A Very BIG Thank You for Praying Concerning Sri Lanka

“When the arrow of a saint’s prayer is put into the bow of Christ’s intercession it pierces the throne of grace.”[1]

Today my Pastor Neil Tomba tweeted this wonderful quote on prayer. I would like to thank every one who prayed for the Church of Sri Lanka past week. God has graciously intervene blessed this persecuted church.

As I reported last week, police have asked the Pastor not to hold services on Sunday, following the attack. However, the believers have turned up numbering thousand and they were not allowed into the church, therefore, they pray and worship God beside the road. Monday police went to court and lodged an injunction to close down the church saying that the church is a public nuisance. Tuesday court called the case and allowed the police to provide witness. The Attorneys representing the church counter argued, however, it seems that the church is facing eminent close down. If the court gives it verdict in favor of the police, most probably the extremist would use the same line of tactic to get rid of the other churches. The case is taken up again on Wednesday—the police produced evidences, however, court decided that the application of the close-down is not meet the proper legal grounds and dropped the injection altogether and asked the church to do proper sound proofing to reduced the noise levels. Then surprisingly, the magistrate asked police to produce the accused people who have involved in the attack. At this moment, local police was taken out of guard; they would have thought to put the blame on the church and settled the issue. The police said that they have not taken any one to custody, and the magistrate was displeased. Then court ordered the police to produce all who are involved in the mob attack at the next session and also ordered the television and other mass-medias to surrender their video tapes to identified the perpetrators.

We are glad that God has intervene and caused to drop the chargers lodged by the police, whereby, the extreme elements could not use such in future to close down churches. Moreover, court has also upheld the right of the Christians. Thanks again for your prayers and hope continuously remember Sri Lanka in your prayers.

Who are the attackers:

This is an short old report (past war time error) on the Jathika Helaurumaya Party (JUH), who are behind may of anti-conversion protests and threating churches, evangelists and believers in Sri Lanka. They are using the communal feelings to broaden their political base. They came to main stream political process, promising Sri Lankans that they would implement Anti-conversion bill in 2004. Please do pray for them out of love.

---

[1]Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1997), 183.

Remembering the Fallen!

We are glad and grateful of our Veterans who have fought and fallen to secure the freedom and peace for the future generations!

Mob Stormed a Church in Koswatta (Sri Lanka)

Last Thursday (06/09/2009) a mob, including Buddhist monks posing to have a peaceful demonstration, raided a Church in Koswatta (Colombo) and destroy the much of the church. This started as a demonstration over death of two women, who were participating at that gospel rally at the Viharamahadevi Park and later revealed that these two have died on natural causes. Many have attended for these gospel rallies, where some people were known to be healed. The recent reports indicate this church has been a catalyst in many Buddhist conversions. Several national newspapers are carrying a reports that aggravate the extreme factions for attacts on churches and urging the Sri Lankan Government to enact the Anti Conversion Bill immediately.

Today (07/09/2009) a parliamentarian and a former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Hon H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya publically threatened the church leadership with death, arson and closing the church down. Please pray that the members of that church may have strength to stand and witness for Christ. Many Christian leaders are shaken by this incident—Ask God to bless the ministry of Christian workers spreading the Gospel in Sri Lanka amid opposition. See the attack on the church:

Ask God to bless the ministry of Christian workers spreading the Gospel in Sri Lanka amid opposition.

The Church website:Jesus Never Fails Good News Centre

New Developments:

---

Reported by my friend Rev. Yohan Heenatigala on November 08, 2009.

He sated:

I spoke with Pastor Joseph's wife today. Following is for the information of those interested in the matter.

1. The 2 persons who died did not die at the meeting as reported by some media.

2. The Church in Koswatte was attacked by a mob led by Buddhist priests - petrol bottles (liquid Gasoline Bombs) thrown in to the church did not ignite.

3. The police requested Pastor Joseph not to hold the church service on Sunday (today), he complied.

4. Thousands of believers turned up, knelt by the side of the road and prayed.

5. Pastor Joseph will be meeting with a Christian lawyer to do things within the law.

Please continue to pray as the Spirit leads. Your prayers are very important in this crucial time of confusion and unpredictability.

---

Updated on November 9, 2009

Today I received news that several other churches are also stoned, threaten and destructed by organized Buddhist mobs, while the Sunday worship-services. They shout and disturbed the services and vowed to close them down. The congregations were courageous and continued to worship the Lord in-midst of the disturbance. However, some Pastors are expecting organized mob violence throughout the week and especially on upcoming Sunday.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JUH), extreme Buddhist nationalistic political party, who were behind the Koswatta attack are trying to make disturbance and push the president to pass the Anti-Conversion Bill. This Bill has been lodge and lobby by this political party and they came to power by promising to implement it. The bill has been just stuck in the parliament because of the fundamental right violations by some clauses. Next year, the ruling party is preparing for a presidential election. It seems, these fanatics are pushing the president to act on legislation before his nominations for the upcoming election.

Your prayers are appreciated!!!

Picture shows part of the leadership of JUH: Ellawela Medhananda Thero, Athuraliye Ratana Thero and few others who participated in the Koswatta Church attack. They claim that they are having a peaceful demonstration, and were law abiding, peaceful citizens, who are using non-violence (ahimsa) methods to gain the right of the Buddhists. Ironic isn't it?

Clear the stage!

This is a very good song! enjoy!!!

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure that it takes to crush the idols.

Chuck the pews and all the decorations too

Until the congregations few then have revival.

Tell your friends that this is where the party ends

until you're broken for your sins you can't be social.

Then seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store

and know that great is your reward and just be hopeful

Cause you can sing all you want to.

Yes you can sing all you want to

you can sing all you want to

And don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song.

Take a break from all the plans that you made

And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.

Beg Him please to open up his mouth and speak

And pray for real upon your knees until they blister.

Shine the light on every corner of your life

Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open.

Then read the word and put to test the things you've heard

Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.

Cause you can sing all you want to.

Yes you can sing all you want to

you can sing all you want to

And don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song.

Anything I put before my God is an idol.

Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.

Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.

Anything that I give all my love is an idol.

We must not worship something that's not even worth it.

Clear the stage and make some space for the one who deserves it.

Cause I can sing all I want to.

Yes I can sing all I want to

I can sing all I want to

And still get it wrong, worship is more than a song.

And you can sing all you want to.

Yes you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to

But don't get me wrong, worship is more than a song.