11/16/2023　Sri Lanka  (VOM) Sam, a pastor in the majority-Hindu northern part of Sri Lanka, was sharing the gospel with a friend who seemed open to learning about Jesus. Without warning, the friend became aggressive and struck Sam in the face. Another time, villagers accosted him and berated him with profanity for telling people about Jesus. Sam remains faithful to his calling and is committed to his goal of sharing the gospel with 200 people this year. Please pray… Pray for the Lord to bless Sam’s evangelistic ministry and that He will lead him to people whose hearts are prepared to hear and believe the gospel. Pray for the Lord to protect Sam and his family as they live out their faith amidst opposition and persecution. Pray that the Lord will provide for the material needs of Sam’s family and his church.

5/4/2023　Sri Lanka  (VOM) Pastor Priyantha and his wife, Dinesha, planted a church in Sri Lanka in 2016. They faced severe opposition from Buddhist monks, villagers, government officers and the police. In 2021, local government authorities confiscated their property, including a coconut plantation which they had cultivated as a source of income to support their church ministry. The confiscated land was then given to the Buddhist leaders to build a temple. Please pray… Pray that Pastor Priyantha and Dinesha will not be disappointed and will continue to trust in the Lord. Pray that the Lord will provide for all the needs of Pastor Priyantha’s family. Pray that the Lord lead them to any new things He might want them to do. Pray that the Lord lead the church to a new place where it can continue to be a light in the community and a good witness for Christ.

2/9/2023　Sri Lanka  (VOM) When Pastor Ranjan of Naula, Sri Lanka, approached local authorities for a permit to build a worship place, they refused. He then built an extension on his house to serve as a place of Christian worship. Under the influence of local Buddhist monks, police and government officials have declared the space an illegal worship place. They are threatening to seize and destroy not just the extension but Pastor Ranjan’s entire house. Because of the persecution from the police and government, Pastor Ranjan’s wife is experiencing medical problems and depression. Also, church members are reluctant to attend church because of government scrutiny. Please pray… Pray for Pastor Ranjan and his wife to have the Lord’s peace and comfort at this difficult time. Pray for the church members to not lose heart but to continue to trust in the Lord no matter what happens. Pray that the Lord will heal Pastor Ranjan’s wife and help her to come out of her depression. Pray that Pastor Ranjan’s house and this expanded house of worship will not be destroyed and that it will be protected.

1/12/2023　Sri Lanka　(VOM) In 2000, Ayesha Lambious started sharing the gospel in an unreached area of Sri Lanka. Soon 25 to 30 people gathered regularly with her, so she and her husband, Anura, planted two churches in majority Hindu areas. Persecution has been constant in their lives. Villagers threw stones at their house during the night, some of which would crash onto beds or tables. Ayesha and her family had to sleep under their beds, and her children slept with helmets on. During the pandemic, however, and later when the area experienced severe flooding, Ayesha continued to serve the community in Jesus’ name. She opened the church as a shelter for displaced people, some of whom had thrown stones at her house. The churches Ayesha and Anura lead remain under attack, but they faithfully continue to meet. Please pray… Pray that Anura and Ayesha will be protected by the Lord as they continue to share the gospel in their village. Pray that many villagers will see the truth of the gospel in Anura and Ayesha’s lives and words, and turn from their idols to Jesus Christ. Pray that their children will grow strong in their faith and relationship with the Lord.

12/29/2022　Sri Lanka  (VOM) After the 2004 tsunami, the Sri Lankan government relocated survivors from Pasikuda village to another village. Pastor Srikanth, among those relocated, shared the gospel there, and many accepted the Lord. In 2019, Hindu villagers began to oppose the worship in Pastor Srikanth’s home. They brought the police, armed themselves, leveled death threats at the worshipers, and incited government officials to threaten to take away Pastor Srikanth’s house. Worship services continued, and recently the villagers were more aggressive. They launched a brutal Sunday morning attack that left several church members badly wounded. The police filed charges against the attackers as well as against Pastor Srikanth. Despite this opposition and ongoing the legal proceedings, the believers continue to gather for worship in a shed next to Pastor Srikanth’s house. Please pray… Pray that the Lord will encourage and comfort Pastor Srikanth and the members of his church. Pray that he will receive fair and just treatment in court. Pray that the church members will not lose heart but will grow closer to the Lord and to each other as a result of the persecution.

8/29/2019  Sri Lanka  (VOM) As Christians worshipped inside their Assemblies of God church in Gampaha District on June 6, 12 Buddhist monks organized a demonstration outside. The pastor called the police, but when they arrived, they brought the monks and the assembled crowd inside the church with them. The monks and government officials threatened the pastor and his wife, and they questioned them about their religious activities for about three hours. Before the crowd dispersed, the monks demanded that the pastor stop all religious activities. Please pray… Pray for the pastor to have wisdom and discernment as he leads his congregation through this difficult time. Pray that the police will uphold the law and not allow the monks to harass the church. Pray that the church will continue to have a bold and loving witness to the families in the neighborhood.

2/7/2019  Sri Lanka  (VOM) A pastor was abducted and tortured by unknown attackers recently in Sri Lanka’s capital district. The pastor of the Gospel Tabernacle Church was riding his motorbike home at about 7:30 p.m. when a policeman waved him down. After the pastor stopped his motorbike and reached for his wallet, an unknown person grabbed his arm and covered his mouth with a piece of cloth, causing him to pass out. While still unconscious, he was taken to an unknown location and tortured with electric shocks. The torture lasted throughout the night, and at some point he fell unconscious again. The pastor awoke on the side of the road and was assisted by a passerby. Although Christianity is legal in Sri Lanka, Christians often encounter problems from Buddhists in the communities where they work. Please pray… Pray that this pastor will continue to preach the Gospel despite opposition and persecution. Pray that the Christians of Sri Lanka will be filled with the Lord’s peace and strength as persecution increases. Pray that the persecutors will realize the error of their ways and turn to Jesus for forgiveness.

10/19/2018  Sri Lanka  (Morning Star News) Attacks and other actions against Christians in Sri Lanka have escalated this year, with Hindu extremism beginning to take root along with long-time Buddhist persecution. There have been 67 reported incidents against Christians in Sri Lanka from January through September. The highest number of incidents involved “violence” and “threats” against Christians, followed by incidents of “discrimination,” “demands for closure of worship places,” “intimidation,” “police inaction,” and “false allegations.” Sri Lanka’s population is about 70 percent Buddhist and 13 percent Hindu. Most attacks and persecution in the past was from Buddhists, especially monks, but recently attacks by Hindus have been increasing in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. The persecution has caused some congregations to stop coming to church, and some pastors have given up and left the country. Please pray… Pray that the Lord will encourage and strengthen His children in Sri Lanka and help them to not to lose hope. Pray that the government will make efforts to uphold the religious rights of the Christian minority. Pray that pastors will not lose heart, but will continue to preach God’s Word faithfully and love those who are persecuting them.

1/25/18  Sri Lanka  (VOM) On Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, three Buddhist monks and two other men interrupted worship at the Lighthouse Church in Pupuressa, threatening the congregation and asking the pastor if he had government approval to worship in the building. They then dragged the pastor outside to beat him and assaulted a church member who attempted to intervene. Persecution of Christians by Buddhists has been on the increase in Sri Lanka, and tensions are high between Buddhists and Christians. Please pray… Pray for the pastor and the church member as they recover from the attack. Pray that the church will be emboldened by the attack and will become an even brighter light for Christ in the community.