Sri Lanka: Bandara, Beaten for His Faith

Acts 6:7—“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”

Bandara hated Christians. He couldn’t understand how anyone could believe that God created the world and can forgive our sins. But one day, everything changed for Bandara.

God used a Christian to change his life. This person answered Bandara’s questions about God. Through this Christian, Bandara learned about God’s love for him. In time Bandara gave his life to Christ and was baptized. He wanted to introduce people to Jesus and someday start a new
congregation of believers.

Bandara’s passion and commitment to sharing Jesus grew stronger every day. The change in Bandara’s life became evident to his family and friends, and he began riding his motorbike around the city, sharing the love of Christ and His message of forgiveness with others.

Bandara’s actions eventually got the attention of some who thought that Bandara’s new calling would tear the community apart. The young men plotted to beat Bandara so as to convince him to stop telling others about Jesus. As Bandara returned home one day, the young men waited for him. They blocked his path, pulled him off his motorbike, and beat him. Bandara protected himself, but he refused to fight back. After about 15 minutes, the men grew tired and walked off. Bandara waited a moment and then got on his motorbike and rode home. When he looked in the mirror, he found no scratches or bruises on his face or upper body. God had protected him from the beating.

When the neighbors heard about Bandara’s beatings, many stood by him. They had seen the changes in his life and others who have given their lives to Christ because of Bandara’s work.

Bandara’s commitment to God is growing stronger by the day. He tells others, “If we are not doing God’s gospel work, who will do it? God has called us to serve Him. If we don’t answer His call, who will?”

Just as Bandara and hundreds of other Global Mission pioneers have chosen to follow God’s call to share their faith with others who don’t yet know Christ’s love, we may also choose to answer His call, sharing our faith in any possible way.

One way God is calling us to share His message is by regularly returning His tithe and Promise offerings. This offering helps support the work of the church through many channels in all the world, including Global Mission pioneers. Listen carefully when God asks something of you and respond with faith and gladness.