July 1, 2010

Editor's Note: This report was written by a member of the Way of Life Mission Church with respect to their mission experience in Sri Lanka during the final years of a two-decade war which destroyed lives and property, challenging the ability of local congregations adequately to minister to the community. Sri Lankan Pastor Leslie Mathews will be in New York this week and will be available to meet with local church leaders on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 5-7. To schedule an appointment, call Bro. Sam Senni of the Way of Life Mission Church, Jamaica, at (917) 922-4809.

We were in Sri Lanka during the time of the war and very specially during the end of the war. We have now come to NY since we are Green Card holders. I am living with my wife and two sons. We did children ministry in Sri Lanka conducting teacher training of all denomination island wide for the last 20 years. In fact we got our green card in 2006 and were here for a short period and went back to Sri Lanka to write a Sunday School Curriculum which covers a period of three years in English, Tamil, and Sinhalese. These books are meant for teacher, home cell leaders and even for pastors. We have finished two years and could not finish the third book as our stay in Sri Lanka came to an end. So we will be getting back to Sri Lanka again after some time to complete the third book. So we are available in NY too in case if any church needs our ministry to the children or even adults as we both are used by the churches in Sri Lanka to share the word and teach. My wife is a B.D holder of the the Bangalore, India South Asia Bible College.

Well with regard to the Jaffna war situation.

Our involvement in the children ministry gave us the opportunity to go to Jaffna, Vanni, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomale, and Baticaloa during the time of the war which went on for the last 30 years and even at the final stage of the war also had the opportunity to visit the IDP Camps and conducted seminars for teachers and distributed free books on Sunday School Ministry.

This war in the north and east of Sri Lanka had been going on for the last more than 30 years. The reason for the war is because of the Tamil community which is living in majority in this areas had been suppressed and denied their equal rights since the independence of this beautiful nation. This is the main reason the youth at that time way back in 1970 started to agitate for a separate state or nation. This struggle had been going on for the last 30 years during which time the Tamil Members of parliament on one side had been trying to bring a peaceful solution. As this was not coming through the youth at that time took to arms to achieve this goal. To suppressed this the government forces had been fighting against this militants since then. This has caused many thousands of the people of this area flee the nation to the neighboring India and many left to other countries. Others who were left back due to the ongoing fights have either lost their loved ones or were maimed. In addition they lost their lands, properties, etc. Most of the time many of them lived in camps. This is a brief information of what happened before the final war.

Sir Lanka is a small island in the South Asia, south of India, and was ruled by various kings before the foreign powers over took them. Then the Portuguese, Dutch and finally the British were ruling this nation. In 1948 the country got its independents from British rule. At that time the Sinhalese who were the majority of this nation and the Tamils who were second in population ratio were with better understanding lived together. But unfortunately due to the power struggle, the politicians divided into different groups and made unrealistic promises to the people and came to power. By this the Tamil community was pushed back and this was one real cause for the struggle.

Although the militants and the Government had various negotiations, nothing came right and the struggle became worse. At this time only the present government came to power and they were determined to wipe out the militants. So the war broke out very seriously and in the midst of the war the civilians were caught. This made many thousands of the people got killed and many thousands were maimed. It is very sad. The civilians were not given any chance to escape, and along with the militants these poor people also lost all what they had and were made helpless. Lacks and lacks of people were put into Internally Displaced Camps (IDP) where they had little or no facilities. Now most of them have gone back to their lands, but with out any proper assistants. Still there are thousands of people in the camps.

These people need help to be rehabilitated.

The churches are the only institution now actively involved in taking care of these poor people and they need help and support to uplift these people. I, too, have joined some of these churches to help such people at various times.

Way of Life Mission Church