Summer 2008

In 2004 I purchased a piece of property in a rapidly growing area of Colombo for $130,000. At the time I thought the property was overvalued but amazingly, it is now worth four times it's purchase price. It would seem that the best thing for us to do would be to sell it and relocate but we are ideally situated at a major intersection that accomodates most of the major bus routes. New developments in the area have elevated the status and scope of the churches influence in the city. Pastor Dishan has done an excellent job of leveraging this high profile ministry into a platform that is touching a city.

The new church building is now complete. It's really a first class building and we are so proud of how Dishan has moved by faith in this construction project. He raised about $70,000 of the $150,000 construction costs from the Colombo congregation which is a remarkable achievement. Another $50,000 came from churches in Europe, Singapore and the United States.

The Colombo congregation operates on a budget of about $3,000 per month from congregation members who average about $100 a month income. One member gave $9,000 that he had been saving to build a house and some of our women sold their only pair of gold earrings to give toward the building. We have stood in awe of the sacrificial giving of these dear Sri Lankan believers. They have truly taken ownership of their church and are moving in bold vision and faith.

Rick