Message

St. Stephen's Lutheran Church at Orutota, Gampaha, is a sister church of the Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Udugampola, where Rev. M.P. Rajah is the Pastor. The Church concerned has been existence for about 1½ years. Initially the believers of the area met at a house of a believer. A couple of months ago the believers decided to build a small hall to be as the Church on a plot of land donated by a believer. The oppression started took a turn to the worse as the Church building was nearing completion.

This Church was attacked by a mob of about 100 persons, on 3rd June, 2003 around midnight and flattened to the ground. Before attacking the Church, the mob had knocked off the street lights on the road. Thereafter they proceeded to break the Church building using sticks, stones, swords or whatever they had with them.

A believing family lived right next to the Church. They heard the noise of the Church being attacked and tried to come out. The attackers threatened to kill them if they came out from their house. After this the mob started to throw stones and damage the house.

The incident was reported to the Gampaha Police and an arrest was made. The suspect was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate, who granted him bail. Now the Police have filed action in the magistrate courts Gampaha against the suspect and the court proceedings are now in motion.

The people in the village of Orutota have struck fear in to the hearts of the believers by threatening to bomb the Church, if they ever try to rebuild the Church.

These types of organised threats to the Christian ministries are evident all over Sri Lanka. The Pastor of the Holy Emmanuel Lutheran Church at Horana also has reported that he is receiving severe threats from the Buddhist public to his ministry.

We request you to kindly remember Rev. Rajah and his congregation in your prayers.

General Secretary and Staff of National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka