Wattegama Visit on 6 July 2009

Last Monday, the 6th July, Chrys & I Proceeded to Kandy by Car early in the morning. The journey took us about 4 hrs, giving us a lot of time to pray, share and discuss matters pertaining to God’s Kingdom.  We had our breakfast in Kandy at Loku's place (Chrys relation) where he had prepared string hoppers, pol sambol, beef curry.

Though I was under the impression that Wattegama was in Kandy I was mistaken as it is a village in Matale surrounded by hills. Its location enables you to have a picturesque view of both Kandy and Matale.

Pastor Leni from Lighthouse Church along with the elders of his fellowship were in attendance to greet us upon arrival. After their warm welcome we had breakfast.

About 10 people were in attendance for the Discipleship Training session which started at 10:30 hrs. After an anointed time of praise & worship Chrys took over the training Session.

If I tell you something more about this ministry, Wattegama was a predominantly a Buddhist Sinhala village before Pastor Leni (a Tamil) started his ministry in the year 2000, though a Catholic & an Anglican churches were in existence. I was told for about 1 year nothing happened and the Lighthouse Church from which Pastor Leni came, requested him to stop serving in the area. The pastor was only able to walk the streets and pray against the strongholds & evil principalities and powers that operated in that village and he sometimes has to accompany a friend while going about in the village. He did not give up because he knew what the Lord wanted.  

With the growth of the members (around 25 numbers) along with the persecution and death threats resulted in hiring a hall for Rs: 1500.00 a month and moving to a new place in Wattegama town.

However, to cut a long story short, the church has grown into a big congregration with very difficult situations and persecution. By about 2004 due to many miracles & healings the numbers were grown. I am told by the Pastor that about 90 % of the believers accepted Jesus because they got healed or were delivered form evil Spirits during fellowship.  Now the members of the church exceed 150 worshippers! What a blessing! Praise and Thank GOD!

It was a wonderful time that we had in the presence of the Lord and after tea we left Wattegama to proceed to Colombo.

Please pray:

* So we are able to Commit time to visit Wategama once a month to train and preach at Pastor Leni's fellowship (Light House).
* For our ability to accommodate the request from all Lighthouse Churches in Kandy area to train disciples for their fellowships.
* For our ability to accommodate the request made by Pastor Sunil of the AOG church in Wattegama to train disciples and share God’s Word next month on a Sunday at his fellowship.
* The ability and providence to accommodate the request made from Nuwara Eliya, Nanu Oya & Batticaloa ministries for similar trainings and assistance.
* The visit to the Kataragama Children's Village & down south ministry.
* Pastor Leni's vision to purchase a land and build a permanent church building.
* so that we will be able to help the poor people and their children to uplift their lives.

If anyone is burdened to help this place in kind or financially, kindly contact us. We will give you the details of the people so that you can get in touch with them directly. However, if you need any of us to oversee the work they are suppose to carry out with your contribution, we are glad to do it so that you know that your funds are used for the extention of the Kingdom of GOD!