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Partner with Local Missionaries in Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, a teardrop-shaped island country off the southern coast of India is famous for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and tea production.
The Sinhalese people, who comprise around three-fourths of Sri Lanka’s population, are Buddhists who follow the Hindu caste system. Half of the Sinhalese belong to the farming caste, raising animals or crops using primitive farming methods. A three-decade long civil war between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists, who wanted an independent state on the north side of the island, ended in 2009. An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 people were killed in conflict.
Nearly 45 percent of Sri Lankans live on less than $5 a day, and the country suffers from high rates of undernourishment, stunted growth and malnourishment, especially in children, according to the non-profit Borgen Project.
Many children in Sri Lanka, considered a major center of pedophilia, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Several indigenous ministries are protecting such children, sheltering them and providing them with food, clothing, medical treatment, and discipleship in God’s Word. One of these ministries runs a rescue home for marginalized and exploited children, providing them with education, spiritual guidance, the saving knowledge of the Lord, and involvement with the local church where they get to attend Sunday school, Bible study, and prayer groups. Many of these children have grown up to serve in the ministry.
“Children, dirty and hungry, began arriving on our doorstep,” wrote the ministry leader. “Many of the children who came to our center had been abused by alcoholic and drug-addicted parents.”
With help from Christian Aid Mission, the ministry built a girls’ shelter and, later, a separate shelter for boys. Their literacy center provides children from four slums with an education. They also have a women’s shelter, where they provide a safe, caring environment for young women who have been raped or otherwise abused.
Other indigenous ministries in Sri Lanka share the gospel with unreached Hindus and Buddhists, helping poor families send their children to school and providing for their basic needs. Another ministry is bringing the gospel to remote villages and the Free Trade Zone where over 100,000 young men and women labor in 180 factories
Sources: Joshua Project, CIA World Factbook, Borgen Project

21 million

Population

Unknown

Evangelical Population:

174

People Groups:

79

Unreached People Groups:

How to Pray for Sri Lanka

  • Pray that God would open the eyes of the people of Sri Lanka to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Pray for God’s protection on Sri Lanka’s vulnerable children, that many would come to know Him and grow up to serve Him.
  • Pray for the indigenous ministries working in Sri Lanka, that God would grant them every provision to continue sharing Christ’s love and truth with people in need of a Savior.

More stories from Sri Lanka

Provide Food and Compassionate Aid in Sri Lanka
The number of children arriving hungry at a native Christian ministry’s primary school grew amid economic and social unrest, and workers provided them with lunches of nutritious rice and curry. “The mid-day meal is the most important one in Sri Lanka, and we are glad that we are able to feed these children,” the ministry leader said. “The parents too are happy that their children receive a nutritious meal.” Workers also provided families going hungry with food boxes. Some of the children at the school are orphans living with grandparents too poor to feed themselves. Donations are sought for food and other compassionate aid. Pray such aid will open more hearts to the gospel.
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Help Workers to Share the Message in Sri Lanka
Villagers who had strongly opposed proclamation of the gospel are now listening to native Christian workers after seeing how they showed Christ’s love through aid to the poor, including food and English lessons for children. They have also seen the Lord heal the many people suffering from illnesses amid shortages of medicines. “One lady who was sick for six months came to one of our healing meetings suffering chest pain,” the ministry leader said. “We prayed, she got healing, and now she is testifying to village people.” Workers need donations to share the message of Christ’s salvation. Pray God’s grace will transform lives and communities.
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Help Form Witnesses for Christ in Sri Lanka
Villagers opposed to gospel outreach softened after seeing aid that native Christian workers brought. “Village people changed as we were helping poor people and children,” the ministry leader said. Workers visited the poor with food and help for their children, including tutoring in English and school supplies, opening paths to share Christ with parents. Healing prayer has also opened people to Christ, including a woman who suffered chest pain for six months. “We prayed, and she got healing,” the ministry leader said. “Now she is testifying to village people.” Donations are sought for such gospel outreach. Pray the Holy Spirit would go before workers proclaiming Christ.
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Help Bring Gospel Transformation in Sri Lanka
As economic and political crises led to medicine shortages, native missionaries invited many sick people to worship services where they received healing prayer. One woman who had suffered for six months with chest pain received healing and is now testifying of the Lord’s power to other villagers. “Some villages were strongly against the Good News of Jesus, but now the people have changed, as they know we are helping poor people and children,” the ministry leader said. “Through work among youth and children, we are winning people to Christ.” Workers need donations of $25 or $50 for such gospel outreaches. They request prayer for more people to receive Christ’s grace.
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Support Biblical Education in Sri Lanka
A recent gift of five smartboards to a native ministry has provided an opportunity to expand the online theological program. The donation enables Christian leaders to better serve the needs of believers who are unable to attend some of the more than 230 available classes. Advanced biblical studies and Bible translation projects continue to bear fruit as well with hundreds of students enrolled in theology classes and 32 Bible translation projects underway. Donations are needed to help sustain such projects as discipleship training for future Christian leaders. Pray for the fellowship among believers as they seek to build a deeper relationship with Christ.
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Encourage Those New To The Faith in Sri Lanka
A boy who could not speak began attending a native ministry’s preschool program, and ministry staff not only prayed for the child, but they also ministered to his mother. Through their faithful prayers, the little boy began to speak, and his mother accepted Christ as Savior. Though she now faces opposition because of her new faith, she has not wavered. “Our response is being ever grateful to our Savior Jesus and always giving glory and praise to our God in whom we live, breathe, and have our being,” the ministry leader said. Your donations of $25 or $50 help native missionaries reach the lost. Pray that God will strengthen those new to the faith.
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