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- Created: December 22 2020 December 22 2020
This month we want to tell you more about the “Sri Lanka Multipurpose Building Construction” project of the Office of International Missions, recipients of an $50,000 grant from Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) in the 2019–2021 biennium.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.2 Thessalonians 1:3
Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the southern tip of India. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has been active in Sri Lanka since 1927, when the country was called “Ceylon.” Currently, there are four congregations and seven preaching stations in the country.
Immanuel Lutheran Church of the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC), in the capital city of Colombo, has undertaken a building project that will house a new sanctuary, a central office for the CELC, seminary classrooms and dormitory spaces as well as a preschool. Currently, there is no Lutheran seminary in Sri Lanka and it is logistically impossible to have students study abroad at established seminaries.
The vast majority of citizens in Sri Lanka are Buddhist or Hindu. Only seven percent of the population is Christian. Because of previous years of work and evangelizing in Sri Lanka, a pre-seminary contingent began training in January of 2017. It is projected that there will be between four and six candidates each year who will benefit from this educational endeavor.
This grant will assist in funding the construction of their multipurpose building, enabling the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church to move forward with the training of local pastors and deacons and to provide a location for the central office of the CELC. In addition, it will provide space for the new sanctuary and preschool for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Colombo.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.2 Peter 3:18
Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Mission Guild (LWML) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.