Alliance News October-December 2016

THE NEWSLETTER OF

FEATURE STORY

Sanctuary House:

ALLIANCE

A Busy Quarter

NEWS O c t. - D e c. 2 0 1 6

Challenges for the 21st Century Church Planters

Interfaith Consultation

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BILD Seminar

Children’s Playground Opened in Anuradhapura

Support for Northern Students

Street Drama on AIDS

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Challenges for the 21st Century Church Planters Two hundred ministry workers from most parts of the island attended a national conference hosted by the NCEASL titled ‘Challenges of Church Planting and Church Growth in the 21st Century’. The facilitators

discussed the challenges of the 21st century that church planters should be prepared to face in ministry.

The key speakers were Dr. Ajith Fernando and Rev. Dr. Colton Wickramaratne.

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.”

Interfaith Consultation The NCEASL conducted a consultation with interreligious faith leaders in Anuradhapura. The 10 Buddhist, Hindu and Christian clergy who attended this programme were consulted on how their different religious beliefs and doctrines on forgiveness,

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retribution, etc. are relevant to the concept of transitional justice. This consultation also proved to be an opportunity to equip the faith leaders with further information on the transitional justice process taking place in Sri Lanka.

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FEATURE

STORY

Sanctuary House: A Busy Quarter

The year 2016 was an eventful year for the Sanctuary House (SH), the NCEASL’s retreat and training centre and campsite in Pamunugama. As it continues to grow as a preferred venue for camping and adventure activity, training programmes and experiential learning programmes, the SH has expanded its facilities to provide the best service to its clientele. The SH continues to pursue its mission of being a refuge for rest, relaxation and renewal. These were some of the programmes conducted at the SH during October to December 2016.

Read more about the Sanctuary House and its facilities on www.sanctuaryhousesrilanka.com

Two residential planning meetings of the Touch Anti-Leprosy Campaign’s Task Force was conducted at the Sanctuary House on 13 and 14 October.

Experiential learning activities were conducted for the 34 participants who learnt through these activities how they could take on more responsibility, identify opportunities even in the midst of challenges and on meeting deadlines without compromising on the quality of the projects.

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The SH hosted a group of 36 boy scouts from St. Thomas’ Preparatory School and 3 Akelas (scout leaders) on 25 and 26 November. The SH partnered with The Great Outdoors to facilitate special trainings for the scouts on survival skills which included lessons on knots, compass reading and outdoor camping. The scouts also enjoyed the nature walks, the physical exercises, archery and air rifle shooting as well as the aquatic activities such as kayaking and paddling in rubber dinghies in the lagoon.

The SH reached out to senior citizens of its neighbouring community by offering lunch, refreshments and its venue free-of-charge to 100 members of the Kepungoda Senior Citizens Society who celebrated World Elders’ Day with a special meeting and an entertainment programme. The group was also accommodated once again in December for a special Christmas programme.

A total of 39 senior citizens of St. Matthew’s Church in Talangama were also hosted in November. The SH provided its services to the group at a subsidised rate.

Fifty officers of the Department of Immigration and Emigration benefited from the experiential learning activities at the SH during their stay on 17 and 18 December.

Experiential learning activities which were specially designed by the SH in partnership with Breakthrough India and the Distance Learning Centre, were conducted to help the group identify and embrace their leadership qualities and to guide them in improving the systems and processes at their workplace. The group enjoyed the kayak races, raft building and racing in the lagoon as well as the low rope and team wall challenges.

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BILD Seminar The BILD programme enables Christian leaders to acquire theological training and qualifications without leaving or neglecting their ministry responsibilities.

It is a curriculum which includes learning through teaching and practical ministry activities. The programme offers qualifications of Bachelor of

Ministry (B.Min), Master of Ministry (M.Min) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) from an accredited university in the US. The seminar was facilitated by the NCEASL and was attended by 61 Christian ministry workers. If you are interested in pursuing the BILD theological education programme please write to tnr@nceasl.org

Children’s Playground Opened in Anuradhapura A playground complete with swings, slides, seesaws and other play equipment was declared open on 31 October 2016 for the community of Devanampiyatissapura in Anuradhapura.

This playground which was constructed as a community initiated project received support from the Alliance Alliance News Oct. - Dec. 2016. For private circulation only.

Development Trust for the clearing of the land, the construction of a fence, purchase and installation of the playground equipment and construction of common hall. This playground will benefit more than 300 children in and around Devanampiyatissapura.

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Support for Northern Students The Alliance Development Trust (ADT) reached out to 24 students of the Palamoddai Government Tamil Mixed School in Omanthai and 25 students from two preschools in the North during the month of December.

The students received nutrition and stationery packs

from the ADT as a support towards their education and nutrition. The students of these schools were selected as recipients of this project as they hail from impoverished and war-affected households.

Street Drama On AIDS Two street dramas were conducted in Karagampitiya in Dehiwala and Badowita in Mount Lavinia to mark World AIDS Day in December. The dramas were

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enacted in the slum areas, targeting a key affected population which were identified by the Dehiwala Police. The messages on HIV and AIDS prevention reached an audience of over 200 persons.

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PROJECTS AT A GLANCE

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MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM BILD seminar attended by 61 pastors and ministry workers Standing Strong Through the Storm seminar at Angunawila for 180 participants A Task Force meeting with 28 leaders Chilaw Pastors’ Fellowship meeting with 83 committee members Polonnaruwa Pastors’ Fellowship meeting with 60 pastors National Conference for 200 people A special training for 25 pastors A special family camp for 90 people 37 church constructions completed during January-December period 33 pastors received livelihood support during January-December period Publications - Namaskara and Pezhaipura magazines, ‘Sharing the Truth in Love’ (English) and ‘Is It God’s Will for Christians to Be Wealthy’ (Sinhala and Tamil) by Dr. Ajith Fernando

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION Emergency Assistance for 8 pastors from Kadawatha, Meegoda, Warakapola, Ampara, Batticaloa, Mannar and Polonnaruwa 5 students from Gampaha, Kandy and Batticaloa supported through the Kids Ed Programme 220 children supported through the Evangel Care Scholarship Programme 250 Sinhala and Tamil bibles distributed in the Southern Province Legal aid for 14 pastors in Weeraketiya, Polonnaruwa, Bandaragama, Anuradhapura, Kuliyapitiya, Galle, Mannar and Radawana Livelihood assistance for 10 families in the Southern Province 43 volunteer Christianity teachers supported on a monthly basis Consultation on religion and transitional justice with 10 inter-religious faith leaders in Anuradhapura 4 youth groups supported through small grants to initiate local-level advocacy campaigns on transitional justice 5 civil society activists supported through small grants to initiate advocacy campaigns on issues of religious liberty 3 legal letters dispatched on behalf of persecuted pastors 2 Christian students received admission to government schools in Kandy and Galle, following Supreme Court rulings Courts rule in favour of Shalom Christian Zion Full Gospel Centre in Balangoda and New Testament Foundation Church in Wennappuwa, affirming their right to continue with religious worship activities

RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT Street Drama to raise awareness on HIV and AIDS 29 students in the Northern Province receive nutrition and stationery packs A children’s playground constructed in Anuradhapura benefiting more than 300 children