Serving Jesus Despite Death Threats: Sri Lanka
Sister Dharshini*, 55, serves as a Pastor of a rural church in northern Sri Lanka. Her faith has caused her to receive death threats from her own family.
These problems began in 2014 when Dharshini gifted a piece of her own land, which is next to her church, to her nephew. Despite the gift, her nephew resented Dharshini because of her faith.
Since then, he has attempted to stop or interrupt church services. The road to the church borders his land, and he has gradually extended his fence, making the road narrower. He even places logs across this road some Sundays to block the entrance to the church.
“Some days, I move the logs away, but he comes and throws them across the road again,” Dharshini said. “He threw stones at the church on the Christmas and New Year service times in 2023.”
Her nephew has spread word among villagers that Dharshini would be murdered if she continues holding services. Earlier this year, he threatened members of the church with beatings if they showed up again.
"I have been chosen to serve the Lord, I have faith in Him and I will complete His work."
On one instance, he had dragged Dharshini out of her house and threatened to kill her if she did not stop conducting the service. “I am an old lady, but he doesn’t care. All he wants is to stop the church and own the entirety of the land, even what’s mine,” she says. “I am unmarried, and I live alone, but he threatens to kill me if I conduct a church in this area.
“More than half of the believers have stopped attending church because of this problem since 2014.”
Although she has reports with proper documentation regarding the land and the church, and that it is legally hers, she has not received proper support from the authorities yet.
Nevertheless, Dharshini is determined to serve Jesus amidst the obstacles she faces. “I have been chosen to serve the Lord, I have faith in Him, and I will complete His work,” was her conclusion.
Open Doors partners conducted a program in March focused on strengthening the remaining congregation so that they will be able to be resilient in the face of persecution.
How you can pray:
Pray for Dharshini’s protection. She lives and serves the Lord alone in this rural area.
Pray for the believers in the church, that they will be strong and stand with Dharshini amidst the problems that she faces.
Pray that God will open a way for the nephew, who is Hindu, to know about the Lord.
*name changed for security reasons
