Sri Lankais an island nation off the southeast coast of India. Because of its natural beauty and location, it is known as the pearl of the Indian ocean. Sri Lanka is a diverse country, it’s home to many religious ethnicities and languages with a predominantly buddhist heritage.

The Seventh-day Adventist church membership here is only about 4,000 members and 37 churches, in a population of some 20 million people.

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Lakpahana Adventist College and Seminary serves as Sri Lanka’s only training center for church workers. With a growing membership, this school means a lot to mission. From its humble beginnings, Lakpahana is responsible for new members, health workers, administrators, and pastors to the mission field in Sri Lanka and abroad.

Currently, there are some 370 students attending this school. With 85 percent of the student body from other religious groups, Lakpahana has a tremendous work and responsibility. Several former Lakpahana students have met Jesus here. Through education, church or Branch Sabbath School people like Jaya Dias have had their lives turned 180 degrees.

Jaya comes from a non-Christian background. She found in Lakpahana a place to live out her new faith. Here she learned values and principles that guide her life today. Now Jaya works as a mentor and supervisor at Lakeside Adventist Hospital in the city of Kandy. Here she has a unique opportunity to connect with people through healing and teaching.

As Jaya meets patients and nurses she emphasizes that our body is the temple of God, therefore we must maintain it. With words of encouragement and sincere care, Jaya finds a way into every heart. For her, this is an opportunity to touch others as Jesus did and show them the light of His love.

“I am really blessed to be part of God’s family. I really thank God for choosing me in particular to serve him, otherwise I would have been just another tea plucker. God really blessed me with studying at Lakpahana!”

Jaya is grateful for having access to Christian education--this education has made all the difference in her life.

Lakpahana Adventist college is now in urgent need of your support for expansion. The membership has outgrown their humble meeting place of worship.

“We simply don’t have enough seats--and some of them who are sitting in the balcony, down in the chapel and we need to put some extra chairs in the corridor, in order to accommodate all of them--who come to the church.”

Lakpahana needs a dedicated church building, to accommodate God’s people and receive many more every Sabbath. As Lakpahana workers do their part to fill God’s church, please pray for the many challenges they face. This quarter, you can take part in the building project through your 13th Sabbath Offering.