“He who knows how to cry…” – Reflections on the Easter attacks in Sri Lanka

MAY/JUNE 2019 |  NETWORK NEWS FROM LEADEV-LANGHAM

Source: Langham Partnership USA

Because Langham is called to serve in places where God’s people are under pressure and in poverty, our leaders and volunteers often find themselves living and serving in places of danger. 

Sri Lanka is one of these places, and we continue to grieve the hard news of suicide bombers blowing through 3 churches and several hotels, killing and wounding hundreds of Christians in the midst of worship on Easter Sunday.

When tragedy strikes the body of Christ, it impacts all of God’s people. But we can take comfort in the words of peace and hope being proclaimed by those involved in Langham’s work training and resourcing biblical leaders in Sri Lanka. We wanted to share some of these messages with you. Read them below and please join with us in praying for the safety and boldness of all our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka and other hard places around the world.  We pray that as God’s Word is faithfully taught, His church would mature and bring the hope of Christ to the hurting.

“Christians. . . Do not waiver.”

We received the following reflection from a sister in Christ (and former student of a Langham-trained leader) in Sri Lanka. As the bombs were detonating in churches across Colombo, she was sitting in the pew of her own church—holding tight to her small son as news of nearby bombings streamed in. She says:

“Christians, do not lose hope. Do not waiver. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but principalities of darkness. Where there is darkness, may you be the light. . . Pray for this nation, pray for our armed forces, pray for the families grieving, pray for the Muslims who fear what tomorrow may bring, pray for our government. Prayer is a weapon. Do not put it down in your brokenness, but use it now more than ever. Jesus shed His blood so that you and I can go to the Father in such a time as this.”

A Sign of Hope; an Invitation to Prayer

*Manura, who coordinates Langham’s pastor-training efforts and leads a media company dedicated to Bible teaching in Sri Lanka, shared this sign that had been posted outside his building. He invites us to:

-Pray for the bereaved families and for the injured and those serving them in the hospitals and through other services. 

-Pray for the authorities that they will act with speed and resolve to get to the bottom of this and restore peace. 

-Pray that no one will try to manipulate this situation for narrow political or other agendas. 

-Pray that we will stand together as one nation. 

-Pray that the church will be an example and vehicle of the love, forgiveness and hope that is so central to the Easter message.

Who Shall Separate Us?

The following reflection is from Ivor, a theological leader in Sri Lanka who is principal of a seminary and involved in Langham’s pastor-training work in the region. He writes:

“Our social landscape appears to have transformed in an instant. Once we get over the shock, it’ll be time to roll up the proverbial sleeve and get engaged in the work cut out for the Church. We will need effective pastoral care for congregations, psycho-social support for Christian children, and a whole new way of thinking about security for Christian events and gatherings. Then there is the need for biblical teaching: to enhance our understanding of persecution and our theology of suffering; to deepen our commitment to evangelism; and to develop a Christian mind for peace-making and grace-sharing. Many have expressed their readiness to support the families of the bereaved and the injured. The churches are already working on rebuilding their damaged properties. There is an amazing resilience and solidarity that is sweeping through the wider society. Pray that it will grow.

In all things God works for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. . . What a comfort to know and feel the power of the truth of what Paul continues to say in Romans 8:28-39: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” 

Read the full text at Christianity Today.

Learn more about LeaDev-Langham’s work training and resourcing the global church.

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