Pastor Michael Yat and Pastor Peter Yen Reith, members of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, were arrested in Sudan at the end of 2014, but released in August 2015.
Open Doors spoke to them about their experiences of persecution, of leading men on death row to Christ, and the difference it made to know people were praying for them.
Arrested by the NISS
Michael was arrested on 21 December 2014 after a friend invited him to preach at Bahari Evangelical Church in Khartoum. Michael says: ‘I addressed the conflict in the church and taught from Nahum about our God’s uniqueness and his jealousy. What I did not know was that there were security officers secretly recording the sermon.
‘After the service, three National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) officers arrived and arrested me because I was a foreigner preaching without permission.’
Michael’s wife Mary didn’t know about his arrest. ‘She and Peter searched for me but could not find me. Seven days later, officers went to the house to tell Mary and to confiscate my computer equipment and phones.
‘They questioned me about our work and why we had Muslims claiming to be Christians. They also found information about our work in Sudan. They said it was proof that I was spying for South Sudan. They also planted security training material on my laptop and claimed that it had been there since 2010.’
Peter went to the Religious Affairs office to inquire about Michael. He says: ‘Security officers found the link between us in the emails and documents on Michael’s laptop. On 11 January, NISS agents came to my house. They confiscated all my documents and arrested me.
‘Like Michael, I was taken to Kober Prison, but we did not see each other for over three months! This was the most difficult time for me. The only contact I had with anyone was when food was passed to me through a very small opening in the door. I was not allowed to read my Bible or any other books.’
Encouragements
On 1 March they were moved to the Criminal Investigation Department office in Amarat for two months. Peter remembers: ‘The cells were tiny and cramped and the heat was almost unbearable. But we were able to talk to our loved ones occasionally. The best part was that we were able to get Bibles and preach to fellow inmates.’
Michael says: ‘We were very happy to see each other. We also got to see our families briefly for the first time. Peter was able to use a phone secretly, to get online. That is when we saw the news and the calls for prayer for us. It was amazing! We did not know that there was so much international awareness raised for us. We were really surprised and very encouraged.’
After they were officially charged, they were sent to Omduran prison, which has over 3,000 prisoners. Peter says: ‘This was our mission field! Pastor Michael and I worked out a schedule to preach with the permission of the prison officers, who were very good to us.’
Then they were moved to Khober prison. Michael says: ‘My cell was very small, only two by three metres, but we were 12 people in there. We would take turns sleeping, six at a time for four hours. I cannot describe the heat and horror of the hygiene situation. There were no windows in the cells, yet temperatures would normally reach 50°C. It is a true miracle that we did not get sick. It is God who protected us.’
Preaching on death row
Peter says: ‘The conditions were very hard. But it was the happiest phase for me because I was put in the same cell with condemned persons and had opportunity to preach to all. Most of them were Muslims. People asked me why I was there and when I told them I faced the death sentence for being a preacher, they would say, ‘But if they are going to kill you, why are you so happy?’ It gave me the opportunity to share about heaven and about Christ. They were shocked and wanted to know more.
‘Whenever the prison officers realised we were preaching to fellow inmates, they would take us to other cells. We did not mind this, because in this way we got access to almost all the condemned people! God surely has his ways of doing things, even using those who think they are punishing you.’
Free at last
Peter continues: ‘We made peace with the reality that God would either get us released or let us be killed. The outcome was fully in his hands and we placed our faith in his ultimate purpose. When the judge declared us free, I thought I was dreaming!
‘In everything God has a reason. Through our experiences condemned people heard the gospel. Of those we led to Christ, two were hanged while we were still there. Another three were killed soon after we were released. It was comforting to know that they went to be with Christ.
Michael gave this advice to others who are experiencing persecution: ‘Do not be surprised by your persecution, or discouraged. Do not look for the cause of your suffering. Instead focus on the fact that Christ will never abandon you. He is called Emmanuel, God with us. Hold on to him and, if he chooses, he will cause you to be freed from the suffering, as he did for us. Your testimony will serve to encourage other believers. May God comfort you the same way he comforted us while we were imprisoned.’
