Sword & Trowel 2019: Issue 1
SRI LANKAN BOMBINGS News from the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches
T
HE Easter bombings have had a profound impact on believers in Batticaloa and across the country. One family (pictured below), closely connected with the Lanka Evangeli- cal Fellowship of Churches, lost two of their three children — a son and a daughter. They had been attending Sunday School at Zion Church in Bat- ticaloa when a bomb exploded. Their father, Santhakumar, had worked as Pastor Jeyakanth’s personal assistant for 20 years. Originally, the terrorist had planned
to blow up the Catholic Church in Batticaloa, but its Easter service fi n- ished early so he came to Zion Church instead.
Santhakumar asked Pastor Jeyakanth
to preach at the memorial service for his children. It was held outdoors to ac- commodate the large numbers wishing to attend. Over 500 came, including government offi cials, more than 100 Hindus and about 50 pastors of char- ismatic churches from the Batticaloa district. People are very sad and wondering
‘Where is God?’ in these events. The devastating impact of the bombings runs counter to the ‘health and wealth’ message preached by these charismatic pastors and led to many questioning their faith. Pastor Jeya- kanth preached on Revelation 14.12-14 – ‘Bless- ed are the dead which die in the Lord.’ He spoke
page 34 Sri Lankan Bombings
of why a loving God allows sufferings and tragedy, and how they can be used for good. He was enabled to simply and clearly explain the Gospel and spoke of the Lord’s concern for children. A deep silence fell upon the congre-
gation. Many had never heard this kind of message. One pastor said: ‘I’ve worked for 15-20 years in this area and this is the fi rst time in the district I have heard a reformed pastor preach.’ Previ- ously, they thought reformed pastors did not have the Holy Spirit but Pastor Jeyakanth preached about the Holy Spirit being our Comforter. Santhakumar was moved. He com- mented: ‘I can really believe I can see now why the Lord allowed this. So many people today have heard the Gos- pel, so many hearts were touched.’ Please uphold Santhakumar, his fam- ily and other sufferers in prayer. May the seed sown at the memorial service bear fruit, with changed pastors and churches – and many conversions in the days ahead.
[Pastor Jeyakanth studied at the LRBS
1994-96. He is supported by LEFC and the Tabernacle’s Overseas Ministry Fund.]
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