In the year 2000, Ayesha Lambious and some other women began sharing the gospel door-to-door in their town. Eventually, they and 40 new Christians started meeting regularly for prayer and worship.
Local Buddhist monks soon grew concerned about the growing church, leading to violent attacks on the Christians and expulsion from the homes they were renting. “Continually we faced opposition,” Ayesha said, “but we didn’t leave.”
Roughly 70% of Sri Lankans are Buddhists. Although the national government allows Christians to gather and worship, local authorities often cooperate with Buddhist leaders to create community opposition and provoke attacks against pastors and churches.
In 2003, Ayesha purchased land for the purpose of constructing a church building. But community members, outraged by the plan, beat Ayesha and her co-workers and took them to the police station. The Christians were then accused of being prostitutes and trying to establish a brothel.
Ayesha persevered, soon marrying a Christian man named Anura. The couple built a house that also served as a church building, and later they planted a second church nearby.
Persecution has been a constant in their lives. Ayesha and her family have sometimes slept beneath their beds with helmets on because villagers were throwing large stones onto their roof. “We were ambushed so many times,” Ayesha said. “God has rescued us.”
Both of their church buildings have been vandalised, and worship services are routinely disrupted. The church sued some of the attackers in the hope of stopping the harassment, but legal hearings have been repeatedly postponed. Today, both churches remain committed to gathering for worship, and this month they will celebrate their 25th anniversary as a congregation.
Will pray
We are grateful for your prayers!