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NUWARA-ELIYA and COLOMBO
MEETINGS
16-26 May, 2008
A Brief Report
It was just last year in August that I had paid a
visit to minister the Word of God upon the invitation of Bro. Chandula
Abeywickrema, a bank officer who oversees a small assembly of believers
in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Bro. Chandula felt that there was a need
for me to go and lift up the faith of the believers in Sri Lanka.
Arrangements were made in two places ̵ Nuwara-Eliya and Colombo.
Nuwara-Eliya, a municipality established in 1949, is a beautiful "Little
England". The name means "City of Light". Its highest peak rises
up to 2,534 metres (about 8,280 feet) above sea level. It is a
beautiful tourist spot in Sri Lanka.
NUWARA-ELIYA
By the grace of God, a hall with several rooms was
secured in Nuwara-Eliya by Bro. Shane, a faithful minister and pastor of an assembly in Kandy.
The believers came from Kandy and as far north as Mannar and Trincomalee
were accommodated in the rooms that came with mattresses. Not many
believers could come from far away towns because of the tight security
caused by the war with the Tamil Tigers in those areas. Ever so
often there would be a news report on the air of a blast set off by some
suicide bomber in some part of the island. In a period of 2 weeks, from my arrival
to departure, the City of Colombo had 2
bombings in 2 different areas not far from Colombo.
The following day (17 May) after arriving in
Colombo, Bro. Chandula, his wife, Sis. Chandrika, and I
took a drive of some 4½ hours from Colombo to Nuwara-Eliya, a journey
of which half was up mountains through winding roads.
There are plenty of "switch-backs" or "hair-pin" bends. Certainly
not very pleasant. However, the place of our stay was a company
bungalow that Bro. Chandula was able to secure. It is situated about
less than 5 minutes drive to the assembly hall.
The meetings did not see as many people compared to
April 2005.
When materialism is sought after by preachers, there
is no difference between countries, inclusive of Sri Lanka. There
are always accusations, jealousy, insincerity, and many un-Christian
dealings going on. Those who are of such spirits will soon go wild after
a separation. They have nothing to preach. Like Dalton
Bruce and Cohen Reckart, they will be preaching about other preachers
and their teachings.
 
 
There were a total of 4 days of meetings.
Meetings began in the morning at about 9.30am and ended at 6.00pm.
There were breaks for lunch and tea.
The messages during these few days were on the
end-time scenarios with regards to the soon return of our Lord Jesus
Christ and how the Sacred Scriptures should be interpreted in the Spirit
of Wisdom and Revelation. Similarly, the same were taught in
Colombo from 22 to 25 May.
 
COLOMBO
Many of the believers in this assembly have yet to
attain revelation concerning the FAITH. Affluence and
traditions, both national and religious, have a stronger hold on people
who live in the capital than those in the rural areas, hence,
vanities are not easily given up. But God is God and He will sieve
all assemblies for those that will make the gems for the Master's crown.
 
May God bless this assembly as they grow in grace.
May the Lord give much wisdom to Bro. Chandula and those who assist him
in overseeing the flock.
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