History of Western Christian evangelism in the Sudan, 1898-1964

Since its reintroduction in 1900, Christianity has become one of the central defining political factors in the history of modern Sudan. In response to the push by Northern political elites for the Arabization and Islamization of Southern Sudan, large numbers of Southerners embraced Christianity as a rallying point in their defense. After initially rejecting Christianity as a foreign, Western import and an instrument for colonial domination, the Southern communities realized that Christianity connected them to a world larger than their traditional ethnic communities and added strength in their struggle for political freedom, economic justice, and cultural survival.;The Anglican (CMS), American United Presbyterian (APM) and Catholic (RC) missions were begun in 1900 and were conditioned by the colonial reality. Fearing an uprising by the Muslims, the British rulers prohibited proselytism in the North and sent the missionaries to evangelize among the "Southern pagans." In the South, the progress of evangelism was shaped by Sudanese nationalism. Between 1901 and 1932, the Southerners resisted all foreigners, missionaries included. Negative missionary attitudes toward the Southern religions and cultures also hurt evangelism.;In the 1930s, the Southerners changed their political strategy and accepted Western education as a tool for liberation. Many Southern youths enrolled in mission schools, became committed Christians, evangelists, religious and civil leaders. Despite missionary opposition, in the 1940s, the Southern converts also began to reconcile the Gospel with their traditional beliefs and cultural practices. Consequently, large numbers of Southerners embraced Christianity.;In the 1940s, the Northern nationalists moved to end the Anglo-Egyptian colonial rule, annex the South to the North, and Islamicize and Arabicize the Southerners, establishing an Arab Islamic state in the Sudan. To achieve their goal, Christianity and the Southern cultural and religious heritage had to be eliminated. In defiance thousands of Southerners turned to Christianity and organized themselves politically to demand freedom, justice and respect for their religion and culture. Failing to dominate the South politically, the Northern rulers turned to military repression. Between 1958 and 1964, the Southern Christians faced open persecution. Far from being broken by the brutal repression, the Southern Christians were strengthened in their faith.