A religious celebration in Sri Lanka.
A religious celebration in Sri Lanka.
Sep. 30, 2021 | Sri Lanka

Demonstration Disrupts Church Service

[169] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor harassed by villagers.

Christians attending a church service in western Sri Lanka were warned about a demonstration against the church. Per pandemic guidelines, only 15 believers were meeting one August day at the church south of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city. At about 9:20 a.m. as the service was ongoing, the pastor received a call from a member of the police department, who told him there was a demonstration going on and that he should stop the church service in order to maintain the peace. About 15 minutes later, a group of 15 villagers and a Buddhist monk gathered outside the church. The police officers who stand guard outside the church called the head of the police, who came and requested a list of everyone who had attended the service. The head of the police then told the pastor that since the villagers were opposed to his church, he should stop meeting. He also said there were five noise complaints against the church. The pastor replied that he has been repeatedly harassed by villagers and by the police, and that he was doing nothing wrong by exercising his freedom to worship. He asked the head of police to file a court case in order to settle the matter. Pray for this pastor and for the situation to be resolved peacefully.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Sri Lanka and learn how to pray.

Write your own prayer for Pastor harassed by villagers

  • Dear Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I come to You on behalf of Your people who are being persecuted and abused and traumatized, please give them comfort!
    christine s - USA
  • Lord, we pray for these believers in Sri Lanka. Please encourage and strengthen them. Give them wisdom and favor among authorities so they can meet in peace. Please help villagers be drawn to your presence and not cause problems for the church. Give strength to the pastor and other leaders. May they continue to rejoice despite opposition.
    Jackie V - USA
  • Father God we pray for your hand to touch this court and find a peaceful ending to this situation. Amen
    jeff h - USA
  • Dear Jesus, convict the police of the injustice of this demonstration against the Christians. Give the pastor wisdom. Guard the Christians and their families.
    Patrecia J - USA
  • Father, thank You for the people who were choosing to continue to meet to worship You. I pray that You will grant wisdom and support to the church in seeking to find legal means to protect their freedom to worship You. Please give them that type of support. Guide the decision made by the authorities that hear their case. Give them peace of heart.
    Karen K - USA
  • Our Father, please help all Pastors and Christians in India. You are all powerful. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
    Maria D - Finland
  • Dear Heavenly Father,
    We pray for this pastor and the church as they face this persecution. Give them wisdom and love in all of their responses. Soften the hearts of those who oppose them, that they might come to know Your amazing Grace!
    In the name of Jesus, Amen
    Madison F - USA
  • Father, please thwart the plans of the enemy and continue to accomplish your will in this situation. Grant favor to your people. Draw those who don't know Jesus to him through this situation and the church members witness. Thank you! Amen.
    Vicki Y - USA
  • Father, for "blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.", may your good, perfect and pleasing will be revealed thru this conflict. In your love & peace
    Jonathan C - Hong Kong
  • Father please enable this church to be able to meet in peace, unobstructed. Please give wisdom to the pastor.
    Rebecca H - New Zealand
  • Father, you see how this church is being accused unjustly. I pray that you will bring favor and that this situation can be resolved peacefully. Please give the pastor much wisdom in leading his church through this time. I pray that if the threats continue that you will give the members courage and faith to stand even in the face of opposition.
    Vicki W - USA
  • Father, it is crazy down here. We need you to intervene. Lord, move in this situation. What are they to do? I pray you give the pastor wisdom in handling this. I pray your children would seek you and walk in your will. Show them what your will is. I pray you make a way for them to continue to have service. I pray for those who oppose them, deal w them
    Polly C - USA
  • May the endurance of these Sri Lankan Christians and their grit in calling upon the law of their land under not only harassment but illegal curtailment of their right of free worship be a witness in their community that will attract many to the message of Christ.
    Tom H - USA
  • Father, enable this pastor and members of the congregation to use discernment and show grace to the other villagers, despite being harassed. Remind them that they aren't wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and the rulers of the darkness in this present age. May they find favor with the judge who adjudicates the case.
    Patrick V - USA
  • Father, we're thankful that no violence was done against these believers this time, yet we know they must feel anxious about the future. We ask that you will make a way for them to continue meeting and that this can be resolved peacefully. Please grow the faith of the congregants in the process.
    Brenda M - USA
  • I thank You for this pastor who remains committed to meeting, despite the threats. May he continue to be strong and courageous, knowing that You are with him, and may he have wisdom to respond to these accusations. I pray that this situation would be resolved peacefully, and they would have a judge sympathetic to their case.
    Danielle H - USA
  • Lord Jesus, grant boldness and courage to those believers who are gathering and worshiping in this village in Sri Lanka to continue to gather together no matter what the local officials are doing to stop or harass them. Give these believers words to speak in moments of tension that will bring immediate clarity of conviction that Jesus is the only way.
    Forrest B - USA
  • Father God,
    I pray for your church in Sri Lanka facing persecution and harassment by villagers. I pray for the Pastor that you give wisdom and revelation to handle this persecution with your guidance. Let the authorities maintain law and oder without favouritism. let your kingdom come and your will be done in that nation.
    Dumezweni M - South Africa
  • n the great name of Jesus, our heavenly Father, our awesome God, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we bless You for faithfulness of Sri Lankan followers of Jesus. We ask for healing, for provision, for a hedge of protection and angels directly from heaven to minister to them. Amen
    Gary F - USA
  • Holy Father, grant wisdom and peace to those who are being pressed on all sides to give up Jesus. May those who want to stop them see their faithfulness to You and be humbled. Grant that those who need Jesus will come to follow Him, too. In Jesus' name, Amen
    Eli S - USA
  • Lord, I thank you for the faith of this pastor and his congregation. Please give him courage as he faces those who persecute him and his flock and please let this situation be resolved peacefully. Strengthen these brothers and sisters and let them share their hope and love in you with their persecutors. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
    Cassie K - USA
  • Father I lift up this group of Your believers. I ask for Your favor with their neighbors and the government; Your protection from harassment and violence. Please strengthen them by Your Spirit with all wisdom, peace, courage, and joy. I ask for their provision; that those around them would be open to the gospel. In Jesus's mighty name, Amen.
    Beth G - USA
  • Heavenly Father I praise You for the villagers who choose to worship You and pray for continued boldness and goodness as they do. I pray for the Spirit to give them faith to trust You amidst persecution and for Your Word to nourish them. I pray for justice and for their freedom to worship to not be restricted. I pray for peace in their hearts.
    Joy H - USA
  • Eternal Father, bless this congregation and strengthen them in their faith. Let them turn their focus on You and lead them to walk in Your will and Your ways. Let them be able to resolve this matter peacefully. Let them pray for those who protest against their worshiping. Let them pray for the police also that they might understand justice. Amen
    Andre K - USA
  • God, I pray for Your intervention in this case. I pray these believers will be able to worship You freely! I pray the situation will be resolved peacefully, but favorably. I pray for each of those who are persecuting Your people in Sri Lanka. I pray they would each repent of their wickedness, and come to know the God they are persecuting.
    Curtis M - USA
  • O Lord, we have been told that persecutions will come, yet you also told us to cry out day and night for justice. So I pray for justice to come to this pastor and his congregation in Sri Lanka. May the governing leaders do what is right in this court case, right according to your standards and not the villagers. May others come to Christ. Amen.
    Diana F - USA
  • Oh God, please give this pastor wisdom and guidance as he faces an unknown future! Please give him courage and shrewdness, and that this attention given to the church would only add to its numbers. Please open up a wide path for ministry, and uninterrupted gatherings. That courage would spread throughout the congregation and draw in others!
    Margaret M - USA
  • Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you work in this situation. Please work in the hearts of the police and the villagers who are against the church. Please guide the believers. Please protect and provide for them, and allow them to keep meeting. In Jesus' name, Amen.
    Alice D - USA

  • Father God,
    You said in Your Word that we are blessed if we are persecuted for Your kingdom, and righteousness. Strengthen this pastor and his congregation to stand firm in You, and let the situation be settled peacefully, and justly. Let this be a great testimony in the community, that others, including those who oppose them, be saved, in Jesus name
    Marian P - USA
  • OLord, protect your saints in Sri Lanka. Bring down fear & trembling on their harassers. Show them Your power & might for those who love & obey You. Open their eyes to You. Let them see Your goodness & mercy for those who LOVE You. May Jesus be glorified in this village. Show his power & the forgiveness He offers. Bless your people, Amen.
    SM D - USA
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