According to Pastors Francis Ayul and Saphano Riak Chol, leaders of FEBAC-Sudan, the newly-formed association of evangelical Baptist churches, “Rev. John Monykuer was leading an evening worship when an unidentified man in military attire walked into the service and detonated a grenade. Five children were killed instantly. Four others, including two children, Pastor Monykuer and the wife of Pastor Michael Makuin Kuol, were taken to the hospital in nearby Malakal, a former government garrison town on the White Nile. One of the children died Saturday morning. The other three are still in critical condition.”

“We will continue to examine and corroborate the details surrounding this tragic incident,” said Persecution Project President Brad Phillips. “In the meantime, PPF will assist with medical expenses. We ask for your prayers for the survivors and their families.” The Persecution Project Foundation (PPF) has partnered with Francis and Saphano and the indigenous church in the Upper Nile region since 2001.

Asked if the attack was religiously motivated, Pastor Ayul said, "We cannot speculate now, but many believe so. Our main focus now is to save the wounded and console the families of these new martyrs.”

This tragic incident shows that even with the “peace” in Southern Sudan, acts of violence and persecution still are a reality for Christians in southern Sudan, where more than two decades of ethnic cleansing left 2 million dead and displaced 4 million more.

Since 1997, PPF has worked to bring crisis relief and spiritual hope to the victims of civil war, genocide and religious persecution throughout Africa.

Its ministries in Southern Sudan include Radio PEACE, Sudan’s premier Christian radio station; Nakwatom Heritage Academy, which cares for more than 800 displaced, disabled and orphaned children; pastor and evangelist training programs and a humanitarian compound in Jach, which cares for more than 60,000 survivors of the genocide in Darfur.

Contact Brad Phillips at 888.201.5245.

Ron Brackin is a freelance writer in Little Elm, Texas. He has more than a quarter of a century of experience ranging from journalist and congressional press secretary to marketing and public relations. He is the author of several nonfiction and fiction books, including “Sweet Persecution” (Bethany House 1999) and "Between Two Fires" (Banner Communications 2002) "Iraq, My Handiwork" (Manara Ministries 2003) and "Around the World in Eighty Days: the Rest of the Story (PennyRoyal Press 2005). Ron is currently available for freelance projects. Visit his website at www.ronbrackin.com.