Sudan

Northern Sudan was assigned to the Middle East Division at the organization of the division in 1951, but southern Sudan remained within the territory of the Northern European Division until 1958.

In 1953 the Sudan Station was established under the Nile Union, but later became a detached station under the division.

In the summer of 1960 four student colporteurs earned scholarships through sales of health literature in Sudan, and in 1961 S. Johnson, an American missionary, attempted to organize temperance and welfare activities at Khartoum, but could not continue working then because a residence permit was denied by the government. On Apr. 22, 1961, a third convert, a southern Sudanese from a pagan background, was baptized.
In the turmoil surrounding the civil strife of the 1960s, the church organization lost all track of SDA members in Sudan. In 1969 the Middle East Division declared Sudan an unentered territory.

Then in early 1970 a literature evangelist was sent to Khartoum, the capital, to begin work there; however, he was not granted permission to work. That same year Ret Chol, a Sudanese student, graduated from Middle East College and returned to his homeland, where he was employed by the United Nations organization to help refugees in south Sudan.

The unification of the country brought an end to civil strife, and work was officially reopened in 1973. In 1974 headquarters were rented in Khartoum, and Chol was appointed director of the work. In 1993 no one was listed in the Yearbook as president. Phidee Tagalog was listed as secretary-treasurer.

The work in southern Sudan was opened officially in 1979. Missionaries who have served in Sudan since that time are: David Ogille and family, the first missionaries in southern Sudan (1979—1983); John and Linda Sines, the first construction director (1980— 1981); and Jerald Whitehouse and family. Dr. Whitehouse served as mission director, and as medical director in the clinic. Judy Whitehouse, a nurse, also worked in the clinic (1980— 1985). Leonard Walker served as construction director and his wife was headmistress of an elementary school for workers’ children (1981—1983; 1985—1986).

Richard Helms served as secretary-treasurer, and his wife taught and was headmistress of the school (1982—1983). Dr. Mary Anne McNeilus served as medical director, and her husband assisted in the clinic (1983—1984). Carl Rusk served as construction director, and his wife served as a nurse in the clinic (1983—1985). Charles Witter served as secretary-treasurer of the mission, and his wife as headmistress of the school (1984—1985). Manuel Alamo was the first agricultural missionary (1985—1989).

Dr. Bayanni Minkai served as medical director in the mission clinic in Juba. When it was not safe to stay in that area, he moved to Khartoum in 1986 and served as medical advisor for ADRA/Sudan.
The clinic was opened in Juba in 1982 on mission property by Dr. Whitehouse, and soon he had more patients than he could possibly care for. Some came from more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) away for treatment.

Another service the mission is rendering is providing pure drinking water to the community of Muniki, where the mission property is located.