ALLIANCE
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NEWS
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I S S U E
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A Church Learns to Stand Strong through Challenges
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... the church was forced to close down as the mob did not permit the pastor to enter the village...”
Pg 04 Creating Channels of Hope
ACT NOW: Youth Take to the Streets of Kandy
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Pg 02 Learning Democracy
Essential Skills for Rural Business Persons
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GET IN TOUCH
Bible Distribution Digital Citizenship Toolkit
P.O. Box 113, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Careers as Pool Lifeguards
00945511358
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Truth Centered Transformation
twitter.com/nceasl twitter.com/ADTSriLanka
Support for Christian Youth
IN-BRIEF
info@nceasl.org
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facebook.com/NCEASL facebook.com/ADT.Sri.Lanka
Creating Channels of Hope The Alliance Development Trust conducted a 3 day Training of Trainers programme on caring for persons affected by HIV and AIDS from 26 - 28 February at the Subodhi Institute in Piliyandala. The programme which was conducted in partnership with World Vision, trained 22 Christian leaders from World Vision, the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and community leaders working in vulnerable communities.
ACT NOW: Youth Take to the Streets of Kandy A total of 22 university students took the vital message on protecting democracy and standing up for citizens’ rights to the people of Kandy on 16 March. The Religious Liberty Commission organised this programme to create wider awareness through the distribution of pamphlets and puppet shows on the streets of Kandy. “I am so proud to see youth engaged in activities like this. What you are doing is something very important for our country” said a pedestrian who engaged in discussions on democracy with the youth.
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Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
FEATURE
STORY SSTS – A Church Learns to Stand Strong Through Challenges “In April 2018 our church was attacked while we were conducting our Sunday service. A mob of around 20 persons, consisting of Buddhists and Hindus, forcibly entered the church and threatened the Christians who had gathered to worship” said the senior pastor of a church in the Western Province. Due to this attack, the church was forced to close down as the mob did not permit the pastor to enter the village and nearly 20 people left the church in fear of the threats they received. “I then I realised that we did not know how to respond to this situation. We needed biblical instructions on how to handle persecution and the storms that come our way” said the pastor. From 2 to 4 March, 75 members from this church attended a 3 day residential seminar on ‘Standing Strong Through the Storm’ (SSTS). A member of the congregation, *Gowri who works at a rubber factory, shared her emotions. “When my church was attacked we were very angry with the perpetrators. Wicked thoughts about them went through our minds; after all, they forced us to stop our church services” she said. “At this seminar we were taught how to respond peacefully when facing such problems. We were reminded that as Christians, we should bless our enemies.” Gowri shared that she was touched by the teaching on how one’s family should come first. “We should practice living peacefully with our family members before we practice peace among ourselves in church” Gowri stated. She also found the sessions on evangelising and sharing the Good News with nonbelievers very useful. Gowri who has never been to a seminar all her life, claims “over the last 3 days I’ve changed my way of thinking; my whole mindset has changed. I now think differently. I am strengthened and encouraged by what I have learnt”.
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Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
*Nimal, who was also a participant at this seminar was disheartened when he had to face several challenges in life. Having embraced Christianity from another faith, he faced rejection from his own mother who is a teacher and a highly respected figure in her village temple. “Earlier I was sad because I was not prepared to face the trials and my family watched me as I fell at the face of every challenge that came my way. I wondered why God was not with me. I compared my life with those in the world who I thought enjoyed more blessings than I did. My spiritual life was at its lowest.” At the SSTS seminar, Nimal learnt to let go of hurt and break away from the past which was holding him back from his walk with God. Nimal attended the SSTS with his wife, children and others from his church. “I found the teachings very practical which could be applied
The 3 day SSTS seminar ended with the participants feeling happy and greatly encouraged to stand strong through trials and face challenges that would come their way as a victorious God lives within them.
*The names have been changed to protect the beneficiaries identity.
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I then I realised that we did not know how to respond to this situation. We needed biblical instructions on how to handle persecution and the storms that come our way
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to our lives.” Nimal was extremely thankful for the opportunity his church received to attend the SSTS seminar. “I am not the same dejected person that came for this seminar 3 days ago” said Nimal. “I was aimless but now I have a victorious goal for my life” he added happily.
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Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
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NEWS IN BRIEF Bible Distribution The Religious Liberty Commission distributed 280 Sinhala and Tamil bibles during the first quarter of 2019. These bibles were distributed among rural Christians living in underprivileged communities in the Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.
Digital Citizenship Toolkit Consultations towards developing a Digital Citizenship Toolkit were held in Jaffna, Kandy and Colombo. The toolkit is trilingual and promotes ethical online behaviour, digital literacy, digital communication (including hate speech), digital rights and responsibilities and enhances cyber security.
Careers as Pool Lifeguards A certificate award ceremony was held to mark the completion of pool lifeguard training for 10 persons. This training was provided for selected candidates as part of the ADT’s careers in tourism programme conducted in the Eastern Province.
Truth Centred Transformation 23 church leaders from the North Central Province attended the Truth Centred Transformation training module held in March. The programme is designed to bring transformation to communities by holistically discipling churches and encouraging acts of love rooted in biblical teachings.
Support for Christian Youth The Religious Liberty Commission provides financial support for Christian youth who face persecution and marginalisation. Through its Youth Ed programme, the RLC supports eight youth in their tertiary education at local universities.
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Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
Learning Democracy The Alliance Development Trust published a book titled Learning Democracy which introduces democratic governance and how democracy can enrich the collective lives of citizens. It covers topics on people’s sovereignty, accountability, rights and responsibilities, justice, equality, constitutionalism, the rule of law and the separation of powers. The publication also addresses how the youth can be champions of democracy and actively engage in Sri Lanka’s democratic process. This resource was authored by Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda.
Essential Skills for Rural Business Persons The Alliance Development Trust conducted three business training programmes for rural communities in Talawakelle, Badulla and Batticaloa on 26 and 27 January. The trainings were conducted at local churches with the aim of strengthening rural businesses. These trainings were conducted with the support of two trainers who had participated in previous training programmes. The sessions helped the 49 participants identify their high expenses and plan on ways to increase their profits.
Alliance News Issue 1 2019. For private circulation only.
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PROJECTS AT A GLANCE MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM
RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT
• Missions Consultation meeting attended by 30 participants from churches and church based organisations • Ongoing support for 27 church planters • Educational support for 76 pastors’ children and 15 A/L students • 38 students from Monaragala and Minneriya supported for theology studies at Alliance Institutes • A fellowship held for 40 pastors’ children from 25 districts • A family camp for 15 pastors’ families • Standing Strong through the Storm seminar attended by 75 members of the Apostolic Church, Padukka. • A Truth Centred Transformation training held for 84 pastors from Trincomalee, Matara, Kalutara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. • 25 new churches (80 memberships) included to the CEA membership • Supporting for the construction of 40 churches have commenced
• Mobilisation, awareness programmes and networking meetings with government and other stakeholders in Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara • Identification of 22 new beneficiaries and educational support for 25 participants for training in careers for the tourism industry from Trincomalee and Batticaloa • Work-based training provided for 8 persons • Second phase of survey on socio-economic development conducted in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Colombo and Batticaloa with the participation of 4,218 persons • Livelihood support for 4 leprosy affected persons in Vavuniya, Colombo and Galle • Distribution of instrument boxes among 248 children in Vavuniya • Formation of 9 self-help groups in rural Vavuniya benefiting 152 women • 4 programmes to celebrate women’s day with 200 adults and 80 children • A participatory rural appraisal conducted in Vavuniya • Ongoing nutrition programme in Kilinochchi benefiting 32 preschool students • Facilitator training programme for 28 faith leaders and social workers working in HIV and AIDS affected areas • Leprosy awareness programmes reaching 14,395 community and faith leaders as well as persons from Christian and Hindu communities • District interfaith committee meeting with 12 faith leaders
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION • 3 reports on incidents of persecution were compiled and disseminated among advocacy partners • Printing of toolkit on democracy and democratic governance in English • Orientation programmes and workshops on the Act Now campaign conducted in Kandy, Monaragala and Ampara • Youth consultation on digital citizenship toolkit held in Jaffna, Colombo and Kandy • Legal aid for 6 churches • 7 legal letters sent out on behalf of pastors and Christians • Reconstruction and emergency support for 3 churches in Wattala, Padukka and Nattandiya • Educational support for 221 Christian children and youth • Support for 47 teachers from Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Nuwara Eliya, Rathnapura, Matale, Trincomalee and Vavuniya • Distribution of 280 Sinhala and Tamil bibles in the Central, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces