A Shared Vision: Sri Lanka and New Zealand Join Hands
Last May, Wesleyan church leaders and pastors from more than 20 countries gathered in Thailand for the first Asia-Pacific International Conference of the Wesleyan Church. During their time together, they focused on igniting a vision to work together in extending God’s Kingdom across the least reached, most densely populated continent in the world.
Rev. Brett Jones speaking at the family camp, with Rev. Cedric Rodrigo standing next to him.
Since this time spent together in Thailand, the vision has truly been carried forward as God continues working through the partnerships developed there. One significant partnership that came out of this time together, is between The Wesleyan Church (TWC) in Sri Lanka and The Wesleyan Methodist Church in New Zealand.
At the conference, Rev. Cedric Rodrigo (national leader of TWC of Sri Lanka), and his wife Sharlini, connected with Michelle Yates, (director of global missions in New Zealand), and Rev. Brett Jones (New Zealand national superintendent). From there, God has worked through their shared values and concerns, uniting them in meaningful ways.
A team from New Zealand came to Sri Lanka to help lead the family camp.
“As we continued talking, we shared what the Lord has been laying on our hearts for the future of The Wesleyan Church in Sri Lanka – namely moving away from church maintenance to Church focused on missions,” Rev. Cedric explained. Ultimately, they hope to pursue planting a Wesleyan presence in each of their 25 districts.
The leaders decided to collaborate in this pursuit, resulting in a family camp for pastors and leaders in Sri Lanka this past September, where 120 local Sri Lankans came to learn more about the importance of missions and church planting.
The team from New Zealand contributed through preaching and encouraging a renewed vision for reaching the lost in South Asia. Along with Rev. Brett and Michelle, Ashan Rodrigo – who is not only Rev. Cedric’s son but also serves as a pastor in New Zealand – and his wife Samantha Tan Rodrigo came to help with the camp. Ma’ata Havea and Sitaita Tu’ungafasi, two of the developing leaders from the Tongan stream of the Church in New Zealand also joined the experience to lead the kid’s ministry program.
Rev. Cedric said the teams connected in an amazing way, and this ministry opportunity resulted in a lot of praise and worship – one night until after midnight – as all felt the presence and joy in the Holy Spirit.
A worship night and powerful commissioning.
Rev. Brett shared that they also had a beautiful evening focused on scripture and prayer “culminating in a powerful commissioning of the Church in Sri Lanka to be present in every part of the country,” as they circled around a huge map of Sri Lanka on the floor, candles lit all around.
As a result, 30 people came forward in response to this mission from the Lord, and another 20 came forward in commitment to support missions.
We’re praising God for the way He moved during this family camp – a camp in which the Sri Lanka and New Zealand Churches came together for the first time.
“This witness of sacrifice and unity to reach those who have never heard the Good News of Jesus Christ will certainly produce eternal fruit – men and women of South Asia coming to Jesus,” a Global Partners missionary to South Asia said. “May the Lord be praised!”
Pastor Ashan Rodrigo (left) and Rev. Cedric Rodrigo (right) got to see their Churches join forces in a new way.
Rev. Cedric said he’s confident that the visit and participation from the team in New Zealand was orchestrated by God. As the Sri Lankan Church presses onward in their expansion to every district, the Church in New Zealand plans to join in prayer and relationship building. Rev. Brett said they are also looking for opportunities to invite Rev. Cedric to share his significant experience as a leadership developer with the Church in New Zealand, as that is an area they hope to improve.
May we all be encouraged and challenged by the unity of the Global Church, rallied together for God’s mission. May we all reflect on ways we too, can join our brothers and sisters in this mission that matters forever.