From the Office of the President, The Foursquare Church, U.S. – Glenn C. Burris, Jr.
On Monday we received a deeply serious and time-sensitive request for immediate prayer from the leader of our Sri Lankan Foursquare family. We invite your intercessory partnership in light of this urgent need. In brief, a series of events have taken place which have stirred increasing tension and brought about unstable circumstances for the Church and its leadership, as follows:
- An article was published in the newspaper in Sri Lanka, the Sunday Times, January 12, 2014. The article is shown at the end of this communication. Please read and ask the Lord to give you discernment and insight into the deeper issues behind the publication.
- As a result of the article and other stirrings, there have been rising tensions. According to the attached news link, an attack took place at a Christian place of worship by a number of Buddhist monks, claiming the center was operating illegally, even though the establishment has been operating since 1997. The crowd stormed the worship center and property was destroyed. To read more, please click on the link, as follows:
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=25415&mode=beauti#.UtPokoP2tp0.facebook
- There was a meeting of evangelical leaders yesterday, January 14, for urgent prayer and a discussion about the seriousness of the situation and how they should respond. The bottom line, as understood by all involved (yet not evident in the article itself), is that this new requirement actually puts the decision making into the hands of the Buddhist priests. Please pray for the fruitful outcome of this important meeting and for covering, protection, wisdom and guidance, peace, clear direction as to next steps, and unity. Also pray with authority in Christ against the powers of darkness that are seeking to bring unrest, violence and the closure of churches.
- Pray for the leadership and the thousands of churches and believers who stand valiantly in the face of intimidation. Pray for continued protection, righteous intervention by the police and against fear. [Note: For security reasons, we are not publishing names and locations.]
The Word declares in Isaiah 62:1-12 (NIV): [Pray for Sri Lanka] For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till
her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
The nations will see your vindication, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; or the Lord will take delight in you, and your land will be married.
As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.
The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain as food for your enemies, and never again will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled, but those who harvest it will eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather the grapes will drink it in the courts of My sanctuary.”
Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.
The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’”
They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.
Text of the news article in the Sunday Times by Chandani Kirinde
New places of religious worship only with prior
approval of Ministry
By Chandani Kirinde
View(s):
The Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs has reiterated the need for those setting up and operating new places of religious worship to get prior approval from the Ministry.
The move has been taken to avoid breakdown in amity among members of various religious groups in the country, and on the recommendations of the Consultative Committee of Parliament of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs, Ministry Secretary M.K.B. Dissanayaka said.
The Secretary said the regulations have been in place since 2008, but many instances have been observed where they have been flouted.
The Ministry put out a public notice on Friday, reminding those wishing to set up and operate new places of religious worship, that it is imperative written permission be obtained for setting up and maintaining all new places of worship, or for putting up religious signs in keeping with the rules issued by the Ministry.
Mr Dissanayake said that, currently, there is a trend of setting up of places of worship such as Buddhist and Hindu temples, monasteries, mosques, churches, meditation centers, Dhamma schools, prayer centres and of putting up religious signs such as sacred trees, signs of doctrines, idols, crosses etc. in a multitude of places, illegally and contrary to accepted standards.
This situation has had an adverse impact on religious amity guaranteed by the Constitution, he said.
The Ministry has also reiterated that, when purchasing land, or a house, or leasing out a property, or seeking permission to secure government land, for purchase to construct or maintain places of worship or religions signs, proper written permission should be obtained in order to verify the suitability of such premises for religious purposes.
He said that, it is only after a report is submitted by the Local Authority of the relevant area, and also after prior consultation with the various religious groups in the area, permission is granted, so that, there would be religious harmony, and setting up such a place would not strain relationships between different groups.
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
