Alliance News July-September 2016

THE NEWSLETTER OF

ALLIANCE

NEWS

FEATURE STORY

Kids Camp 2016 Living by the Fruit of the Spirit

July - Sept. 2016

IN-BRIEF Way Forward Shalom Camp Alliance Institute Graduation

Standing Strong Through the Storm Programmes

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Bible Distribution

I found new friends from different ethnicities and we became very close” said Sam as he shared his testimony.

“I also learnt a lot from this camp. So I thank God for this opportunity given to me.

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Recovering and Reconciling through Religion

School Hall for Galle

Relief to Family Members with Special Needs

Combining Forces to Combat Leprosy

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Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

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Recovering and Reconciling through Religion The NCEASL facilitated a consultation on 10 September in Koggala, with the intention of equipping faith leaders to influence their communities and engage with the mechanisms introduced by the government towards the Transitional Justice process.

The consultation brought together faith leaders living in the Galle and Monaragala Districts. Lakshan Dias, a leading Human Rights Lawyer in Sri Lanka, and Prof.

Jayantha Seneviratne, renowned academic and expert on conflict resolution, facilitated the sessions.

The Alliance Development Trust reconstructed the school hall of the Meegahagoda School in Galle.

The renovated hall which was declared open on 1 July 2016, was in a dilapidated state and would leak in the rainy season.

“We are happy that we have received your assistance” says Chamath, a student of the school, who with his friends, helped in the construction work. “We were in much discomfort and you have done us a great service.”

The Alliance Development Trust reconstructed the school hall of the Meegahagoda School in Galle. The renovated hall which was declared open on 1 July 2016, was in a dilapidated state and would leak in the rainy season.

“We are happy that we have received your assistance” says Chamath, a student of the school, who with his friends, helped in the construction work.

“We were in much discomfort and you have done us a great service.”

Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

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We are happy that we have received your assistance

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School Hall for Galle

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Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

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FEATURE

STORY

Kids Camp 2016

Living by the Fruit of the Spirit

Sam hails from Muthur in Trincomalee. As Sam is a beneficiary of the Evangel Care scholarship scheme, he too received a letter from the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), inviting him to attend the annual Kids Camp in Colombo. Sam was certain that he would be uncomfortable at camp; he could only speak in Tamil and thought that he will not make friends at camp.

He told his parents about his reluctance to go on camp but they believed that the experience will be good for their son. Thus on the morning of 18 August, Sam bid farewell to his parents as he climbed into a van with other children heading to camp from Trincomalee. He looked around at the other children seated beside him and wondered if they would befriend him. However, the children had woken early and the long trip to Colombo was exhausting so Sam could not make any friends on the journey to camp.

The campers ranged from 7 to 18 years of age and were grouped accordingly in to three groups in which they would attend sessions and other activities.

The NCEASL’s Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) welcomed 106 children from Christian homes living through persecution, rejection and extreme poverty to Kids Camp 2016 which was held at Sanctuary House, Pamunugama.

Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

At commencement, the theme for this camp – Fruit of the Spirit – was introduced to the little campers through a skit which helped the little ones understand that this year’s camp would teach them the nine Fruit of the Spirit and how these virtues would help them lead happy and fruitful lives. All sessions conducted for the children were centred on this theme and included stories, craftwork and games in order to ensure that the children enjoy their lesson time.

The session facilitators instructed the children to live in accordance with the Fruit of the Spirit, including the virtues of love, peace and forbearance, even in the midst of persecution and rejection. The sessions encouraged the children to live as children of God and not fall prey to the temptations of the world. The children also learnt to appreciate their uniqueness and talents. Such lessons were aimed at increasing the self-esteem of children who face so much rejection and discouragement in life. The resource persons also imparted valuable lessons on how to study well and persevere in order to achieve their goals in life.

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Before Sam knew it, he was a part of a group of boys who were in his age group. Even though not all of them were Tamils, he realised that some of the Sinhalese boys spoke Tamil really well and that he got along with them just fine. He even joint them in a drama for the talent show which took place on the last night at camp. Their group’s little skit which was based on a story of a pastor who was harassed for his faith, taught the audience about God’s protection. Sam enjoyed the time he spent with his new friends. He missed home, but he is happy that he came to camp after all. “I found new friends from different ethnicities and we became very close” said Sam as he shared his testimony. “I also learnt a lot from this camp.

So I thank God for this opportunity given to me.”

Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

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NEWS IN

BRIEF

Way Forward 56 pastors representing islandwide Pastors’ Fellowships met on 21 July to discuss future plans and to pray to raise prayer warriors around the country.

Shalom Camp

Alliance Institute Graduation

A church in Kegalle which had undergone persecution for the past 10 years, attended Shalom Camp from 8 – 10 July 2016. The Religious Liberty Commission regularly conducts similar camps for persecuted Christian communities.

The Alliance Institute partnered with the Lanka Bible College (LBC) to support 32 students in their theology studies. These students graduated on 13 September 2016 at a ceremony held in Polgolla, Kandy.

Bible Distribution

SSTS

The Religious Liberty Commission distributed Sinhala and Tamil bibles in July among pastors serving in rural regions in the Bandarawela and Badulla Districts. These bibles would benefit the congregations of 23 churches.

The Missions Commission conducted Standing Strong Through the Storm programmes for the pastors and leaders in Buttala, Hambantota and Kalmunai during July and August. These programmes motivate the Church to press on in ministry amidst persecution.

Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

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Relief to Family Members with Special Needs Kolonnawa, a suburb north of Colombo city was one of the worst affected areas during the recent flood as it is located in the low lying banks of the Kelani river.

The Missions Commission assisted a relief programme

specially targeted at 36 families having at least one child or adult with special needs. Missions provided mattresses, pillows, bed linen, mosquito nets and clothes as well as story books for the children.

Combining Forces to Combat Leprosy The Touch Anti-Leprosy Campaign conducted an inter-faith forum as part of the second phase of its campaign on 14 July 2016 at Sanctuary House, Pamunugama. The Touch Steering Committee which attended this forum met with Buddhist, Hindu,

Alliance News July - Sept. 2016. For private circulation only.

Islamic and Christian faith leaders to learn about religious teachings on health and care giving. The religious leaders commended the work of the Touch team and vouched their support towards the antileprosy campaign.

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PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

J u ly

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S e p t. 2 0 1 6

MISSIONS Strategic meeting held for 56 pastors.

Standing Strong Through the Storm seminars for 223 participants from Monaragala, Kalmunai and Hambantota Flood Relief - mattresses and bedding provided to 36 families with members with special needs 32 Lanka Bible College students graduate from the Alliance Institutes A special mission training conducted for 20 selected persons Vision Casting meeting for 60 pastors from Kandy Livelihood support for 7 pastors Emergency assistance provided for 2 persecuted churches

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION 6 legal letters sent out on behalf of pastors from Jaffna, Chilaw, Pallekele and Madampe Legal aid for 9 pastors in Polonnaruwa, Aralaganwila, Ampara, Weeraketiya, Makola, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Bandaragama and Kuliyapitiya Training camp on transitional justice for 103 youth from all districts Consultation on transitional justice for 14 leaders of all faiths in Galle An encouragement camp for 33 volunteer Christianity teachers from all districts Emergency assistance for 9 pastors from Galle, Waga, Kadawatha, Colombo, Batticaloa, Balangoda, Kegalle and Meegoda Educational support for 223 students from all districts through Kids Ed and Evangel Care Scholarship programmes Distribution of 296 Sinhala and Tamil bibles in the Northern, North Western and Central Provinces Livelihood assistance for 16 families in North Central and Southern Provinces Shalom Camp for 102 persecuted Christians from Kegalle Kids Camp for 106 children from all districts

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT Renovation of school hall in Galle Purchase of 600 chicks for the community poultry farm in Mullaitivu Touch Anti-Leprosy Campaign’s inter-faith forum for 26 members of the Steering Committee representing all districts The Touch Anti-Leprosy Campaign’s integral mission and project management training for 183 community leaders conducted islandwide