Neil Anderson brings 'freedom' to Sri Lanka
- By The Christian Messenger
- Published 08/10/2009
The Christian Messenger
The Christian Messenger - Evangelism Through Journalism. The Christian Messenger is an evangelical monthly newspaper published from Chennai, India. Started in 2002 as a privately circulated periodical, its initial print run was 2,500 copies. A year later, it became a registered newspaper. Currently, the print order is 15,000 copies. It is perhaps the only Christian newspaper that spans the length and breadth of the country. The founders of the newspaper have a vision to make it India’s leading Christian daily.What we do: Good news, first! That's our burden. Good news is not just the Gospel but also the positive side of Christian living. But that doesn't mean we don't report bad news. Persecution, end-times watch, falling idols and Biblical prophecies that come true are part of our reportage. We are dependent on God and independent of any denomination, groups or organizations. Neither do we let advertisers influence news coverage nor do we print puffed up handouts. We are fair, neutral and non-judgmental. Because we believe in a God who tells the truth and expects us to be like Him. Why a Christian newspaper? At the heart of our media mission is this motto: Evangelism through journalism. The purpose of this newspaper is to report newsworthy religious events and activities within the local community, nationwide and around the world, to increase the awareness and activism of believers regarding the moral issues of today, to provide thought-provoking commentary, and to provide an effective advertising vehicle for Christian ministries and organizations, events and businesses that want to reach the Christian community in India and abroad. If you think you can support us or partner with us in this mission, do send us a mail today: editor@christianmessenger.in
WE live in uncertain times, when the daily news plays out the truth of Matthew 24:7: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Everyday, we read or hear about one or more signs of the end times: earthquakes, floods, diseases, wars and rumors of wars …
This is especially true in the strife-torn island nation of Sri Lanka. Her people have lived through 30 years of war and know its sadness and suffering, its pain and anxiety. Everyday, bitterness and revenge rear their ugly heads; brother turns against brother, and scores of innocents die – today, their blood cries out louder than we can imagine.
Related stories: Neil Anderson in India: A report | Interview with Dr. Neil T Anderson
We worship a just yet merciful God, who loves the sinner. He works in His perfect timing, and in this present season for Sri Lanka, He ordained freedom. And Living Free in Christ, a two-day seminar held recently in Colombo, was an answer to a nation’s cry – the over 1,000 participants that thronged to the seminar were proof of this longing.
To hear from Dr. Neil Anderson the meaning of freedom and forgiveness in Christ was to hear what it is to break free of the bondage that has kept a nation and its people from the very best that God has planned for them.
Central to the message of finding freedom is forgiveness – of self and others – and it is especially relevant in the Sri Lankan context.
For Sri Lankans, unforgiveness is a national struggle. Caught in a web of bitterness caused by the war, many wage lonely personal battles of bitterness and unforgiveness. And when Dr. Anderson took the participants through “forgiveness from the heart” to choose to let go of hurt and pain, there wasn’t a dry eye in the auditorium.
From leaving behind bitterness to opening a new chapter in the participants’ lives, Dr Anderson brought a new dimension to knowing who we are in Christ, as found in Romans 6. Hearing him reveal truths on why we feel condemned and in bondage was to find conviction and the resulting peace about Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross.
On Day Two, Freedom in Christ Ministries national director for Canada, Clay Bergen took the participants through the ‘Steps to Freedom in Christ’, a workbook that serves as a tool to set captives free from bondage. Among the participants was a group of youth from the Battaramulla Catholic Parish who found release and freedom in Christ.
The Christian Messenger
