01/03/2026
SIC: From Missionary Roots to Sudan Interior Church (SIC)
By: Thon Chuol Kun.
Part One – First Week of January 2026.
From this Sunday until the end of January, I will be sharing documented historical reflections on the journey of Sudan Interior Church (SIC)—from its missionary beginnings to its present identity.
☆Early Missionary Work in Maluth (1898)
The light of the Gospel first reached Maluth in the early months of 1898 through the work of the Sudan United Mission (SUM). These early missionaries laboured faithfully among the people of Maluth, preaching the Good News of Salvation. By the grace of God, many hearts were opened, and numerous men and women accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
After establishing the foundation of faith in Maluth, the missionaries extended their mission to the Nuba Mountains, where they later established what became known as the Sudan Church of Christ.
☆The Second Missionary Wave – CMS (1902)
In 1902, a second group of missionaries arrived in Maluth under the banner of the Church Mission Society (CMS). They ministered in Maluth for approximately two years, faithfully teaching and evangelizing.
Later, they moved southward to Malek in Bor District, where the Lord blessed their work with a notable convert named Atong. From there, the mission expanded further into Rumbek and Munderi, where the foundations of what later became the Episcopal Church were laid.
The first indigenous pastor of this mission was Pastor Daniel Deng Atong, a faithful servant who played a critical role in nurturing the early church and spreading the Gospel among his people.
☆The Third Missionary Group – Sudan Interior Mission (SIM), 1936
In 1936, the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) arrived, marking a significant turning point in church history. SIM missionaries entered areas including Chali, Maluth, Doro, and Banyjang, planting churches and establishing Christian centres across Central and Eastern Sudan.
Through years of perseverance, prayer, and sa