LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY ORDERS KILLING OF CHRISTIAN LEADERS UGANDA 31st July 2003 The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a brutal rebel group which has terrorised northern Uganda for seventeen years, has begun specifically targeting Christians. Their leader Joseph Kony (who claims to be guided by messages from angels, and is believed by many to be clinically insane) has ordered the killing of Christian leaders across the denominations. Barbaric and terrifying attacks against civilians are now occurring on an almost daily basis as part of a new wave of violence launched by the group. Last year the Ugandan government launched a major offensive against the LRA's bases in South Sudan. This followed agreements with the Islamic extremist Sudanese government, that each would stop supporting rebel groups in the other's country. However, refugees and local church leaders report that from the end of last year the Government of Sudan began once again to back the LRA. Ammunition, guns, military equipment and supplies provided by Sudan have enabled the LRA to unleash its latest wave of terror. The LRA is fighting to overthrow the Ugandan government and set up a state based on the Ten Commandments. However, their actions could not be further from the standards upheld in the Bible. The group is notorious for its widespread use of child soldiers. Every night thousands of children travel into urban areas from isolated villages to sleep on the streets. Here, the risk that they will be kidnapped and carried off into the bush to fight for the LRA is less. Some 20,000 Ugandan children are believed to have been kidnapped and cruelly abused by the group. Children are severely beaten and systematically raped, forced to fight and kill for the LRA and to savagely discipline (even murder) other children. Many are mutilated, having hands, noses, ears and lips amputated. A whole generation has been left with a legacy of trauma and suffering which will affect northern Uganda for many years to come. PRAY Pray that the Lord will change the heart of Joseph Kony and the LRA. Pray for protection and ultimate healing of the population of northern Uganda - particularly for the children who are being so terribly abused BARNABAS FUND E-MAIL NEWS SERVICE The Barnabas Fund's e-mail news service provides our supporters with short urgent news briefs and prayer requests for suffering Christians around the world. Please do share these news items with your Christian friends and churches. All news items are available on our website in a more colourful user-friendly presentation format which you can access, print and pass on. If you are not already receiving these news briefs directly from the Barnabas Fund and would like to, please contact us with your name, postal and e-mail addresses, and details of the church you attend. The Barnabas Fund, The Old Rectory, River Street, PEWSEY, Wiltshire, SN9 5DB, UK, Tel 01672 564938, Fax 01672 565030, E-mail Web http://www.barnabasfund.org