SRI LANKA: Ministry Worker Forbidden from Visiting Homes

Source: VOMC
Source: NCEASL

A village in Sri Lanka. Photo: Pexels / Jacob Riesel

In July, a Christian worker from the Ududumbara area of Sri Lanka was invited to the home of a congregant to pray for the woman's sick child. Accompanied by her husband and own child, the ministry worker travelled to the neighbouring village of Kaluwala for the visit. As they were praying together, three police officers arrived at the home, along with a leader from the local Buddhist temple. The officers claimed to have received a complaint from a Buddhist monk who accused the Christians of engaging in religious propagation.

The police informed the Christian worker that her family was only free to practise Christianity in their own home, further explaining that they were not permitted to visit other residences for ministry purposes. The worker was then ordered to appear at the police station the following morning. Even though she was not taken into custody at the time, officers warned that if the Christian woman continued visiting others as part of her ministry, she could be arrested for causing religious conflict. Additionally, the congregant who had initially requested prayer for her unwell child was instructed not to visit the Christian worker's home.

Although the ministry worker had been regularly conducting worship services in her home over the years, attendance has ceased since this recent incident. The woman has also noticed a decline in business interactions at the local shop she operates. This is not the first time she encountered opposition because of her faith. Two years earlier, a mob of approximately 80 people surrounded the ministry worker's family home and threatened her. Following that previous incident, she was excluded from participating in any form of community involvement.
For more information on Christian persecution in this South Asian nation, go to our country profile.

• Please lift up this compassionate Christian worker and her family in your prayers, asking God to surround them with His protection and reassure them of His faithful presence each day.

• Ask the Lord to also grant this ministry worker wisdom, discernment and courage as she navigates the restrictions on her ministry, praying that He will open new doors of opportunity for greater fellowship, discipleship and Gospel outreach.

• Even when encountering opposition and hostility, may our Christian brothers and sisters throughout Sri Lanka be further encouraged to deepen their faith in Christ and strengthen their bonds of unity, so that they can remain effective witnesses of His unconditional love and undeniable reality.