VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 1/6/11)—American Baptists are being asked to pray for the Sudan referendum taking place on January 9, 2011.

“In the historic referendum that begins on January 9, 2011, the people of Southern Sudan and Abyei will decide whether to change Sudan’s present borders that were put in place by colonial powers in order to form a country in the south that is separate from the north. We urge prayer that this process will be conducted in a manner that respects the dignity and well-being of all,” said Reid Trulson, executive directive of American Baptist International Ministries. “Please pray for peace among all the peoples of Sudan.”

The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) also released a statement urging Baptists around the world to pray for the referendum in South Sudan on Sunday, January 9, 2011. To read more, click here.

“The BWA calls on Baptists worldwide to embrace a season of invocation and ongoing engagement that remembers the Sudanese referendum on January 9 and that a broader and more robust implementation of peace and development will take place throughout Sudan.”

The vote being cast on January 9 will determine whether the Southern Sudanese will pursue independence or further reunification within Sudan. This is the culmination of a six-year process that began with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005. The CPA ended a 22 year civil war where two million Southern Sudanese died.

Rev. Dr. Olaf Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), recently wrote, “I would like to ask the WCC member churches around the world and particularly those member churches where the Southern Sudanese living in Diaspora are entitled to vote, to cooperate in observing, monitoring and praying for all the Sudanese during this challenging time in the history of the country.”

In light of this upcoming vote, American Baptist Churches USA joins its partners in asking American Baptists to pray for safety during the approaching vote, as well as a positive outcome for the events occurring in Southern Sudan.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.