Navajeevanam means New Life, something that is needed in northern Sri Lanka. The complex with that name was founded by missionaries 60 years ago and until recently was a thriving farm, children’s home, vocational centre, Methodist church and Christian community. Then LTTE fighters took over the area and the inhabitants fled. As the war neared its end they left and destroyed every building to prevent their enemies using them.
In front of the ruined church you see Rev Prinsan, who has been minister through those difficult years, and his daughter Priyanjalee. He will bring the ruined church back into weekly use this coming Sunday at 0800, he says the local Methodists are determined to worship there regularly again. The sign at the entrance says, ‘Ready for both service and sacrifice’.
The manse has been rebuilt with the help of a grant from the Methodist Church in Britain and as the sun set I sat outside it with the families now living there, and they told stories of those frightening days when they fled, moving from place to place whenever the fighting got too near, being shelled, losing husbands or sons and finally taken by the army and kept in huge refugee camps, where they were fed and clothed but kept behind barbed wire for a year or so.
Steve 18.1
Steve Pearce | Partnership Coordinator Asia and the Pacific | World Church Relationships
Christian Communication, Evangelism & Advocacy Cluster | The Connexional Team
020 7467 5161 (Direct line)
The Methodist Church
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR | 020 7486 5502 [Helpdesk]
www.methodist.org.uk Registered charity no. 1132208
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