwar I was planning to destroy all Christian houses in our village. But I found a letter that told me not to hate my enemies.” I asked, “what kind of a letter? Can you allow me to read it. He had it in his pocket and gave it to me. After reading it, I told him “This is not a normal letter. This is the word of God from the Bible.”
Then his attention changed. He asked how do you know? I told him, “I can bring for you the Bible and you can read it by yourself.” He agreed and I got a Bible for him. I showed him those verses. He read by himself. He was so shocked to realize he had been taught by the Bible. He asked me, “is this the book Christians are believing in?” I told him Christians are educated, God fearing, and loving people. I know all the plans you have made to destroy our houses. But we kept praying for you, because the Bible tells us to do so. We Christians love you and always pray to God for you, asking Him to prepare your heart to listen to him.
We Christians believe in one God, revealed as the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It might take time for you to understand that, but you need to know more about the Bible. He said, “my brother what I have seen in my dream yesterday is enough.” When I tried to sleep, someone appeared and woke me up and told me to read your paper. Please lend me your Bible, I will bring it back.” I told him to take it for one week and bring it back.
He took the Bible and after three days he came back. He asked me, “how will someone become a Christian?” I replied, “are you asking about yourself or someone else?” He told me, “I want to follow Jesus Christ what must I do?” I told him once you repent and confess that Jesus is your Lord and savior you are saved.” He said, “I do believe.” I told him, let’s pray together and I led him in prayer. I then gave him the Bible. He got excited! The furious Muslim was now a Christian. Thank you, CRM.”
Abachar Ishag wrote, “What I was hearing about the Bible was that it was only a corrupted book. I did not know that this book was true and full of wisdom. I got a Bible at my friend’s home. I asked him, ‘what is this book?’ When I opened the book, I read ‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock’ (Mathew 7:24). After a long thinking, I have seen the world that was established by Christians. It has a solid foundation right from the Bible. I continued reading, and it really opened my mind. It only took me three days to decide to become a Christian. From there, I continued sharing the gospel. I have taken many people to the church. I strongly recommend that Bibles should be available in our area so that people will have access to the word of God. I would like to tell my brothers and sisters at CRM that your gift of Bibles is doing great work in our Muslim lives. May God bless you.”
A… comes from a very strict Muslim family. She was required to wear a burka and face covering. Amani believed in the Lord Jesus Christ in 2023 when the war broke out in Sudan.
A…said, “The hardest my life has ever been was when I converted to Christianity. Life was very hard. My husband took my children and gave them to my cowife. That was a very painful point. My husband threatened me that he would not bring my children back unless I denied Jesus. But I knew Jesus was going to bring my children back one day.
I kept praying to God. One day, my husband was coming back from town and was ambushed. He was beaten badly by Arabs. When he arrived at our village, he begged me for forgiveness. I thought he was joking, but he was serious. I told him that he was forgiven. The Lord I serve has given me strong commandments to forgive and love others. I don’t know what overcame this Muslim man, but he fell and cried like a child. I asked him, ‘What is happening?’ He told me that ‘he had been beaten by Arabs, and some of the people were killed. But what I knew in my heart was that God was punishing me for what I did to you.’
He said, ‘Tomorrow I will bring your children home. Please find a Bible for me to read.’ Early in the morning, he went and brought my children. I didn’t have a Bible, but I had my Messenger and gave it to him. Every time he comes home, he listens to it. One day, he came to our church and the pastor prayed for him. Today he is an active Christian. I give thanks to the Lord for this wonderful Messenger, which announced the word of God and brings salvation to the people. I gained the peace of Christ and will continue to preach His peace to the people. May God bless CRM for providing God’s Word to us.”
Pastor Ataib in Darfur reported: “The year 2025 really started with the high speed of passing on the gospel to the people of Jabal Marra. Within ten days, our church members planted three churches. People are eager to know our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s pray that the Lord will provide more Bibles. People who are coming from Islamic backgrounds are seriously into getting to know the Lord with the details. Let’s pray that the same speed continues and the protection of the Lord upon is upon His servants.
We would like to change Darfur as much as possible this year. The people in the picture were notorious people who didn’t want to touch the Bible with their hands. But when they came to their senses, they cried for Bibles. We have collected Bibles from our mature believers to give to new believers so that they can be directed towards the Word of God.
I really want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported us with Bibles. Thank you so much. May God’s blessings follow you all your lifetime. My greetings to the CRM organization. Thank you for your commitment to lifting Darfur up.”
Salma told us the story of Hawa. She said, “This young lady is call Hawa and she was a Muslim. Hawa’s father was among the people who were buried alive by RSF (rebel) soldiers in Aljenena. Hawa and her mother came to my town. I was working in the market, and she came to my place. As we were chatting, she told me her story and what had happened to their father.
From there I shared the gospel with her. She was interested and kept coming to my place. I asked her if she could come and assist me. She agreed to work with me. That’s where I discipled her and she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Then she made her shelter a place to study the Bible with her neighbors.
One day, Sadia, Hawa’s mother, went to fetch firewood with three other women. They met with RSF soldiers who killed them by cutting their breasts. So, this was bad news for Hawa and her sister. But one thing Hawa said encouraged me a lot. “My mom and dad are with the Lord, and we are with Him, let his name be praised. My sister and I are under His protection, and this book (the Bible) comforts us every day. I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will use these Bibles to reach to the people who do not know the value of life. Thank you so much CRM for giving us access to the word of God who gives us hope to live. May God protect and provide more for you. Pray for our country in it is in miserable condition. But let the will of God be done.”
After receiving his Bible, Marouf wrote, “We had a book that connected our minds with war, and we are reaping the results now. But today we have a holy book that connects our brains with peace and we shall reap peace. I was surprised when pastor has given me the Bible. What a wonderful gift God has given me! I had never known that I would discover such undiscoverable truth in my area. This book was restricted in our area before. But God really has a plan for freeing us. Today I can hold this wisdom book between my two hands. This is the mounted gun that will make my people free of slavery in Sudan as a whole and in Darfur specifically. I want to say thank you so much to CRM for equipping me with such a gift. May God bless your wonderful gift. Please pray for me that God will use me effectively in his kingdom to bring gospel to my community.”
N… is a believer of Jesus Christ. She is from a strong conservative Muslim family. She dressed like this since she was 8 years old. Her family didn’t allow her to associate with people or even to have any friends. N… narrated how she was exposed to the gospel and came to follow Jesus.
She said “I was studying in one of the schools where some people were Christians. They were talking about the changes that happened to them after they left Islam and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
“One thing I saw in them was the happiness they possessed. I decided to ask one of them why she left Islam and accepted Jesus. She told me ‘Because I know the truth about Christ. He is the only way that we can have a personal relationship with God!’ I said a holy relationship with God, while you are Kafir?” My friend smiled and said to me, ‘you are saying this just because you are ignorant to the truth of Jesus.’”
“I hesitated to confess what I saw in her, but she gave me her Messenger. At first, I didn’t think I would listen to it. But I went home and began to listen to the Bible loaded on it every day. I came to understand what my friend said was true. I was ignorant of the truth about Jesus. As I listened, I became more interested. Then Jesus himself appeared in a dream and told me, ‘Keep your clothes for yourself, but come and follow me.’ Since then, I became a follower of Jesus.”
“My Messenger was lost during the war, but today I am very happy that I received a new one. I know I am going to use this Messenger to help my family have the access to the Word of God.”
Atahir wrote: This year our Lord is doing a great job. We were moving from village to village sharing the gospel. We came to a certain village where we met the father of these three girls. They are from the Borgo Silihab tribe. The man has 25 children. He took us into his home. We stayed there the whole day telling them about Christ.
They believed in the Lord. He said, “I and my children will follow the Lord, and I want you to bring us Bibles and I will make my house the church for the people of our village to pray and do Bible study.” So, we gave them praise song books and some of the SD cards containing gospel videos. I gave my Bible to the father.
Recently, when we received additional Bibles from CRM, we took some to the man and his children. We were surprised when we found most of the villagers at his home and he was busy teaching them the Word of God. So, we gave them some Bibles.
The father was so happy together with his people. His eldest daughter said, “This book will help us change our community into better people. Thank you so much for your gift. It is your kindness that saved us today. Pray for us that we will also share with our people here. Please, we are so thankful for what we received but some of our sisters and brothers tdidn’t receive Bibles. Please let’s pray to God to provide for us more Bibles.” Thank you, CRM, for reaching to unreached people deep in Darfur.”
This is the year end report from Pastor Emmanuel Laizer, CRM’s Tanzania Coordinator:
Greetings Mr. David Crane
President, Calvary Road Ministry,
Grace and peace to you as we joyfully approach the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
By the grace of God, we are doing well here in Tanzania. Although our nation has recently passed through difficult seasons—including post-election tensions and a severe drought—we continue to witness the faithfulness of God. Most encouraging of all, the Gospel is shining brightly, especially here in Maasai land.
As the overseer of 17 churches in the Monduli area, as well as several others in Handeni, my heart overflows with gratitude whenever I see the mighty hand of God at work among us. Through CRM’s partnership and support, we are now able to use a variety of Gospel resources to reach our people effectively.
We have trained believers in the use of both the first and second Story Cloths, and we are already witnessing beautiful fruit. One of the most powerful testimonies is seeing local women—many of whom have never been to school and cannot read or write—boldly leaving their homes to go into schools and villages. They have formed women’s groups and are faithfully teaching the Story Cloths with confidence and joy.
Each church now has three active outreach teams:
• One team goes to schools
• One forms women’s groups
• One reaches youth groups
In all these settings, the Story Cloth is being used to teach the Word of God. As a result, churches are growing numerically and spiritually, and believers are being deeply rooted and empowered in Scripture.
In addition, we have eight devoted young men who regularly travel from village to village—often at night—teaching from the Story Cloths and showing the Jesus Film and other Gospel-centered films. They even go from boma to boma using the projectors provided through CRM’s support. Their names are Amani, Isaya, Lazaro, Petro, Elisha, Ezekiel, Yona, and Samuel. Every week, they visit new villages twice, teaching with the Story Cloth and sharing the Gospel through film. Their dedication is truly inspiring.
Recently, I was deeply moved by the testimony of an elderly man named Ndoika. He shared that he decided to join our church after listening to the entire New Testament through an SD card for his cell phone that I gave him last year. He listened attentively, meditated on the Word, and through that quiet encounter with Scripture, his heart was transformed, and he came to faith in Christ.
This year alone, as an overseer, I have had the privilege of baptizing more than 30 new believers, and I continue to witness steady growth across many of our churches.
In the Morogoro region, where Pastor Lazaro serves, the work of God is also remarkable. His dedication and perseverance are unmatched. His God-given vision of planting 100 churches in his lifetime, which he first revealed during the 2022 CRM-led training in Arusha, continues to move steadily forward. Through strong teamwork, he has already planted seven churches and sent four young men to our Bible school. When I observe his faithfulness, I am confident that many Maasai and Wanguu people will come to Christ in the days ahead. He has even established a church among the Zigua people.
Since receiving Story Cloth training, his ministry has been greatly strengthened. He has shared personal testimonies of seeing elderly Maasai men respond to the Gospel after taking time to quietly listen to Scripture on SD cards—something very rare in our culture.
Pastor Noah and Pastor Samuel are also faithfully carrying out similar work in their respective areas. Their churches are growing, and believers are maturing in the Word. Each week, they ensure that Gospel films are shown using the projectors, while daytime sessions are devoted to teaching with both the first and second Story Cloths, as led by the Holy Spirit.
As I humbly present this annual report of God’s work here in Tanzania, my heart is filled with gratitude—to God first, and to you as well. Your faithful partnership has made it possible for us to reach people who would otherwise remain unreached. Truly, we could not do this work without CRM’s support.
Once again, thank you very much for standing with us in the Gospel.
With love and deep appreciation,
Pastor Emmanuel Laizer
CRM Coordinator for TZ
Both Thow Garang is a Nuer pastor and serves the church located next to the Kakuma Baptist Bible School (KBBS) in Zone 4 of the United Nations Refugee Camp in Kakuma, Kenya, near the South Sudan border. CRM funded its construction.
The refugee camp hosts more than 200,000 people, most of whom are refugees from the South Sudan civil war. Many camp residents are long-term refugees, living in hopelessness and desperation.
Garang is also the main Bible teacher at KBBS. He wrote the following email to CRM President David Crane as a report and to thank CRM for sponsoring his studies at the Kenya Baptist Theological College.
***
Greetings Pastor David. I hope this email finds you in good health. Praise God.
For your information, I’m now at Kenya Baptist Theological College (KBTC) for my fourth semester this year. I only have two semesters left next year. I’m grateful to the Lord and the entire CRM family for their support. My coming to KBTC to study God’s word has been fruitful to me personally. I’m growing spiritually. It’s also shaped the relationships with my wife and children, as well the community of believers I’m serving in Kakuma and beyond.
I also devote myself to our local Bible school which was started by CRM. By God’s grace, on December 13, 112 students will graduate. The graduates included refugees from Burundi, Ethiopia, Congo, and Sudan. The certificates the students received were granted by KBTC. My words are not enough to describe my happiness. Our God who knows my heart is my witness that I am happy for CRM’s support.
Once again, thank you so much for your support to our Sudanese brethren. David and the CRM team, continue to serve the Lord faithfully. The angels are singing glory, glory hallelujah. Be strengthened In Christ Jesus.
Naomi fled the killing fields of El Fashir, a journey during which she endured unimaginable cruelty. She recounts:
“We were trapped in El Fashir for over six months. There was no food. The rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) prevented any aid from entering and Sudan government army prevented us from leaving.
During our first attempt to escape, my family and I encountered a government checkpoint. They violently forced us to turn back. One of the soldiers screamed, ‘Death is death! You will die here with us!’ We retreated, but later that night, we again attempted to sneak out of the city. The soldiers caught us again.
Then the soldiers committed a horrific act: they gouged out my father’s eyes. They also seized my husband. I have not seen him since that day.
After inflicting this brutality, they simply told us to leave. I stood there and told them, ‘If you want to kill us, then kill us all, because we are not going back.’ I grabbed my father’s hand and pulled him with me as we made the grueling journey to safety in Tawila.
I am eternally grateful that there are people like you who help those of us who have lost everything. May God bless you immensely, CRM, for everything you have given us.”
Halima, a Christian widow, is now completely alone, having recently lost her entire family during the fall of El Fashir in Darfur, Sudan. Upon arriving in Tawila, she received food, blankets, a mat, and a tarpaulin from CRM. Here is her testimony:
“I lived in the Zamzam area of El Fashir. There were twelve of us at home. My husband owned a shop, but the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) burned it to the ground. We were forced to live with nothing.
We struggled just to survive. But we couldn’t afford to leave El Fashir. Then, a bomb struck our home. Everyone inside died instantly—except me. My heart was absolutely broken and troubled. But I remembered the words of Jesus: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me’ (John 14:1).
Suddenly, I clearly heard a voice telling me to run. I ran from the house. I had moved barely two meters when another bomb hit the precise spot where I had been standing. I had to run for my life.
I arrived here (Tawila) two days ago. Before CRM’s help, I had nothing. You are truly blessed. May God bless you and help you to continue doing good things to help others in need. Thank you.”
“My name is Rahima, and I stand before you today not just as a woman, but as a mother and a widow who has seen the brutal face of war.
I am originally from El Fashir. Until very recently, El Fashir was our home, the place where my children and I built our life with my beloved husband. But the conflict and violence grew too intense, consuming everything in its path. Tragically, in the chaos of the fighting, my husband was killed. His death is a wound that may never heal, leaving me alone to protect our children amidst an unfolding nightmare.
With a broken heart and nothing but the clothes on our backs, I made the agonizing decision for our family to flee. We walked for days, driven by by the hope of safety for my children. Our journey finally took us to Tawila. When we arrived there, we were in a state of utter desperation. We had nothing; no shelter, no food, not even a simple blanket to protect my children from the cold nights. We were invisible and alone.
It was at this moment, when all hope felt lost, that the grace of God reached us through CRM. I want to express my deep and sincere gratitude. The help we received was not just aid; it was crucial for survival. This has given my children the strength to live another day. This is what was provided to us:
Blanket and a Mat: These simple items have given us dignity and warmth against the cold ground. Tarp: This is our roof, a fragile but vital barrier against the sun and the rain.
These essential items, the primary things we were completely without, have transformed our situation. Because of CRM’s immense kindness, we are sheltered, fed, and can face the days with a flicker of hope. I am immensely grateful. You have shown us what true compassion is.
However, as I stand here with a full heart, I cannot forget the many others who fled El Fashir alongside me. They are my neighbors, my friends, and my fellow victims of this cruel war. Many of these families are here in Tawila, and like I was, they are without any primary needs. They have no mats to sleep on, no blankets, and very little food. They watch their children suffer from hunger and exposure.
I am here to be their voice. I appeal to you, the compassionate hearts of the Church and everyone listening:
Please, extend your generosity once more. We need your continued support to reach these other displaced families. They urgently need the same life-saving assistance that you so generously provided to me and my children.
May God bless you for the incredible difference you have made in our lives, and may you find it in your hearts to help those who are still suffering in the shadows.”
The weight of the small, rugged device felt significant in the hand of Mustafa, a new Christian in Darfur. It was a solar powered audio Bible (Messenger) provided by CRM.
The local pastor told Mustafa: “Take this to the village of K…, so the Muslims there may hear. Let the Word speak where we cannot yet go.”
Mustafa knew exactly when and where the Messenger would be most effective. In the village of K…, the nights were the time for community. After the day’s work, the men would gather in the open spaces, sharing simple meals, drinking tea, and engaging in long, animated discussions. It was a tradition, but also a vital time for bonding and sharing village news.
Every night, Mustafa would join his group, bringing the Messenger with him. As the chatter flowed around him, Mustafa would quietly press the button. The clear, calm voice narrating the Bible in Arabic would begin to play. It was never loud enough to interrupt the village chatter, but close enough for those nearby to hear snippets of scripture—a parable, a verse, a prophecy.
At first, most people ignored the Messenger, simply accepting it as Mustafa’s curious habit. But one evening, a respected village teacher was seated close to Mustafa. The man listened intently. He recognized the tone of authority and truth in the voice.
“Mustafa,” the village teacher finally asked, leaning forward, “what is this voice speaking? What are you listening to?” Mustafa smiled and replied, “It is the Injil (Gospel), teacher. The Word of God.”
The teacher was interested. He said, “I must hear more. Will you loan it to me? Just for a little while.” Mustafa hesitated. The Messenger was precious. But he remembered the local pastor’s direction. “Take it, respected teacher,” Mustafa said, handing over the device. “But you must keep it for only one night. I need it for the group tomorrow.” The teacher eagerly took the Messenger and vanished into the night.
The teacher returned the next day with the Messenger and immediately sat down and began to ask Mustafa questions. They were thoughtful questions about sin, redemption, and the person of Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah).
At first, it was just the two of them talking. Then, one or two people from the group noticed the intense discussion and drew closer. Soon, many people were listening to the conversation—drawn by the teacher’s questions and Mustafa’s clear answers.
But change is slow, and after a few days, the initial novelty wore off. Few people attended their conversations. Mustafa pressed on, faithfully playing the Messenger and answering the teacher’s ongoing questions.
Then, a surprising shift occurred. Perhaps the teacher’s personal conviction became clearer, or the words from the Proclaimer had taken root. People who had drifted away started to return. And they brought others. The nightly gatherings changed. The chatting was replaced by focused listening and eager questioning.
Later, almost all the people in the village attended the nightly teaching. The village stirred with spiritual hunger. The breakthrough came during a single, powerful evening this past September, when 47 men and women confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. The harvest had begun.
This miracle is a sign that God has a plan for Darfur. The simple sound of the Gospel, carried on a small device, is transforming hearts and communities in the middle of a violent civil war. Thank you, CRM.
Here is a truly inspiring update from Darfur, highlighting the incredible bravery and faith of one woman: Helen (name changed).
Helen was the first woman to reach the Rizeigat community in Darfur, a place she felt a deep calling to serve after studying at a Bible school in the city of Zalingie. Helen was determined to share her faith with the Rizeigat, many of whom would visit her to hear the word of God.
(The Rizeigat are primarily nomadic herders. They are divided into the Abbala (camel herders) Rizeigat, who live in northern Darfur and Chad, and the Baggara (cattle herders) Rizeigat who live in southeast Darfur. Rizeigat make up a substantial part of the brutal Rapid Support Forces that control Darfur.).
The war brought immense tragedy to Helen. Her house was bombed. After evacuating to Nertete, she returned to Garsila to be with her mother. Her husband, who was serving with the Sudanese Armed Forces, had his leg amputated, leaving her without any support.
CRM supported Helen and her family with food rations. After the last CRM food distribution, she called with this moving message:
“My brothers and sisters, thank you for everything you have done for me. When I returned to Garsila, I was the only Christian here. But I prayed to God to help me share the gospel. The Lord is now using me to share the gospel. I have shared it with people I never thought I could reach. I now know it is the Lord who is doing His work through me.”
From CRM’s team members on the ground in Darfur: “The need is simple; the impact is huge. The number of believers has increased dramatically! They are hungry for the Word. But they are without resources. We urgently need Bibles for these new believers.
Please, work with us to get Bibles into the hands of the growing Rizeigat and Garsila communities. Your support is not just a donation; it’s a foundation for their faith.”
“The accounts confirm a devastating, multi-layered crisis in Darfur. It is not merely a tragedy of war and famine, but also one of targeted religious persecution against the Christian community, which is being deliberately isolated from general humanitarian aid.
The recurring theme is the stark contrast between overwhelming civilian suffering—witnessed in the horrific scenes of El Fasher and the desperate conditions in refugee camps—and the extraordinary resilience, faith, and gratitude of the believers. The aid provided by CRM is not just charity; it is a literal lifeline preventing starvation and providing the few available basic necessities in the face of utter systemic failure and discrimination. The growth in the number of believers, despite the persecution and hardship, is highlighted as a powerful testament to their enduring hope.
The message is clear: the support is critical, needed now more than ever, and is making a demonstrable, life-saving difference on the ground.”
“Our church community is suffering due to the ongoing war and religious persecution. Many of us have lost our homes and possessions. The ever present violence, economic blockade, and famine have created an impossible situation.
We have many widows and orphans whose husbands were killed in an organized campaign against Christians. We also suffer routine intolerance and discrimination by Muslims, including stone-throwing attacks. When food aid arrives, Christians are systematically excluded.
Your past support has been a lifesaver, but the needs are escalating daily. We urgently require support in three critical areas for our children and families: food, healthcare, and basic hygiene (soap). Despite these circumstances, our Church is committed to evangelism. The number of believers is increasing, fulfilling the Lord’s promise. We find strength in Luke 9:23.
We are grateful for the connection the Lord has given us to CRM. Your generosity has made the impossible possible—our children have been fed and provided for.
Thank you, CRM, for your kind support. We constantly pray that the Lord blesses your goodness and generosity many times over, knowing “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7.”
This letter is from Emmanuel Laizer, the Maasai Baptist pastor in the Losimingori area of northern Tanzania. He has been CRM’s coordinator for its work among the Maasai in Tanzania for the last several years. Pastor Lazier frequently interprets for CRM short-term mission teams and, in fact, worked with us during the recent Acts Story Cloth training in Handeni, Tanzania. The letter was written to express thanks for CRM funding the purchase and delivery of 150,000 liters of potable water to Maasai in his area who were suffering from drought.
Mr. David Crane
President, Calvary Road Ministries,
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I write on behalf of our church and the entire community to express our heartfelt gratitude to Calvary Road Ministries for your generous financial support during this time of severe drought. Your timely help enabled us to provide clean and safe water to families who were suffering after all our usual sources, including the dams, dried up.
Your compassion and willingness to step in at such a critical moment truly demonstrated the love of Christ in action. Through your generous donation, we were able to hire water bowsers that delivered much-needed water to households, bringing relief and restoring hope to many who were in despair.
The words of our Lord Jesus Christ remind us of the heart behind your ministry: “For I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” — Matthew 25:35
Indeed, your act of love has become a living testimony of the Gospel. Many in our community are now rejoicing and giving thanks to God because of your kindness. The Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians beautifully capture what we feel today:
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” — 2 Corinthians 9:11
We are deeply moved by your partnership in the Gospel and your continued commitment to serving those in need. Your generosity has not only met a physical need but also strengthened our faith and reminded us of God’s unfailing care through His people.
May the Lord continue to bless you, your family, and everyone at CRM. May He enlarge your territory, guide your steps, and reward your labor of love abundantly.
Once again, thank you for being a channel of God’s blessing to His people in Tanzania.
With sincere appreciation and Christian love,
Yours in Christ’s service,
Rev. Emmanuel Laizer
“We have already started distributing water in the community. Each family will go home with four twenty-liter jerry cans full of clean and safe water. Thank you, CRM.”
“Today more than 200 hundred families received clean water. We received two deliveries of 15,000 liters of water each. What a joy you brought to us and continue bringing. Hebrews 6:10. Thank you, CRM.”
On October 26, 2025, Al-Fashir, a city of 1.5 million people in North Darfur State, Sudan, and the last major city in Darfur held by the Sudanese government, fell to the paramilitary RSF rebels after a 500-day siege. Approximately 250,000 Sudanese civilians remain trapped in the city.
We, at CRM, are deeply concerned about the deaths and other atrocities taking place in Al-Fashir at the hands of the RSF. Thousands of people have been killed in the short time since the city fell.
We have lost contact with many believers there and do not know their fates. We understand that many are hiding in underground caves. Many have been killed in group slaughters. Some have been taken as captives for whom the RSF is demanding their ransom. There is no food; even the traders importing food were killed. The scene is too terrible to be described. But in the middle of this death and destruction, CRM’s Sudanese team members report that the Al-Fashir believers have not lost their hope in Christ.
CRM’s Sudanese team members also received new information about 11 families of believers who escaped Al-Fashir and arrived in Tawila, another town in North Darfur State that has absorbed hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence in Al-Fashir and the Zamzam refugee camp. Among the families were 17 unaccompanied minors. Their stories are horrific. Nine Christian girls were defiled, the youngest being eight years old. Now, like the others who arrived in Tawila, these families are living in deplorable conditions. (The families first heard the gospel through the Al-Fashir ministry center established by CRM and its Sudanese team members in August 2022).
A young man named Jafar has a degree in Sharia Law from Nyala University and was deeply committed to Islam. He memorized the entire Quran and numerous Hadith collections. (A Hadith is a saying or tradition of the Prophet Muhammed, revered by Muslims as a major source of religious law and moral guidance.).
One day, a Sudanese believer (and CRM team member) had tea with Jafar. What struck the believer was how often Jafar quoted a Quranic verse or Hadith—almost every other sentence. He could tell that Jafar had a profound interest in matters of God.
The believer asked Jafar about his background. Jafar confirmed his Sharia Law degree, adding that he was currently training to be a lawyer. Intrigued, the believer presented Jafar with a hypothetical: “How do you prove to a judge that someone is guilty or innocent?”
“Through evidence,” Jafar quickly replied.
“Excellent,” the believer said. “Now, imagine a case where two people are debating about a third person. One claims the person was killed, and the other denies it. How do you judge that?”
“We look for evidence of how he was killed, or if he wasn’t,” Jafar replied.
At this point, the believer offered Jafar a challenge. He assigned Jafar two chapters from the Bible—Luke 23 and 24—and the relevant verses from the Quran—Surah An-Nisa (4:157-159). Jafar accepted the challenge and agreed to read the texts and review the evidence.
The believer didn’t see Jafar again for over two years. They finally crossed paths while Jafar was working in a lawyer’s office. Jafar recognized the believer immediately and greeted him with genuine warmth. Jafar excitedly told the believer about the results of his study. Jafar even showed him a list of Christian praise songs and the Bible applications on his phone. Jafar had accepted Christ. The believer invited Jafar to his church, and he came.
Jafar said: “After reading the chapters in the Bible and verses in the Quran you assigned me, I realized that we (Muslims) are ignorant about a lot of things in this world.”
Later that year, there was a persecution of the local churches. Jafar was one of the believers targeted by the Muslim leaders. His father tricked him, saying they needed to visit Jafar’s uncle in another town. When they arrived, the Muslim leaders tied him up and chained him. Jafar was held captive for two years.
After Jafar was released earlier this year, he contacted the believer. Jafar shared his story. Despite the ordeal, Jafar’s perspective was profound. He said: “I thank God for causing all of this to happen so that I could become a better Christian.”
The pain in Jafar’s story, however, is in the details of his return for he discovered that during his absence, his wife had married another man. Jafar is asking for your prayers.
Saida was a teacher whose colleague, a Christian named Madina, paid her a visit one day. When Madina left, she accidentally forgot her Bible on Saida’s table. The Bible was provided by CRM.
Soon after, another colleague visited Saida. She spotted the book, opened it, and realized it was the Bible. She put it down immediately and confronted Saida.
“Are you following the wrong path, too?” she demanded.
Saida was confused. “Which wrong path?”
“The wrong path of your friend, Madina,” she clarified.
“Why would you ask that?” Saida replied.
“There is a Christian book here.”
“Oh, that must be my friend’s,” Saida explained. “She must have forgotten it.”
The colleague didn’t accept Saida’s explanation. She left and immediately reported Saida to the school manager. Saida was stunned when she received the manager’s call telling her not to come back to school—she had been fired. Saida was shocked to learn that her colleague had reported her, all because of the forgotten Bible.
“I had never read the Bible before,” Saida later recounted. “But at that moment, I asked myself, ‘What is in this book that people hate so much?'”
Curiosity compelled her to open the book. She focused on 2 Timothy 4:3-4, which speaks about a time when people will reject sound doctrine and the truth. Suddenly, she was hooked. She spent the rest of the day reading the Bible.
Later, Saida called Madina to tell her what had happened. Madina came over to pick up her Bible. Saida was still emotionally processing the events, but the spiritual change from reading the Bible was already taking hold. Madina was heartbroken and felt terribly responsible for the loss of Saida’s job. But Saida had a different focus.
“I asked her to explain some of the verses to me,” Saida said.
Madina looked at her friend, smiled, opened the Bible, and shared the good news of the Gospel. It was a new calling for Saida. She accepted Jesus Christ.
Madina then came up with a brilliant idea: they would open a doughnut and tea shop together. Madina also quit her teaching job. Their new business was an instant success. In just one month, they earned more money than they had made in a whole year teaching at the school.
“God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to save His people,” Saida concluded.
“The war came for our home in Aljinena, and we had no choice but to leave. We fled to Saraf-umra, determined to start over, but sorrow followed us. My husband was returning from the market one evening when he was ambushed and killed at our gate. The armed men stole his belongings and then invaded our house, terrifying my children and me with threats of violence. We gave them everything we had.
The next day, with the help of our community, we laid my husband to rest. My children were afraid to stay, begging me to find us a new home. We turned to our family for help, but many closed their doors to us because we are Christians.
It was the kindness of strangers that saved us. Compassionate people in the town rallied together and raised the money we needed to escape to Jebel Marra.
We found safety there only to be met with a new struggle: hunger. But that’s when CRM arrived. But you arrived with more than just supplies; you brought us hope. The tarpaulin, mats, mosquito nets, and food have helped us greatly. Thank you, CRM.”
“This world is so strange. My children and I were living safely in Zalingei (Darfur) when the war started, and everything went to hell. The situation was completely chaotic.
My two daughters’ husbands fled to Europe through Libya, but they both drowned at sea. My whole family and I then moved from Zalingei to Nyala, where the neighborhood we settled in felt safe.
After a while, a plane randomly bombed Nyala. My wife and two daughters were killed. My grandchildren and I were the only survivors. It was so strange. My leg was injured, and my granddaughter was hit in the chest with shrapnel. We rushed her to the hospital, and by the grace of God, she survived.
We left Nyala for Jebel Marra. Thank God we found an empty school and were able to settle in. My thanks and appreciation go to CRM for helping us start our lives over. The situation here is not good, but it is safe.
I am reaching out to CRM for your continued support as it is crucial to saving the lives of many, including my granddaughters. I feel completely helpless, unable to provide anything for them. The circumstances in Darfur are so uncertain.
God knows what you are doing, and He will reward you with something better than you can imagine.”
Hawa fled from Alfashir with her two children and then fled the Zamzam refugee camp after her husband was killed. She reached Jebel Marra safely, but due to a lack of food, her children died. Many people cried after she told her story. She said:
“I never thought I’d have to ask for help with food. It was a great shame for me. We stayed for two days without food. On the third day, I had to ask for food for my children. Unfortunately, the first house I approached was experiencing the same conditions. I thought maybe this was the end for us. But I told myself to try another person. I closed my eyes and approached someone else, hoping they would give my children and me something to eat. I continued asking for food at seven houses and finally found someone who gave me some food. I was so happy that I had something to feed my children.
Unfortunately, when I arrived home, I found both of my children lying dead on the mat. I thought they were asleep, but when I tried to wake them up, I found that they were both gone. I was so sorry for what had happened, but there was nothing I could do. I called people to bury my children.
This was when I met Pastor Awad, who helped me. He encouraged me and shared the gospel with me. He never left my side and always helped whenever there was aid available. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord. Although I went through many difficult situations, I knew God had a purpose for me to know him. I am so thankful for CRM and the great people who felt our pain and helped us as human beings.”
Halima and Hawa had seven sisters who died from a single bomb in Darfur. Their father’s shop was completely looted. He went insane because he could not bear the situation. After the bomb fell, Halima and Hawa spent ten days in the house before it collapsed on them. Both came out safely, but unfortunately, their mother’s legs were both broken and their father died. These two sisters were the only survivors.
Days passed, and their condition grew worse. They had no work and no food. Going out to get food was impossible. One day, when a group of pastors were distributing food, they met Pastor Jamal. They told him their story, and he helped them. When they received their food, Halima said:
“My name is Halima, and my sister is Hawa. We are so thankful to CRM for your help. Since we lost our father and both my mother’s legs are broken, we haven’t had anyone to help us besides you. You gave us food to eat and shelter to cover our heads and blankets to cover ourselves. We want to thank you again for everything you did for us. We were in a tough spot, and we honestly couldn’t have gotten through it without you.”
Ikram and her sister were the children of extremist Muslims. They were devout Muslims themselves, but their lives changed dramatically through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ikram had a friend named Maimoona, who was a teacher. Maimoona received a Bible from a colleague who was also a pastor. He discipled her by telling her about Christ, and after he was sure she understood everything, he gave her the Bible.
Maimoona didn’t know what the book was about, so after she read it, she asked Pastor Muhammad to explain it to her. It was at that moment that she came to know the Lord and accepted Him as her personal Lord and Savior.
Maimoona became very serious about sharing the word of God with her sisters and friends without fear. Ikram and her sister Manal said, “Teacher Maimoona came to our home with her book and asked us to read the Bible together. We did, and it was so interesting. For two weeks, she explained what the gospel was about. My sister and I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. We shared the news with our mother, but because she never went to school, she was very scared and warned us not to tell our father. We told her not to be afraid and that even if we didn’t tell him, he would find out eventually. We convinced her and continued to share the gospel, and more women came to the Lord.
But people in the community started to speak out against us, saying we were turning their children into infidels. They told our father about what was going on. He came home and asked us if what he had heard was true. We confessed that we were Christians and that the Lord had given us the responsibility to share the gospel with others. We told him we never forced anyone, and that it was their choice whether to believe. Our father became very angry and locked us in a room. He went and cur rods from a tree and came back, demanding that we deny Jesus or he would beat us.
We stood firm. We told him, ‘Father, you know we have never disobeyed you, and we will continue to obey you. But when it comes to denying Jesus, we will stick with Him.’ He then locked us in the room for three days. Every evening, he would come home and speak to us for two to three hours, forcing us to deny Jesus, but we insisted on remaining with Him.
Then, Teacher Maimoona heard about our problem. She told our pastor what was happening to us. They both reported the issue to the SLA/A authorities. Two people came and released us. They wanted to arrest our father, but we told them not to. They asked us, ‘Why won’t you let us take him so he can learn to do good things?’ We told them our father didn’t know he was doing wrong, because Jesus said, ‘…the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me’ (John 16:1-4).
The soldiers were happy to hear that. One of them said, ‘You people are right. We are ignorant and we need to know about Jesus.’ Our father was very interested in this way, which later led him to confess Jesus Christ. The soldiers told us to report it to them if anything like this happened again, and that everyone is free to worship whomever they like.
From there, we continued to share the gospel with our neighbors. The Holy Spirit is truly moving with power. People are being touched, and they are changing. We have formed three worshiping places.
Please, pray for us; we need to change Darfur. What we are lacking are Bibles. We only have one book to share with our groups, and they are really asking for Bibles. We tell them we need to pray to God to provide for us. It is not easy to get Bibles around here. Please CRM, we need Bibles for the newborn churches who are hungry for God’s word.”
This is Halima’s story. The war in Sudan has disturbed us so much. We were in Aljinena (West Darfur State) when the war became very bad. We were forced to run from Aljinena to Nyala (South Darfur State). On the road, my husband was killed. We left him on the ground without burying him. When we arrived in Nyala, we stayed with my husband’s family.
The whole family was deeply saddened by the loss of their brother. The war was raging in Nyala at that time. Most of the people would sit under their beds day and night, hiding from stray bullets and bombs. We then went to another town where the war was not so bad. When we reached my aunt’s house there, we stayed for two days.
My aunt and her children started beating my children and insulting them, calling them infidels. Things became even worse. The community around my aunt’s house came to stare at Christians and insult us. I thought of moving from Kass to Nertete (Central Darfur State) where I had heard there was a church. But by that time the road between Kass and Nertete was closed by fighting.
So, I prayed and asked the Lord to change the situation. I was also praying to God to open the way to Nertete. God answered. Then we traveled to Nertete. There I got a happy welcome. I found people staying in an open school. But I felt like I was in my home. This is a place where I knew that our people are really in need of the gospel. Without Jesus Christ there is no peace of mind.
I invited my aunt to come to Nertete. She came and stayed for a week. She got to know Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her personal Lord and Savior.
She returned home to her home, and after one month my aunt called to tell me that her home is now a church. Two of us visited her and found people there being taught the Bible. They were the same people who previously came to stare at and insult Christians. That is the power the Bible brings. Thank you, CRM.
Saleh is one of the teachers in a secondary school in Jebel Marra. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior during the distribution of the relief food provided by CRM.
He said “being a teacher, I have read so many books including the Quran and about Islam. I also taught from a lot of books. But I have never felt the way I feel when reading the Bible. I am really experiencing a supernatural power that helps me understand the Bible. My goal now is to understand God’s word better, so I can go and share with others.”
Leah* was Muslim who taught Islam to the children of her Darfurian village. During the distribution of food relief provided by CRM, she heard the gospel from the church leaders as they preached and taught. She asked for a Bible so she could read it for herself. When she was given one, she went home and began reading it.
After three days she came and said, “I got the truth about God from this book. This is the true word of God. I regret that up to now in my life, I have tried to serve a God (Allah) who doesn’t love me. But in the Bible, I met the God who loves me and died for my salvation.”
She asked if she could go to a Bible school to study God’s word in more advanced way. She said, “let the Bible be provided to the Darfurians and they will truly know God.”
Ali* was a Muslim leader in the community of a refugee camp located within Darfur, Sudan. He first heard the gospel during the distribution of relief food provided by CRM. Ahmad asked for a Bible and was given one. He went home and started reading it. When he came back, he said “I am convinced that Issa (Jesus) is the only God that we need to know and believe in. There is no God apart from Him. The Bible is the only true source for knowing God. Since I now have a Bible and know the Lord Jesus, I want to study so I can help others to be freed from the big lies that my people are living with.”
My name is Ikram. I believe in Jesus Christ. From the first time I declared He is my Lord and Savior, I trusted him that he would save me anytime, anywhere. I saw Him going ahead of me. During the war in Al Fashir [in North Darfur, Sudan], He directed me and saved me from all kinds of dangers.
Some people might not believe what I am going to tell you. But when the Rapid Support Forces were dropping bombs randomly all over Al Fashir, we took refuge in a cave. When the bombs started falling, my relatives ran into the cave. I heard a voice tell me, “Ikram, don’t go into that cave. The bomb is going to fall there. Tell your people to come out of it.” I rushed to the cave and told my people, “Please come out, the bomb is going to fall here.” They laughed at me and told me, “If you want to die, go and die but leave us alone.”
Only my younger sister followed me. She and I ran back to stand under a tree. Before we reached the tree, the bomb felt on them, and they were cut into pieces. I was so much afraid, and I heard a voice again saying, ” Don’t fear, run to your relatives in Zalingei.” I told my sister we had to go. We started running. On the way, we met many people running. Some people with donkey carts, others on foot. As we were running, bombs were falling on people. So many people died. But God protected us.
After three days of walking, my sister got sick, no medicine, no water, no food. Unfortunately, she died. We buried her and we continued. After reaching Rokirro, I got Internet and texted someone who helped me to communicate with my relatives in Zalingei. I then proceeded there. I found my relatives, and they were also displaced people. They were 15 families living together in a shelter lacking a roof. Fortunately, I found them supported by CRM.
I told my grandmother that on our way coming here, we found people lined up for three days just to get a jerry can of water. You could see a child in someone’s hands that you wouldn’t recognize whether the child was alive or dead. On our way, every kilometer, either we passed a dead person, or someone died among our group. It was so horrific.
I was asking myself that we still live in a world that has more than seven billion people, yet we are dying like insects and there is no attention taken about Darfur. My grandmother said, “Our Lord is there. He will always take care of us.” I told her my story of how God had helped me. She gave thanks to the Lord and told me, “I am so thankful to the Lord who protected us and provided food for us in the midst of crisis.
I always pray for the people who think about us and help us in a situation we never imagined would someone to stand with us. I asked God to bless your kind hearts and make you prosper in all your ways. All glory goes back to our Lord Jesus, who joins His people together.
H says, “today is another day that God has made for us. We are distributing tarps to families who are so surprised to receive them. We say thank God, thank CRM, and thank everyone who thought about us. The need is so big, but we give what we have because it’s about saving thousands of lives. Because you have given, many families will live! Thank you so much.”
Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State in southwestern Sudan. “It’s the grace of God, that at this particular time of the rainy season, people living completely without shelters received their tarps. They will also receive blankets, mats, mosquito nets, and bamboos to set up their shelters. These tarps, blankets, etc. will not only save those receiving them, but I am sure they will benefit thousands of people because when it’s raining, others who don’t have a house to hide from the direct rainfall can join.”
A is describing the situation of thousands of people who are living without shelter. Here is a picture of H’s house in the Kalma IDP Camp. CRM’s assistance has not only focused on Christians in need, but the community in general. That is why this month in the Kalma IDP camp 8 Muslim families accepted Christ and two of the most unreached Sudanese people groups, the Simer (Seleim) and Erenga, have accepted the Gospel.
A is from Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State in western Sudan. Here is her testimony.
“We, the Christian minority community among the Muslim, totally depend on the relief that is coming from you. I always thank my God that He shows me the way that saved me and my family, not only in this tragedy that is going on in our country, but spiritually.
We share the small amount of aid we get with Christians and Muslims. But when the Muslims get anything, they discriminate against us. This is the difference between Christians and Muslims, between Christ and Mohamed’s teaching.
Many people in the community are realizing this difference. In this month alone, 36 Muslim families joined us and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If we are like the Muslims and only look out for ourselves, how can the people in the darkness see the difference? We need you to continue supporting us because without you there is no one to think about Christians. Your support is not only saving people from starvation, but it brings people from the total darkness of Islam to the true light of Jesus Christ.”
H is the top student in primary school. She loves the people in the school and her relationship with everyone is very good. Teachers in the school like H. very much and she is also loved by her parents. H. heard her teacher talking about Christianity as the students debated Christianity and Islam. She was interested to hear more about Christianity, so she visited one of her teachers who is a Christian. She asked him about the Bible and Christianity. He said that there are things we need to know before we argue or judge. He gave H. one of the Bibles that reached the school. Many people refused to have their photo taken while carrying a Bible, for security reasons. But not H. One week after she received her Bible, she said, “teacher, I have read this book for one week, and everything I read was very good. There’s nothing to compare with the Qur’an that we were reading for years. I think this book is the only means that will change the reality of our community. Let’s read it. And take my picture with it.”
Bertha* is from a committed Muslim family. She was given in marriage to a Muslim man when she was 14 years old. Her father removed her from the school and gave her to a man who was 20 years older.
Bertha was not happy about the situation, but she didn’t know what to do. In one of the women’s gatherings, her sister heard Bible teaching. She heard that God loves women also and treats them equal to men. Since this was not experienced in their homes, she told Bertha about this Bible teaching. Her sister said, “today I attended where people taught from the Bible. They said the Bible is the word of God. In their teaching they told us that God loves men and women equally.”
Bertha said, “I begin thinking about the Bible and looked for an opportunity to find someone who could give me one. Then I met Suad, one of the women who teaches the Bible. I didn’t hesitate to ask her, and she told me that she would loan me one to read. I spent three days reading it. Everywhere I read, I saw God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness. Suad took the Bible back from me, but the Word of God remains in my heart.
I started opposing my husband in the way he was dealing with my daughters and me. I told him that what you are doing to women is not right. We are all loved by God. At first my husband was not concerned if I went to church, but when he realized that I learned things contrary to Islam, he me to my father.
My father came and asked me if I have gone to the church or if anyone taught me the Bible. I told him that I read the Bible and believe it is the Word of God. I have learned that God loves all of us equally. The way you treat us and violate our rights is not good. But now I know the truth and I can’t accept that my daughters suffer the same as my mother and me. My husband and father wanted to beat me. I told Suad and the rest of the church people. They immediately told the authorities in our town. They came and told my father and my husband that everyone has freedom of religion, and they should not threaten anyone because of his or her faith.
Bertha said, “in the evening my husband brought me my divorce certificate. I now feel like I have come out from under the oppressor’s hand. I know I am in the hands of God.” When the recent shipment of Bibles reached Bertha’s village, Suad and gave Bertha her own Bible. Bertha said, “Now I am going to read and study so that I may change the lives of my family.”
This is A. She is one of the most effective women’s rights activists in Darfur. She is always calling for women rights, telling the community to stop violating women and children. When she heard the gospel in 2021, she accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. During the war, she was evacuated. When she received her Bible, she prayed and said “thank you Lord for your provision of the word of God. I have been using my energy to talk about the rights of your daughters, and I found in the Bible that you love women as you love men. Based on your words, I will continue to advocate for the rights of women.”
This man is a teacher in one of the schools. In his school they received 200 bibles, but the actual number of people who asked for one was 700. But he said “thank you so much for considering us this time. We have been waiting for these bible for long time. Now that they have arrived, these 200 Bibles will change the entire community within our reach. With only one Bible we were able to hear the word of God and believed it. With 200 we will change our community”
[Name withheld] is a Sudanese believer of Jesus Christ. She is from a strong conservative Muslim family in Darfur. She has dressed like this since she was 8 years old. Her family didn’t allow her to associate with people or have any friends. She narrated how she was exposed to the gospel and came to follow Jesus.
She said “I was studying in one of the schools where some people are Christians. They were talking about the changes that had happened to them after they left Islam and accepted Jesus Christ. One thing I saw in them was the happiness they possessed. I decided to ask one of them why she left Islam and accepted Jesus. She said because I know the truth about Christ; He is the only way that we can have a personal relationship with God! I said a holy relationship with God while you are a Kafir [one who disbelieves in Allah]?” My friend smiled and said to me, “you are saying this just because you are ignorant to the truth of Jesus.”
“I did not confess what I saw in her, but she gave me her Messenger.* At first, I didn’t thing I would listen to it. but I went home and began listening every day. What my friend said was true. I was ignorant of the truth about Jesus. When I listened to the Messenger, I became more interested.” Then Jesus himself appeared in a dream and told me, “Keep your clothes for yourself, but come and follow me.” “Since then, I become a follower of Jesus. My Messenger was lost during the war, but today I am very happy that I have a new one from CRM. I know I am going to use this Messenger to help my family have the access to the word of God.”
*A Messenger is a solar-powered audio device containing the Bible and other devotional materials designed to explain the plan of salvation and develop mature believers.
[Name withheld] is one of the most effective evangelists in his Darfur village. He has distributed Bibles, SD cards, and used a projector to show the Jesus Film. He said, “thank you so much CRM for making our work easier by providing materials that are so effective in the ministry. The Messenger* appears like a small device, but it conveys the whole truth of God to the people, even those who do not appear ready to hear the good news.”
“In the window, we put this Messenger while charging it, and it continues to speak. This forces everyone to listen to the good news of Salvation. As a result, we see there are new people being saved every day. Thank you for helping us. We request even more materials, because though what we got today was not a small number, the people in need were too many.”
*A Messenger is a solar-powered audio device containing the Bible and other devotional materials designed to explain the plan of salvation and develop mature believers.
[Name withheld] accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior in 2021. Since then, she has been a school teacher but was recently expelled because of her faith. But she stood firm in her faith. She continued to share the goodness of Jesus Christ with others. Jamila said, “they thought I will deny Jesus because of the small teacher salary they were paying me, but they didn’t know that Jesus is far greater than that salary.” Jamila came to Jesus by listening to the Messenger* given to her neighbor. She said, “every day I was listening from the Messenger of my neighbor. I desired one but I didn’t know that one day I would have it. But today I thank God because I got mine. This is a small device, but it’s going to be the means of saving many souls in Sudan in my outreach. Thank you, CRM.”
*A Messenger is a solar-powered audio device containing the Bible and other devotional materials designed to explain the plan of salvation and develop mature believers.
From [name withheld], “It is very hard for me to talk about the situation I have passed through with my sisters. But the truth is, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked our refugee camp, they came to our home. My mother answered the door. A soldier knocked her down with the buttstock of his gun, and she fell. She started screaming and another soldier shot a bullet through her head. She died and we all started crying. Then my father appeared, and they also shot him dead. They grabbed me and raped me. The child I am carrying is from one of those guys because three of them raped me. My younger sisters were crying by then. The situation was critical. But I want to tell you that I am thankful to CRM for supporting me and my younger sisters. May the Lord bless every hand that supported us with everything we need. What you are doing is rescuing us from death. Otherwise, it is very difficult here in Sudan for a child not to eat for the whole day and night. Thank you, CRM.”
[Name withheld] said, “I ran away from the war, but when I came here and found Christians, I cursed myself. I thought I must go back and die in the Sudan war. I never wanted to stay near Christians. I remained annoyed twenty-four hours a day because Christians were around me. Deeply in my heart I was thinking that staying together with Christians will bring God’s punishment. But as time went, Christians started giving people food and they included us. I didn’t want their food but because there was no other option, I accepted. But the significant thing I noticed was how we used to insult them. But the Christians never responded to our insults. I was asking what is the difference between Christians and Muslims? Then I started learning that the book Christians read is teaching good behavior. I am not yet a Christian, but I read the Bible and pray with Christians. I have watched the Jesus film several times. I am praying that God will open my eyes to the truth. Thank you, CRM, so much for helping. God will also help you and bless you.”
“My name is [name withheld]. I lived in the Al-Hasahisa refugee camp in Central Darfur for 19 years until my house was burned in 2023 when the war in Sudan started. It was around 6 a.m. when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked the camp from different directions. The camp was destroyed. Everything we had was looted. Even the clothes we carried were taken from us. We left, wondering what we were going to do or eat. The food provided by the United Nations was destroyed by the RSF troops. Thank you, CRM, for helping me to evacuate to safety in Nertete. When we reached here, we settled in an open school yard. We had nothing to eat or drink. The circumstances were tough. But it was a place I learned that when we pray to Jesus, He answers our prayers.”
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Handeni (Tanzania) Creation to Christ Story Cloth training. The men who joined me are beyond grateful—they still talk about the experience! Each member of our team benefited tremendously, me included. They have already integrated the story cloth into their teaching and evangelism. For example, this week one of the trainees volunteered to lead a story cloth training for church members struggling to share the gospel with their Muslim friends and neighbors. He is also using the story cloth to share the gospel in a predominantly Muslim lakeside village.
After twenty-years in East Africa, this was my first in-depth chronological Bible storying training. I had read about storying and attended workshops but often left with more questions than answers. This time, however, I came away with a much clearer understanding and appreciation of how storying can be used as an effective tool for evangelism and discipleship. I owe that to the instructor—you did an excellent job!
The structure of the training allowed ample time for instruction, questions, and practice. This gave participants the chance to actively engage with the material and each other without feeling rushed or unheard. Initially, I questioned whether five full days were necessary, but by the end of the first day, I realized anything less would have shortchanged us. At the end of the week, I believe everyone left feeling their time and effort had been well invested.
Again, thank you for this invaluable training. It was truly a blessing.
There is a pastor in the western part of North Darfur State who is the only surviving member of his family. The state was recently bombed by military aircraft. Many people lost their lives, including the pastor’s wife and his children. He shared his harrowing experience narrating how his family lost their lives.
“My brother, thank you so much for your prayers and support. I’m sorry to tell you what has happened, but this is what we are going through. I stayed two days without talking to people. I was shocked when I saw my son’s head and his legs flying up. Two of my daughters and their mother also were killed.
Afterwards I had eyes to see people, but no word came out of my mouth. People took me in. They poured water on me. But I didn’t feel anything. On the second day, at night, I dreamed. Everything I saw was only a flaming fire in my mind. A man in a white robe approached me. He called me by my name, saying that I still have my Bible. It is near the gate of your house, next to that small tree. Go grab it and read the book of Romans chapter 8. I woke up and went out and found the Bible.
I shook the dust off it, and I opened the book and read the chapter. After reading the chapter, I answered the following question. Who will separate us from the love of God? My first answer was, no one, and nothing Lord! Forgive me, Lord, for I didn’t call on you to help me in my trouble. I went back to sleep, and the man came again. He told me, you are living among unbelievers. You need to tell them about salvation. But when they see you like this, they will say you don’t have faith in your God.
Now, while there is nothing to separate you from the love of God, read the word and tell the people. I woke up again and got my Bible, and I opened the book of Isaiah chapter 49. I read the entire chapter, and I got new hope. In the morning, I woke up as normal as I ever was. People were all surprised by the change. But I told them the Lord is able. He gave us life and He takes it in His own timing. Let’s know Him and have a relationship with him, He can save us from our trouble.
Please, my dear beloved CRM brothers and sisters, join me in prayers to change Sudan. Please, we need Bibles in our area. We only have six Bibles, and they are not enough. People are asking every day for Bibles. It is my prayer that Sudan will be declared as a Christian nation. I believe that when people don’t have Christ in their lives, they are troublemakers.”
Suad told us the story of this young girl. She said, “This young lady is called Hawa. She was a Muslim. Hawa’s father was among the people who were buried alive by RSF soldiers in El Geneina (Darfur). Hawa and her mother came to my town. I was working in the market, and she came to my place. As we were chatting, she told me her story and what happened to their father. From there I shared the gospel with her. She was interested and she kept coming to my place.”
I asked her if she could work me. She agreed. That’s where I discipled her and she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and savior. Then she made her lodging a place to study the Bible along with her neighbors. One day, Sadia, Hawa’s mother went to fetch firewood with 3 other women, and they found RSF soldiers. The soldiers killed them by cutting off their breasts. So, this was bad news for Hawa and her sister. But one thing Hawa said encouraged me a lot. “My mom and dad are with the Lord, and we are with him, let his name be praised. My sister and I are under His protection and the Bible comforts us every day. I pray that Lord Jesus Christ will use these Bibles to reach those who do not know the value of life. Thank you, CRM, so much for giving us access to the word of God who gives us hope to live.”
As the church continued helping the community, both Muslim and Christians together, their acts grabbed the attention of the community in general, including a certain Imam who has led the mosque for more than 35 years. He asked for a Bible and when he was given a one that CRM had provided, he read it very carefully. Finally, he came and called church leaders together in his home and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
He said, “give time and give Bibles and I will turn this Mosque to be a Church.”
Ali told story about an old man who was a very furious Muslim. He wanted to cause trouble for the believers in our area. He mobilized Muslims in their mosques to fight Christians. I was praying to God for the life of this man. Suddenly the idea came that I should go and write Bible verses on a paper and throw into his house hoping he might find it and read them. I know it is only ignorance of the Word that prevents them from knowing the Lord Jesus. Then I wrote Luke 6:27-28, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 4:20 on a piece of paper and threw it into his door.
His child found the paper and took it to the father. He took the paper and read it. He did not know he was reading Bible verses. So, in his dreams, the man kept reading the verses over and over. Early in the morning he looked for the paper and read it again. He read the word from the book of Luke, “love your enemies.” He thought much about enemies and said, Arabs are my enemies, but in my mind, Christians are the worst. I want to go and tell them I love them.
He came to my house and told me, “I was planning to destroy all Christian houses in our village. But I found a letter that told me not to hate my enemies.” I asked, “what kind of a letter? Can you allow me to read it? He had it in his pocket and gave it to me. After reading it, I told him “My brother you are really lucky, and God really loves you. This is not a normal letter. This is the word of God from the Bible.”
Then the man’s attention changed. He asked, “how do you know?” I told him, “I can bring for you the Bible and you can read it by yourself.” He agreed and I showed hum the verses in my Bible. He read them by himself. He was so shocked to realize he had been taught by the Bible. He asked me, “is this the book of Christians?” I told him Christians are educated, God fearing, and loving people. I know all the plans you have made to destroy our houses. But we kept praying for you, because the Bible tells us to do so. We Christians love you and we always pray to God for you, asking Him to prepare your heart to listen to him.
I told him that he needs to know more about the Bible. He said, “my brother what I saw in my dream yesterday is enough. When I tried to sleep, someone appeared and woke me up and told me to read your paper. Please lend me your Bible, I will bring it back.” I told him, “Take it for one week and bring it back.” He took the Bible and after three days he came back. He asked me, “how will someone become a Christian?” I replied, “are you asking about yourself or someone else?” He told me, “I want to follow Jesus Christ what must I do?” I told him once you repent and confess that Jesus is your Lord and savior you are saved.” He said, “I do believe.” I told him, “let’s pray together and I led him in prayer, and I gave him the Bible. He got excited!”
After receiving his Bible from CRM, a man from South Darfur state in Sudan wrote, “We had a book that connected our minds with war, and we are reaping the results now. But today we have a holy book that connects our minds to peace, and we shall reap peace. I was surprised when the pastor gave me the Bible. What a wonderful gift God has given me! I had never known that I would discover such previously unknown truth in my area.
This book was restricted in our area before. But God really has a plan for freeing us. Today I can hold this book of wisdom in my two hands. This is the mounted gun that will liberate my people from slavery, Sudan as a whole and Darfur specifically. I want to say thank you so much to everybody who contributed to equip me with such a gift.”
[Name withheld] was a teacher for 22 years in her village. She taught the Quran in the school. After the war started and all the normal schools were closed, she tried to open a Quranic school. Her daughter, [name withheld], attended a CRM women’s gathering. The leaders used the Creation to Christ Story Cloth to share the gospel with the women.
Because she was the daughter of a Quranic teacher, she knew a lot about Islam. But she heard many things that were so different in the story cloth lessons.
She asked for a Bible. When she got one, she also asked another for her mother because she said “I now see there are a lot of good things in the Bible that no one here knows, especially my mother. If you give me a Bible, I will go home I and share with my mother while she will also be with her bible.” Pastor Mohamed gave her two Bibles.
[Name withheld] returned to her village and shared the Gospel with her mother.
Her mother listened to her daughter. She came to accept the Bible as God’s Word and believed in Jesus. Afterwards, she called the people of the village and told them, “I want to apologize for being the Quranic teacher of your children for more than 20 years, I didn’t know that I was misleading my community and giving our children false teaching. Today I got the truth from the Bible that I have it in my hand.”
She told the villagers that if you agree with me, I will start teaching our children this book, because it is the true Word of God.
When they were asked the reason for leaving Islam and confessing Jesus, Ali, being the central leader, talked on behalf of all the converts. He said, “we were born as Muslims, grown up as Muslims, and lived our lives as Muslims. We have not seen peace in our lives, the peace was absent from within us. We have not seen love; love was absent within us. We have not seen mercy; the mercy was absent within us. After all that has happened to us, by the Muslims to the Muslims [in Sudan], we got no love, care, or any sympathy from any Muslim. The people who showed us love, care, and peace of mind were Christians. Truly we have seen this throughout 23 years of war. We didn’t realize this till some of our children became Christians. They taught us what it means to be a Christian. And now we have all accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, and we are clearly seeing the difference. That is why we became Christian.”
Sadia and her children are displaced Sudanese people living exposed to the elements. But they fortunately have been enrolled in a CRM funded food relief project. When a local pastor visited this family a second time, he was pleased with the improvement in their health. He said “praise God for seeing these children are gaining life again compared to their situation two month ago,” and asked the woman about the impact of the food assistance they received.
Sadia said, “my husband was killed, and I was left with these children, and no one to stand with me. I lost hope of life as I saw my children fading in front of me. But because of your assistance, as you can now see, me and my children have food to eat.
This has changed my reality.”
Sadia and the children are now healthy and sure that God has intervened in their situation.
Thank you for making such changes in the lives of thousands in Darfur.
Mubarak is one of 12 Sudanese leaders CRM sponsors at a seminary in Jinja Uganda
Coming back from theology school, he said, “I feel so encouraged that that I want the whole of our people to be reached today. A fire is burning in me to go home and bring our people from the darkness to the light.”