Date:                March 23, 2007

Sri Lanka (MNN) -- Heavy fighting between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tiger rebels resumed this week. It's a disconcerting turn of events, given that whenever unrest flares, persecution seems to follow. Open Doors' Carl Moeller agrees. "The church in that area has of course taken a large brunt of that violence, as well. It is making a difference for the work of Christians and the work of Christian churches there in that area." Most notably, there's been a rash of Christians who have been disappearing. Churches have been vandalized and permits to build, denied. Moeller says the violence against Christians in Sri Lanka has had a notable 'chilling effect' on outreach. "Evangelists who are still working alongside of Open Doors are still going into those areas that are directly affected. What I think is important for people to realize is that, in the midst of trouble and persecution, often the hope that people turn to and cling to in Jesus Christ is the only hope that they can find for a desperate situation."

Full story: http://www.MNNonline.org/article/9727