Church construction – eastern coast of Sri Lanka

Seems like they got the “triple-whammy” – 26 years of civil war, the December 2004 tsunami, and massive flooding earlier this year – manmade and natural catastrophes which destroyed many churches in certain areas along the eastern coast of Sri Lankan. Even now, nearly seven years after the tsunami, some churches have yet to be rebuilt due to the poverty of Christians living in the region. Well, we Welcome Homers intend to do something about this! One of the things Christians in the West take for granted is the privilege of having a place to meet. Whether our church meets in a dedicated structure, a borrowed school, or someone’s home, we can usually count on having a reasonably comfortable, climate-controlled, well-furnished setting in which to worship, fellowship, receive teaching, and pray with one another. Without those accommodations, all of the activities listed above would be rendered very difficult. Many of our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters meet – when there is no church as is often the case – in homes that are usually tiny by our standards or in the shade of a tree. What we can do – and this is how you can help – is to provide a few hundred dollars for each of these homeless congregations. Just the basic facilities would be an incredible blessing for these believers – a roof to protect them from the blistering equatorial sun and from the monsoon rains, four walls around for security and privacy, a cement floor, and a few lights and ceiling fans. Add people, and you have a happy church! Who’s with us to help?

Shelvi cuts the ribbon on another new Welcome Home church!

Doesn't take much to have church!

Help this pastor build his church...

Jesus said, "I will build My chuch!" and we said, "We want to help!"

Shelvi oversees the construction of a new church

Church destroyed by the tsunami

Please pray about supporting this dedicated pastor and his wife. His left leg was blown off in a land mine.

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Shelvi teaches piano to one of our new enrollees…

Shelvi teaches piano to one of our new enrollees...

Shelvi in Sri Lanka teaching at one of several Vacation Bible Schools…

Shelvi in Sri Lanka teaching at one of several Vacation Bible Schools

Destitute woman with her orphaned grandchildren whom we’d love to support…

Destitute woman with her orphaned grandchildren whom we'd love to support...

Children caught in the crossfire…

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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…

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