Inspiration often comes in the most unlikely places.

For Tom Kilian, it came through a computer search.

“It was for the word “ Humanitarian” which yielded a picture of a child running for her life from a hired killer in Darfur. I was researching the word due to an artist grant offered by the George Sugarman Foundation whose credentials of submission required art work to have a ” Humanitarian” thrust,” explained Kilian.

Currently there are tens of thousands of Internally Displaced Persons or IDP’s  in the Sudan.

“The screams in the Sudan are too far away from the agenda of modern media to be heard, But God’s Spirit will not allow the suffering to go unnoticed and without meaning.  I printed the photograph of the one child and began to pray, I felt as though, someway I could be a “spiritual lifeline,” said Kilian.

Kilian initially used his creativity to raise awareness about the Darfur Genocide by creating an Art exhibit in 2008. His artistic endeavor became published in the North Carolina magazine “Our State” and public interest grew.  His initial ambition was to raise support for a project on the border of Darfur.  He created the “Darfur Monument” with the vision that the proceeds could, in turn, be used for funding an orphanage or hospital. Humanitarian groups took interest, challenging Kilian to provide practical aid over awareness. .

Kilian took the challenge and traveled to Darfur. While working with displaced children he concluded that education itself is not the solution.

Kilian had some background in mission work already. He grew up in the Research Triangle Research Park Area of North Carolina. He pursued Theological Studies at Roanoke Bible College now known as Mid Atlantic Christian University in Elizabeth City NC where he met his wife, Sandie ,who partnered with him for a short term mission in Indonesia.

Kilian also had a special connection to Tyrrell County.
“While in College I preach on weekends in the Tyrrell Co. community, in Kilkenny at Nazareth Church of Christ. Later, while raising children, we returned because of the love and kindrend minds and heart that we found while preaching. We now live in the Scuppernong Township,” said Kilian.

In 2010 Kilian came back to his North Carolina home and redirected his efforts to form the charitable humanitarian organization, “Mercy Partners”.  He had begun by traveling from village to village, sleeping in a combat tent to meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the people near Darfur in South Sudan. The relationships that were built, created a safe network with the indigenous people of South Sudan to the border of Darfur in September of 2012, Tom’s son, Thomas joined forces with his father and has begun to work in the mission.

Mercy Partners approach to Missions is “wholistic” explained as providing a “hand up, rather than a hand out”.

“Where the North American missionary brings change, the native evangelist brings authenticity. The people in conflict zones have suffered greatly, and those who Our Lord has pulled from the heap of humanity to evangelize have spoken of the marvelous mercies of Christ, the only element needed is Mercy to be shown in a practical manner. Mercy Partners provides hope far greater then the United Nations and World Food Program. We are able to provide eternal direction,” explained Kilian.

Mercy Partners has provided prison ministry, art therapy, spiritual counsel for the soldier and commercial sex workers. The organizations has enabled the local church to hold medical clinics addressing health issues such as malaria, upper Respiratory infection, typhoid, syphilis, worms, diarrhea and vomiting.

Kilian also mentioned other aspects of Mercy Partners’ work such as enabling prison outreach, teacher training workshops, provide Lord Supper supply, bibles in local language, host Youth Conferences and provides transportation and security for baptisms at the river Nile

“We have treated for diseases such as Malaria and Typhoid Fever, Intestinal worms, diagnosed victims of Yellow Fever, assisted in transport for Genocide victims that needed Trachea bypass surgery, provided trauma care for head injuries and human bites as well as eradicating parasites in four IDP Slums The mercy of Christ that we have been able to show has resulted in establishing 2 churches, a primary school for 600 at risk children, 6 deep water wells at over 260 feet deep and trained 102 indigenous Church leaders to which serves as a future benchmark to reach the displaced with living water,” said Kilian.

Today the world is a smaller place, both technologically and socially.

“Mercy Partners empowers native evangelist and uses today’s technology to reach the lost. Project proposals, field reports, and photographs are sent over the internet,which in turn, leaves valuable relationship building and leadership training time for when our “sandals” are “on the ground.” Accountability results in dignity which greatly empowers the native evangelist. We have found many benefits to operating this way,” said Kilian.

Kilian explained that Mercy Partners walk in true brotherhood and on the basis of genuine equality by empowering the native evangelist.
“They do not have cultural barriers to overcome so we can readily share the Gospel. In The eyes of the people they serve, they do not represent a foreign country of strange religion. We have overcome language obstacles because natives already know the language of their people group, and can easily learn a local dialect. For instance, Our Evangelist in Gudele, South Sudan, speaks and writes seven languages,” said Kilian.

Kilian stated the the greatest needs in South Sudan are spiritual

“One of the greatest tools we have to address these needs are to meet some of the practical issues that society, governments and support organizations overlook,” said Kilian.

For more information about Mercy Partners visit http://www.mercy-partners.org