When Nada* first received a few verses from the Bible, she had no idea they would change her life. Like millions of Sudanese, her family fled the conflict and sought safety in a neighboring country.

Life in a refugee camp was filled with uncertainty, yet even there God was quietly at work.

In the refugee camp, families worked together to create makeshift classrooms so their children could continue learning. It was there that Nada met Christians who shared a few verses from the Bible and encouraged her to read them for herself.

Curious, she copied the verses into her notebook and memorized them alongside her school lessons. As she returned to them each day, she experienced a peace she could not explain. “I felt a great peace through the Word of God.”

In a place marked by fear and uncertainty, Scripture became her source of hope. Although the Christians invited Nada to church, she declined. “If my family finds out,” she told them, “they will beat me.” Instead, she continued reading the Bible. Every conversation with the believers drew her closer to Jesus, and the more she learned, the more she wanted to know.

“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” —Psalm 119:165

When Faith Requires Courage

One night, Nada had a dream she could not forget. She saw two groups of people walking in different directions. One followed Islam. The other followed Christ. When she looked around, she realized she was standing with the Christians.

Not long afterward, she accepted an invitation to church. There she heard the Gospel more clearly than ever before and experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in a deeply personal way. She knew she wanted to follow Jesus.

The believers gently reminded her that following Christ is not without cost. For many converts from Islam, choosing Jesus brings rejection, persecution, and sometimes violence from those closest to them. Only a short time later, Nada’s family discovered she had become a Christian. They demanded she return to Islam. That night she wrestled with fear, wondering whether she should deny her new faith. Yet God strengthened her once again. In another dream, she sensed Him encouraging her to remain faithful.

The next morning, she refused to turn away from Christ. Her family responded with violence. They stoned her. Neighbors rescued her and brought her to a local pastor, who cared for her injuries. Soon afterward, the pastor himself was arrested after being falsely accused because he had helped her. Although he was later released, the experience reminded everyone that following Jesus often comes with great personal cost.

Yet neither Nada nor the pastor abandoned their faith.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10

Finding a New Family

Today, Nada lives at a Bible school operated by one of ICR’s trusted ministry partners. The school provides safety, discipleship, and Christian community for believers who have often lost their families because of their faith. Many students arrive carrying stories much like Nada’s and discover they have gained a new family in Christ. The need continues to grow.

The Bible school has room for only twenty-five students, yet nearly two hundred people remain on the waiting list. Many are eager to deepen their faith before returning to serve their own communities. For Nada, the Bible school became more than a refuge. It became the place where she discovered God’s calling on her life.

Today she wears a simple cross bracelet as a quiet reminder of the decision she made to follow Jesus. She does not know what the future holds, but she knows the One who holds her future.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”—John 1:5

God’s Word Continues to Change Lives

Nada’s story is remarkable, but it is not unique. Across Sudan and neighboring refugee communities, local partners continue meeting people who are searching for hope after losing everything. Some first encounter Christ through dreams. Others begin asking questions after meeting Christians whose compassion reflects the love of Jesus. Many simply open a Bible for the first time.

Again and again, partners see the same pattern. God’s Word takes root in someone’s heart, faith begins to grow, and new believers become faithful disciples who share the Gospel with others. While the world often sees refugee camps as places defined by loss, God is using them as places where lives are being transformed. Churches are discipling new believers, caring for vulnerable children, and preparing future Christian leaders to serve wherever God calls them.

The conflict in Sudan has displaced millions of people, but it has not stopped the work of God. The same Word that gave Nada peace continues to bring hope to countless others who are searching for truth.

How You Can Pray

• Pray for Sudanese believers who have been displaced by conflict, that they would remain strong in their faith.
• Pray for new Christians who face rejection because they have chosen to follow Jesus.
• Pray for Bible schools and local churches as they disciple and equip the next generation of Christian leaders.
• Pray for families living in refugee camps, that God would provide safety, daily needs, and hope.

*To protect privacy and help ensure safety, all images and names shown are representative and not of the actual people or events mentioned.