Children caught in the crossfire…

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Temporary shelter for the survivors…

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Tragedy in Sri Lanka…

Nearly 200,000 people were forced to flee from their homes in northern Sri Lanka recently as government forces attempted to deal a death blow to the rebel Tamil Tiger separatist army. Some 6,000 innocents have died in the crossfire while the displaced are in dire need of food, shelter, medical care, etc. We are currently raising funds to help purchase food for as many of the hungry as we can, and we hope to visit the island soon to participate in the relief effort. Let us know if you’d like to help!

Many Sri Lankan churches destroyed by the tsunami still lie in ruins after over four years!

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Our boys…

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Shelvi’s joyful arrival in Nashville after her harrowing ordeal in Sri Lanka…

Update on Pastor Johnson and our kids…

Thanks much for praying for our new children’s home in eastern Sri Lanka. The situation has improved somewhat. The rebel faction that had sent a couple squads of armed fighters to hunt Shelvi down when she was there a few weeks ago is now preoccupied with fighting with another faction, and they appear to have forgotten about Pastor Johnson and our children for the time being. Pray for continued amnesia regarding our work there! The children are safe and secure, but quite a few of them have contracted chicken pox, so they’re not very happy at the moment. And now, even Pastor Johnson has chicken pox! So his dear wife, Naomi, is making sure the boys are well cared for.

Pastor Johnson, wife Naomi, and their sons…
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He was very sad in this picture because we were getting ready to leave…

Our own Naomi, by the way, did make it back from Uganda safe & sound. Thanks for praying for her too! She has just celebrated her 25th birthday.

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Naomi writes from Uganda…

Just received the following from Naomi - please pray for her!

Hi!

I only have a few minutes to type. As a team we have had an amazing time so far with lots of adventures. We had a flat tire, lost a piece of an axle, the spare tire had a blow out, we got stuck in the mud for four hours in the deepest jungles of uganda right near the border of kenya and we had to push our car back to the main road, ate fish from lake victoria, crossed over the nile river, almost got attacked by a mob of angry bushmen, and watched two people get hit by motorcycles- and that was just the second day!

Personally it has been very hard on me- so please keep praying that I have the strength and patience I need. Yesterday was especially difficult.

I love you all. See you soon.

- Naomi

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 Naomi with nomadic women in Afghanistan

Shelvi was on fire Sunday morning at The Gate…

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Photography by Deborah Harris.

Interwoven throughout Shelvi’s breathtaking story Sunday morning of her escape from bands of armed rebels her were roving around the bazaars in a small town in eastern Sri Lanka asking for her by name, was a sizzling message to the Church - you are a people of power…just overcome your fear by His grace and witness the release of God’s power through you!

If you would be interested in receiving a copy of this message, let us know ASAP. We’re going to be burning a few CDs and need to know how many. The price will be about $8, including shipping and handling.

Safe arrival…

Shelvi arrived safely Friday evening. I had seen Naomi off at the airport that morning - she’s now in Uganda for two weeks to minister to the poor, to child soldiers, etc. Please pray for her safety now!

Continue praying also for our kids at the home on the east coast of Sri Lanka. They are doing very well at present. Pray especially for the pastor who is helping us with this project. He and his family are in danger…

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