When building a church, the 5th time is a charm
For Pastor Chandan, the sentence “if you build it they will come” ended with the phrase “and tear it down.”
His calling was relatively simple: build a church in the tea fields of Sri Lanka to serve the people there. But the reaction he got was rather unexpected. A gang of anti-Christian extremists organized and destroyed his church, damaged his home and even physically attacked him. According to a Gospel for Asia report, the church building was destroyed five times.
But what makes this story really interesting is that some of the same people who antagonized Chandan and his ministry now worship at the church every Sunday.
Few things are as inspiring as a person who overcomes trials and obstacles to do what they know is right. We all know that accomplishing great things often means living through significant pain and tribulation, but the grinding reality of what this missionary endured is still sobering. Stories like his make even the most arduous church-planting experiences here in the West seem simple by comparison.
At the Gospel for Asia site, you can see a slideshow of pictures of Chandan and his church, as well as donate to their cause.
