Persecution in paradise

Please help persecuted Christians in
Sri Lanka

The popular view of Sri Lanka as a tropical paradise stands in stark contrast to the experience of much of its population. Recent news reports have shown Sri Lanka to be anything but the tropical paradise many might have previously thought it.

Its population has endured over 20 years of bitter civil war, during which members of the minority Tamil population have struggled for independence. 70,000 people have died and over 800,000 have been displaced in the conflict which finally looks like coming to an end.  

Militancy amongst the majority Buddhist Sinhalese population has been on the increase as nationalistic zeal, increased by years of conflict, has begun to marginalise minority groups. Evangelistic activity has made Christians particularly unpopular, and physical persecution has been accompanied by calls for legislation to impede religious conversion.

Sometimes churches are attacked and ransacked. Their members may be threatened, intimidated, and even assaulted. In the worst cases, pastors and evangelists have been killed. 
 

The ultimate price

Pastor Stephen Marangam paid the ultimate price for following Christ: he was shot dead.
 
He had recently led a woman to Christ. This angered her husband, a wealthy businessman. One night as the pastor and his family returned home, three men pulled up on motorbikes and shot at them. The pastor was killed and his wife, Sarah, 32, was seriously injured. She was shot in the stomach and the bullet lodged in her spine. Another bullet hit her arm as she cradled her two-year-old son. 

Sarah was in a coma for three weeks. Although now out of hospital she is still very fragile. The bullet in her spine cannot be removed, and she has a metal plate in her arm. The full use of one hand might not return. She is gradually learning to walk again. Her young son is still afraid that if his mum oversleeps, she may never wake up. Three men have now been charged with the shootings.  

Our response

Against this backdrop of suspicion, repression, hatred and oppression of Christians, our partners in Sri Lanka, EASL (the Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka), are providing practical support for persecuted Christians, and encouraging them to show forgiveness for their persecutors. These are the four main projects which Release has been supporting. 
 

Shalom Camps

Shalom Camps provide an opportunity for persecuted Christians to come together for prayer, biblical teaching and respite from persecution. One group which attended a camp in March 2009 were members of a church of 80 who had been threatened, beaten, and prevented from entering their church building by a 3,000-strong mob.  

Seventy members of this church, including 20 children, attended the camp. The adults were encouraged and supported while the children received teaching and enjoyed arts and crafts, activities and games.

Comments from members of this rural church speak volumes about their faith and love for God and their neighbours.  'We faced so many obstacles and threats as a church. We couldn't even pray in freedom. But today, we experienced God’s touch and God’s grace to stand firm and carry the gospel forward,' said Letchimi, a middle-aged woman. 

A young girl, Mala, said: 'I thank God I am saved, but my family are not and they are very much against me being a Christian. It has been difficult for me. Today, I was encouraged by the message that was shared with us and the teaching we received during the last two days. It has strengthened me to go forward in faith.'
 
Murugan, an old gentleman, stated, 'I thank God I came; I have found peace after coming here'.   The pastor said, 'I thank God for this opportunity. For more than eight months we faced nothing but trouble; the last three months were the most difficult. I believe that Shalom camp has strengthened us all to go forward.

A destroyed church in Sri Lanka

Today, I see joy in the faces of my congregation. Faces that were drawn with fear and discouragement are radiant today! Praise God!'

At another Shalom camp, pastor David, a converted Buddhist, said that his ministry took off when two lame children he prayed for walked a week later. His church was destroyed by a mob, and the church had found it difficult to meet. He admitted that he sometimes felt like giving up, but was aware of his responsibility for the souls of others. He has also been encouraged by knowing that Christians around the world are praying for Sri Lanka. 
 

Evangel Care

Many Christian workers' and pastors' children experience bullying at school by other pupils and sometimes by the staff. Some schools even refuse to teach them because of their faith. One father pastoring in a predominantly Buddhist rural area says that he sent his son to eight different schools to escape bullying in each of the previous ones.

These children have the same aspirations as others their age, but they are hugely disadvantaged because of the price they pay as Christians.  Our partners in Sri Lanka encourage Christian families to deal with inter-faith tensions directly with the school, if possible, but this does not always work.

Evangel Care enables these children to gain a good education through sponsored education or supplementary tuition. Christians in the UK can sponsor
a pastor’s child’s education through Evangel Care. 
 

Safe house 

In more severe cases, some Christians need to hide from their persecutors. Our partners are building a complex of safe houses in a remote location that will be used to provide shelter for severely persecuted Christians. The complex can currently accommodate 20 people and is already being used as a training centre. When completed, it is hoped that there will be counsellors always available to support its guests, some of whom can be severely traumatised.
 

Micro-finance businesses 

Many pastors are ostracised by their local community, who refuse to buy from them or even to sell them food. One response has been an innovative project set up by an enterprising pastor.  Pastor Paul set up a farm which produces sufficient income to support ten pastors and their families and rebuild damaged houses.

He says, 'Working together on the farm helps me disciple and equip my people for living. This farm is enabling the church to become self-sufficient.'

Your gift could enable pastors to be provided for and trained in this sort of modern-day 'tent-making' to enable them to be self-sufficient. 
 

PLEASE SHOW YOU CARE FOR SRI LANKA'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TODAY

You have probably seen reports of the civil war in Sri Lanka on TV or in the papers. Let's respond to the scriptures' exhortation: '…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.' (Galatians 6:10)

If you are able to respond to this appeal, your gift could bless many persecuted Sri Lankan Christians.

For example: 

• £12 a month will sponsor a pastor's child's education through Evangel Care (sponsors for 150 children are needed)
• £25 could sponsor two places at a Shalom camp for a weekend
• £100 will help to see the safe house complex completed
• £500 could provide a loan to help three Christians in a rural location set up a business to support their ministry or that of their pastor
• £1,000 could cover half the costs of a Shalom camp
   

To make a gift to support persecuted Christians in Sri Lanka, please call our Supporter Relations Team on 01689 823491, or use our secure donation page  

Thank you for your prayers and your gifts!

All names have been changed in this report