The Story Isn't Over - The Good Lie Movie Brings Hope to Sudanese Refugees

Thousands of young men...boys really...sat with bags packed, ready to escape to the safety of America. They had journeyed thousands of miles by foot across the desert of western Africa, forced from their homeland of Sudan by a brutal civil war. They found refuge in a camp called Kakuma, located thousands of miles south in Kenya.

The children were orphaned by the war, forced to fend for themselves in the heat and drought and danger of the long journey. Though Kakuma was the destination, once they arrived at the camp, they were safe from the war but still in dire circumstances. The continent had endured a 60-year drought and the refugees were dying of thirst and hunger.

In 2001, the U.S. launched a humanitarian effort to bring Sudanese refugee children to America. The children were brought over in groups of 100 and dispersed throughout 33 key cities across the country. But not all of the orphans would be saved from Kakuma.

“9/11 was the end of everything for the Lost Boys,” says Saddleback Relief Pastor Steve Rutenbar. The term “Lost Boys” refers to the children who were brought to the United States and left to acclimate to a strange and confusing new culture. “It’s when the doors from Sudan to the U.S. were closed. There were 3,300 boys ready to go. Their bags were packed and they were ready to come to the U.S. to escape poverty, but the doors were shut because of security concerns.” Sudan was suspected of having terrorist ties, and though these refugee children were innocent, they were barred from accessing a new life in the U.S.

When Saddleback learned of the hopeless situation in Kakuma, we began to send relief teams to the camp. “Whenever people are displaced or suffering, we try to interact with them and bring them the good news of God’s love,” says Pastor Steve. “We bring blankets, tarps, medicine, mobile clinics, training for pastors, and more.”

Saddleback has sent dozens of teams to South Sudan. “We start through the local church,” says Pastor Steve. “Long after the U.N. or Red Cross or other programs are gone, the church will still be there.”

Though the refugee situation in Sudan has lasted more than 15 years, the story is far from over. A new movie is being released this week, starring Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon, that highlights the journey of The Lost Boys. The Good Lie follows three young Sudanese boys whose faith sustains them as they travel on foot to Kakuma and then are brought to the United States.

“I love the realness of the movie,” says Pastor Rick, who recently spoke with Reese Witherspoon and members of the cast and crew. “It shows that you don’t have to be a saint to help people. If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done. There are two great stories represented in this movie. One is that most people have no idea how literally millions of people are living in refugee camps around the world. Jordan has more than a million refugees from Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. And the other is that you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.”

Another powerful aspect of the movie is that its main characters are Lost Boys themselves. Actors Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, Arnold Oceng, and Nyakuoth Wiel are all real-life Sudanese refugees. They bring depth, truth, and sincerity to the film.

Pastor Rick believes the film will accomplish two key things: awareness and advocacy. “Twelve years ago, Saddleback Church began a thing called the PEACE Plan,” says Pastor Rick. “PEACE stands for: Promote reconciliation (like in war zones), Equip ethical leaders (where there’s corruption), Assist the poor (where there’s poverty), Care for the sick (particularly those with malaria, AIDs, and water-borne illnesses), and Educate the next generation. Over a thousand members of my church have served in Kenya, and over 1,200 in Rwanda. The way we work on problems like [the Sudanese refugee problem] is with a three-stage strategy:  Awareness, Action, and Advocacy. And I think the movie can help with Awareness and Advocacy.”

Saddleback Church has been working in South Sudan for nearly 15 years, partnering with local churches to bring care, comfort, and hope to those affected by war and poverty. You can be part of this story by serving the thousands of refugees in Kakuma by committing to Pray, Give, and/or Go.

Pray:

Use the internet to learn about South Sudan and its and the cultures and tribes. Then pray for the nation and its people using what you’ve learned.

Give:

Give towards the work that builds up the local church and brings aid to those in need. Click HERE to give to Saddleback PEACE Relief.

Go:

Saddleback Relief teams will be traveling to South Sudan in early 2015. Email relief@saddleback.com to learn more.