Sri Lanka's economy has been hit hard by COVID-19. The country's foreign debt was already high and a drop in the country's gross domestic product has some questioning whether Sri Lanka can repay the debt. Even before COVID-19, paying its debt was a challenge for the country.
Day laborers have been hit particularly hard, but there are examples of even people in good, permanent jobs losing their jobs during the lockdown.
While Danes have public services and relief packages that mitigate the impact of COVID-19 to a certain extent, some Sri Lankans are under a lot of pressure, including parents who have to provide for their children.
In this situation, the church can bring light and hope to people who are struggling to survive. In a time of desperation, the church can show God's love in a very practical way. It can provide self-help and emergency aid to the poor, giving them encouragement, hope and strength in an otherwise desperate situation.
From attacks on churches to harassment and threats
The Easter 2019 suicide attack on three churches was tragic, but actually unique in the bigger picture. One might say that it was a stark exception to a trend that has emerged over the past five years - that physical attacks on churches are sharply declining. However, there are examples of harassment and threats against Christians, and our partners must continue to educate Christians so that they know their rights and can in practice get the protection that the law promises.
Thank you for praying for the church reaching out to poor Christians and other vulnerable people in economically challenged Sri Lanka. Many in the country are affected by the corona crisis, but we can pray that this will be a time when God's love is demonstrated in practice and many will have a positive encounter with Christians during this time. In this way, skepticism and prejudices against Christians can be broken down, which can create interest in the Christian faith.
