Prayers are being requested for the people of Yambio, a community in southern Sudan that is home to some members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan (ELCS).
In an e-mail to LCMS World Mission staff dated May 20, ELCS President Andrew Elisa said at least 10 people in Yambio had died of what is suspected to be a mild variant of the deadly ebola virus, and many others are hospitalized. The World Health Organization, Elisa said, has a small office in the area and is calling upon international agencies to provide medicine and other aid.
“Schools and all public places are closed and we expect that the coming Sunday [May 23] there might be no church services in most of the churches,” he said. “Please join us and pray for the people who are now threatened by the ebola outbreak and the Lutheran Christians in particular.”
Rev. Kenneth Greinke, who is serving as interim regional director for Africa, said the Synod’s mission board is monitoring the situation, and continues to be in contact with Lutheran church leaders in Sudan.
Posted June 8, 2004
