Photo: VOMC
Members of the Way to the Comfort Ministry Church in Seethwaka, Sri Lanka, are receiving ongoing demands to cease all Christian activities in their village. On January 26th, Buddhist monks approached the church leadership and insisted that the pastor stop holding worship services, claiming that only Buddhist practices are permitted within the village. They further accused the pastor of forcibly converting people to Christianity and receiving foreign aid.
The next evening, an unidentified person threw large stones at the church building, damaging the roof and nearly striking the pastor's wife. In response to these threats, the Christians filed police reports, prompting the authorities to investigate the incident. As a result of the investigation, the police ordered three Buddhist monks to meet with the church's pastor, his wife, some congregants, and other local pastors. During the gathering, the authorities asked for a peaceful resolution, to which the monks agreed. Despite this agreement, one of the monks later told the pastor that they intend to pursue legal action.
Opposition against Christians in Sri Lanka is frequently instigated by local village leaders, Buddhist monks, and other hostile community members. To learn more about the difficulties Christians in this South Asian country have been experiencing, and/or to review other reports, go to our country profile.
- Pray for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the issues being encountered by the members of this church.
- May God work mightily within the hearts of the opposing Buddhist leaders and encourage them to live harmoniously with local Christians, despite their differences in beliefs.
- Pray for the ongoing ministry of this pastor and his church members, asking our Heavenly Father to reveal ways in which they can proactively love, bless and pray for their persecutors while continuing to share the Gospel.
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