Global Ministries

by Darshan Ambalavanar

Today was the 3rd Sunday after Easter. St. John's had Sunday services each week although the security forces have advised against it. Today we had the largest gathering since Easter including a number of children.

Rev. Rohaan preached on an appropriate but very challenging text. "If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?... But love your enemies, do good to them..." (Luke 6:33,35)

At a time when our motherland, Sri Lanka, is grieving at the tragic deaths of our Christian brothers and sisters, and also other innocents from this country and abroad, who have fallen victims to the atrocities of terrorists in certain parts of this country, we release this communiqué with a heavy heart, while expressing our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and those suffering at hospitals.

From the Church of the American Ceylon Mission (CACM), Sri Lanka

Freedom of the Religions and rights of minorities Church of the American Ceylon Mission, St John’s Mission, Uranee, Batticaloa

Tension between the Muslim and Tamil community escalated after the suicide attack on Easter Sunday that killed more than 30 persons including 17 children and wounded more than 75 half of them critically in Batticalao. Remains are being handed over to the families, and the remains have been buried with the religious observances. There are three remains still laying in the teaching hospital due to an issue with identification.

This was originally published as an article for the UCC series, "Getting to the Root of It".

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14: 19).

On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, bombs went off in multiple locations around Sri Lanka. 3 of the locations were churches where Easter was being celebrated. The official death toll as of April 26 is 253 people and more than 500 people were wounded. The Sri Lankan government has stated that the perpetrators were members of a local militant Muslim group, National Thowheed Jamath. Both Christians and Muslims are minority groups in Sri Lanka. The majority of the population is Buddhist (around 70%).

The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of several leading national and local Muslim organizations and institutions, strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and stands with the families of the victims during this difficult time. 

Statement from the Church of the American Ceylon Mission

We the Church of the American Ceylon Mission vehemently condemn the brutal and cowardice bomb attacks that took place on Easter Sunday the 21st of April, 2019, targeting Churches and Star hotels in Colombo, Negombo, and in Batticaloa. The attacks took place in eight places, including 3 Churches and 3 Star hotels, targeting innocent people - women, children, and foreign nationals - killing 290 and injuring 500. We consider these attacks on worshippers who gathered in the churches to receive the blessings and the peace of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is against the norms of the civilized society and a threat to those who love justice and peace of the whole world.

The Israeli authorities have announced a week long general closure of the West Bank and Gaza over the Jewish Passover holiday. All checkpoints and border crossings to the West Bank and Gaza will be sealed off and entry to Israel for all Israeli-issued permit holders will be banned, apart from exceptional cases.

Lord, we pray for those who will be affected by this week-long ban. So many Palestinians are living in poverty and depend on the income from their jobs in Israel and this ban will make their struggle even harder. Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

To Rev. Heshan De Silva, president and Rev. Maxwell Doss, general secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka

Dear Friends,

We are very sad to hear about the multiple bomb blasts in churches and hotels in Colombo, Batticaloa and Negembo that killed 207 people and injured 450 others on April 21, 2019.

Our friends, colleagues, and congregation members are all safe but share the common grief that has gripped the nation.  

In Batticaloa, the attack on the Zion church is devastating, especially to those who have lost loved ones or will now have to care for them. I can hardly bear to reflect that for many of them it may add to losses they have already suffered in the war and/or tsunami.

Global Ministries leaders are offering support and prayers as they stand in solidarity with church partners in Sri Lanka, condemning the heinous Easter Sunday bombings that killed 290 people and injured 500 more.