SRI LANKA: SHOE DISTRIBUTION CHANGES ATTITUDES TO CHURCH

Serving Jesus and sharing about Him in certain parts of Sri Lanka can be deeply challenging. Christians are often in the minority and face rejection and isolation from their communities. This is the context in which Pastor Sivapriyan (name changed for security reasons) is bravely trying to share and show God’s love.

“Sharing the gospel is strictly prohibited in this area,” says Pastor Sivapriyan, “If they find us sharing the gospel with others, they (village officials) interrupt us.” Despite this, Pastor Sivapriyan, had been holding secret house church services for two families in one village.

Serving others seeS attitudes change

But more recently the village has become more receptive towards Pastor Sivapriyan after he and a few Open Doors’ local partners saw how they could meet a specific need within the village.

Knowing that many in the village were very poor, lots of families were unable to buy basic things for their children – and shoes were high on the list. Pastor Sivapriyan, along with Open Doors worked with a local school to distribute shoes to children and families. The principal of the school explains:

“In some poor families there are three children, when we distributed shoes to them it was helpful since buying three pairs of shoes is a challenge to some parents”.

Not only have the shoes been gratefully received, but this small act of generosity and love has changed attitudes toward Pastor Sivapriyan and Christianity, so much so that he has been allowed to start an official church in the village – they even gave him some property to build the church on!

“Now 68 people attend church on Sunday,” said the Pastor, thanking our field partners for this opportunity that led to starting ministry in this village. What an amazing turnaround!