Nearly 300 People Dead after Suicide Bombers Strike Churches and Hotels across Sri Lanka in Easter Sunday Attack
Nearly 300 people were killed and some 500 injured across Sri Lanka as the result of six suicide bombings at churches and hotels on Sunday.
According to the BBC, 24 people were arrested after six suicide bombers entered three churches and three hotels in the Easter Sunday attack.
Reportedly, it is not known who is responsible for the attack yet, but Fox News reports that authorities believe the attack was carried out by a “radical extremist Islamist group” called National Thowheed Jamath.
According to the BBC, the first reports of an explosion came in around 8:45 a.m. local time, and five more blasts quickly followed suit.
Three churches, one in Negombo, one in Batticaloa and one in Colombo’s Kochchikade district, were all targeted during Easter services. The Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand hotels – all three considered luxury hotels – were also attacked.
Police were able to seize three other bombs, the BBC reports. Authorities carried out two raids – one in Dehiwla and one in Colombo – where they found two bombs. Three officers were killed during the raids.
Authorities discovered the third bomb, seemingly abandoned, near the airport in the capital, Colombo.
According to reports 35 foreigners including Chinese, British, Portuguese, Turkish, Australian, Dutch, Japanese and American citizens are…
The trio, who had been volunteering with the US-based evangelical group Vision Beyond Borders, were detained in Laos on 8th April for proselytising.
According to a Facebook post, they entered into neighbouring Thailand on Thursday evening.
It said: “May God give them swift and safe travels all the way home.
“Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support.
“Please remember the Church in Laos this Easter season as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour!”
Named only as Wayne, Autumn and Joseph, they were arrested during visits to villages in Luang Namtha, a north-western province.
They were handing out religious material without permission, according a local policeman quoted by the US government-funding Radio Free Asia.
Authorities in Buddhist-majority Laos are keen to stop the spread of other religions.
Christianity is perceived by Laos to be a “hostile western ideology”, according to Open Doors which ranks the country 19th in its list of countries where persecution against believers is worst.
Formerly known as Asian Vision, Vision Beyond Border was founded in 1994 in Casper, Wyoming by Patrick Klein.
It is one of the most common and painful issues pastors face.
A number of people leave the church around the same time. The exit is painful for the exiting members, the members who remain and, of course, the pastor. I have walked with hundreds of pastors through these scenarios. It is painful. It is messy. And, though I wish I did not have to say these words, it is often inevitable.
Allow me to share five perspectives on what is often taking place when a group leaves the church. For certain, there will be a myriad of exceptions. But these five issues are common in many of these situations.
The exit usually takes place when the pastor’s leadership becomes clear and established. It is, therefore, common for these exits to take place somewhere between the second and fourth year of a pastor’s tenure. The exiting members may have had unmet expectations of the pastor. The vision the pastor cast and the direction the pastor was leading them were not aligned with their own hopes and dreams.
Hurt exiting church members do not often leave well. Please hear me clearly. I am not pointing fingers and placing blame. But, in many of these exits, the departures are handled from a posture of hurt. Letters are written. Unhealthy conversations ensue on social media. Matthew 18 is not followed. The departures are messy and engender more conflict.
Those often neglected are the members who remain. The pastor is hurt. The exiting members are hurt. But, on too many occasions, we forget the pain experienced by those…
Elim Tamil Church, which meets at a school near Woodgrange Park, said family members of a small number of its members were among the dead.
Senior Pastor Daniel Stanley told Premier: “It’s absolutely devastating.
“Ten years after civil year, we did not even imagine these kinds of attacks would take place again and that these kinds of tragedies would take place again.”
Nine explosions – including seven by suicide bombers – have left almost 300 people dead, according to senior Sri Lankan authorities.
Eight Britons are thought to be among the dead. Twenty-four suspects are in custody, officials say.
Blasts struck three churches – St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, St Sebastian’s in Negombo and at Zion Church in the eastern town of Batticaloa.
On this holy day, let us stand with the people of Sri Lanka in prayer, condolence and solidarity as we reject all violence, all hatred and all division.
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) April 21, 2019
The Cinnamon Grand, Kingsbury and Shangri-La hotels were among other locations targeted.
Pastor Stanley said he had personally checked with everyone at his church to find out whether they had been affected.
He added: “We can’t take this again after ten years of civil war. This has to be stopped and every spirit of terrorism has to be…
Rev Sue Parfitt was briefly held on Maundy Thursday after being detained at Oxford Circus, where activists fixed a boat, blocking-off the busy junction to road traffic.
Speaking before her arrest, she said: “It has been such a sweltering hot day today. We have all been sharing sun cream and water but I would really rather be at home in the shade.
“The only reason I’m here is because this is an emergency and we must take action now. That’s why I’m prepared to be arrested.
“If it makes people in power pay attention and it ends the suffering of climate breakdown it will be worthwhile.”
Rev Parfitt was among several people who had, earlier in the week, used metal chains to lock themselves underneath a lorry by Marble Arch.
Rev Parfitt belongs to the Christian Climate Action which, earlier on Thursday, held a foot washing ceremony for fellow protestors and members of the public.
It’s been so wonderful having so many new supporters. We want to make sure not to lose any of you We have 2 email lists, a do-ers list and a prayers list. If you’d like to be added to either, please do PM us and you can keep up to date with aaaaaall the things we are doing pic.twitter.com/BKPDpaLFsn
— Christian Climate Action (@CClimateAction) April 22, 2019
A total of 963 had been arrested during the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations as of 7pm last night, according to the Metropolitan…
Pastor Harry Richard grieved as he watched flames consume Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Just two weeks earlier, his church in Louisiana was set ablaze. It was one of three predominantly black churches in his area that were intentionally burned down, according to police.
Meanwhile, Islamic militants are being blamed this morning for the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka that killed at least 290 people. Devastating floods have left millions in Iran facing a humanitarian crisis. And the CDC says this flu season is now the longest in a decade.
The news reminds us every day that we need the redemptive work of the risen Christ every day. Unfortunately, our secular culture is less convinced than ever that Jesus is relevant today.
How can we show the world that every day is Easter?
He states that a ten-year investigation led him to conclude: “My generation of Americans—those born in the 1980s and younger—have been largely denied the truth about Christianity’s influence and record on social justice.”
For instance, Dickerson notes that nine of the ten best nations on earth for women’s rights, according to the World Economic Forum, have majority Christian populations. Followers of Jesus such as Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and Blaise Pascal also played an essential role in launching the Scientific Revolution.
This tradition continues with Dr. Francis S. Collins, leader of the Human Genome Project and now head of the National Institutes of…
The 30 year old requested a Code of Conduct hearing with Rugby Australia last week, days after his contract was terminated by the country’s governing body for the sport.
In a statement, it revealed the meeting shall take place in Sydney on Saturday 4th May.
The message continued: “The hearing will be heard by a three-member panel consisting of John West QC (Chair), Kate Eastman SC, and John Boultbee SC at the Rugby Australia Building in Sydney.
“Sunday 5th May has also been reserved in the event the hearing is required to extend to a second day.”
Journalists are not being allowed to sit in on the meeting, standard Rugby Australia procedure dictates.
The Wallabies and New South Wales Waratahs fullback was accused earlier this month of issuing a homophobic comment after he listed homosexuals among a list of people for whom “hell awaits” unless they repent.
Folau had been “repeatedly” warned in the past about his activity on social media, Rugby Australia said when it announced his dismissal last Monday.
A statement issued at the time said: “It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.”
According to local media, Toby and Milly Savill were on a Santorini mountain when the vehicle they were travelling in fell into a 200-metre ravine.
Mrs Savill’s father, Steve Coulson, the vicar of St Mark’s Kennington Church, said: “Milly and Toby were married in 2017 and were utterly devoted to one another.
“Their families are so proud of them, and although devastated, we are comforted by having shared so many wonderful times of love and joy together.
“Toby and Milly were passionate about their Christian faith, and we are being sustained by the same sure hope of Easter Resurrection.”
The incident happened last Sunday afternoon on the Profitis Ilias summit.
Mr Savill, who was 26, taught history at Ark Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton.
Principal Tim Dainty said: “Everyone here at Evelyn Grace Academy is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Toby Savill and his wife, Milly.
“Understandably, this news has come as a real shock to us all and so we will be working with counsellors to support those staff and students who require it at this difficult time.”
Mrs Savill, 25, worked at St Anne’s Catholic primary school in Vauxhall.
Head teacher Catherine Davis said: “Mrs Savill was a dearly, much loved teacher and member of staff at St Anne’s.
Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor. — Romans 12:10 (AMP)
Giving preference to others requires a willingness to adapt and adjust. It means to allow another to go first or to have the best of something. We show preference when we give someone else the best cut of meat on the platter instead of keeping it back for ourselves. We show preference when we allow someone with fewer groceries in his cart than we have in ours to go in front of us at the supermarket checkout counter, or when we are waiting in line to use a public restroom and someone behind us in line is pregnant or elderly and we choose to let that individual go ahead of us.
Each time we show preference, we have to make a mental adjustment. We were planning to be first, but we decide to be second. We are in a hurry, but we decide to wait on someone else who seems to have a greater need. A person is not yet rooted and grounded in love until they have learned to show preference to others (see Ephesians 3:17). Don’t just learn to adjust, but learn to do it with a good attitude. Learning to do these things is learning to walk in love.
Prayer Starter: Father, help me to truly show preference to other people today with a good attitude. Help me to humble myself and love others the way You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It is a new day for you. For the past two weeks I have showed you the mystery of two becoming one and ‘two people one life’. Today, I will show you: The concept of oneness.
At marriage, a man is united to his wife. Their unity is based upon vows to live together as husband and wife and to be faithful to each other, whatever the circumstances, until ‘death do us part’. Their vows are made in the presence of God, and He is the divine witness to the marriage. Husband and wife are, in fact, entering into a covenant relationship that cannot be broken, except by death, even when one partner proves unfaithful. In their heart and conscience, they know that the bond created by marriage is for life.
The marriage union provides the fullest expression of mutual loving companionship that human beings can experience in this world. The union created by marriage is not only physical but also an emotional and spiritual unity of profound dimensions, as a husband and wife become one flesh.
The importance of the concept of oneness in marriage cannot be over-emphasised. The Bible declares that it is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1). If it is good for brethren to dwell together in unity, it is certainly more so for a couple to be united. When unity exists between a couple, tremendous powers is made available and the impossible becomes possible to them. The Word of God says: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19).
There is a fascinating story of the effect of oneness in Genesis 11:1-9. The people were one, and had one language. That means they were united. They purposed to build a tower and a city that would reach heaven. Because of their oneness, even though it looked like an impossible task, God Himself acknowledged possibility. The Word of God says: And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do (Genesis 11:6).
If a couple is truly merged in the spirit, soul and body, nothing will be impossible unto them. This is the force of unity at work. It is the original concept of God in marriage that couples enjoy the benefits of oneness. The concept of oneness teaches the believer so many lessons: firstly, if you are truly one with your spouse, you will treat him/her as yourself. The Word of God says: For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it… (Ephesians 5:29). If you, for any reason, hate your spouse, it is a sign that you are not united with him/her. The Word of God says: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them… (Matthew 7:12). Whatever you cannot do to yourself, you will not do to your spouse. An understanding of this will chase away selfishness from your home and family.
Secondly, the concept of oneness will make it easy for a husband and a wife to share their bodies freely with each other. It will also make it possible to deprive their physical union of great degree of pleasure, which is their procreative power. If this concept is understood and followed, it will reduce the problem experienced in the home today.
A lady once said that man’s procreative power is only meant for childbearing. She could not accept that it is also to be enjoyed. All effort to make her understand this proved abortive. Shortly afterwards, she discovered that her misconception and attitude had driven her husband to start flirting with other women. Give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27).
Thirdly, the concept of oneness teaches that divorce is not part of God’s programme for the home. The husband in the home is likened to the head, while the wife is likened to the body. Even in the physical, you don’t separate the head from the body, or else it will result in death. …And they twain shall be one flesh… (Matthew 19:5-6). God’s concept is that you do not put asunder what God has joined together.
Jesus was teaching on the subject of divorce in Matthew 19:3-12. In verses 5-6, He particularly noted that no one should put asunder what God has joined together. That has an added implication that the couple should not put asunder what God has joined together as well.
The Pharisees were puzzled at Jesus’ stand on the subject of divorce. They could not reconcile that teaching with what Moses said. So, they asked Him to explain why Moses asked men to write a bill of divorcement, if they choose. The Word of God says: He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so (Matthew 19:8).
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus about the grounds for divorce, He took the opportunity to re-emphasise God’s plan for marriage. He pointed out that the divine blueprint for marriage was given at the time of Creation and quoted from Genesis 2:24, thereby reiterating its importance. Jesus said: …Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Matthew 19:4–6).
The Lord’s presence in your home is the first step to peace. Allow Jesus to come into your heart now, and your story will change. Say this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily; obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21). With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 or 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building a Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
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