Voice of the Martyrs, Jun. 09, 2022
After becoming a prominent, active leader of his church, Kalithas received threats from Hindu extremists in his community. They warned that he would face severe consequences if he continued his bold witness in the village.
On Dec. 16, 2021, four men came to his home and started kicking his gate. Kalithas rushed toward them, asking why they were destroying his property. The men threw alcohol in his face and started beating him. When he fell to the ground, three men held him down while the fourth struck his head with an iron rod.
After the men fled, villagers rushed Kalithas to the hospital. He remained in a coma until he died on Dec. 20. Pray that the four men who killed him are brought to justice and also come to know Jesus. Pray for Kalithas’ family and pray that villagers who hear his story will also put their trust in Christ.
The island nation of Sri Lanka, off the eastern coast of India, is still rebuilding from a civil war between Buddhist and Hindu factions that ended in 2009. The government has put significant efforts into resettling those displaced during the conflict between the majority-Buddhist Sinhalese population and the Hindu Tamil separatists.
There are strong churches in the country as well as parachurch organizations that provide Bible training, theological education and missions training. Churches in Sri Lanka are actively sending missionaries to other countries in South Asia.