Nazarene Mission was formed in September 1993 to meet a crying need for an evangelical mission to preach the good news of the Lord predominantly to the poorest section of Colombo’s slum community. The Nazarene Mission has been at the service of the community primarily to reach out and teach the gospel. This is achieved through a variety of micro economic and social service projects to raise the living standards of the people. In addition the Mission helps instill community awareness and fellowship, overcoming ethnic divisions. Over the years the Nazarene Mission had grown from strength to strength, building a community base for the Church.
Sri Lanka is an ancient land, predominantly a Buddhist country where 70% of the population, that is almost all of the Sinhala community, are Buddhists. Buddhism is the State religion, and is both protected and promoted by the State. The freedom of other religions is assured. Christians form 7.5% of the population but the traditional churches with their Western forms of worship, and ties to the colonial past, are mainly upper to middle class. Consequently the poor segments of society have been alienated from those Churches not too concerned about the poor. The last decade has seen a beginning of the reversal of this trend. A new generation of Missionaries working in the vernacular languages has been able to organize caring fellowships and house Churches with great stimulus for evangelism. Channeling more effort into missionary outreach we see as a threefold task to reach the down-trodden. Firstly, Colombo slum dwellers; secondly the victims of war in Vanni and the Northeast; and thirdly Indian Tamils of the upcountry tea plantations.
Mission & Vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Proverbs 29:18
We believe the last command of Jesus to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” Matt 28:19 and will do all we can to share in the task.
- Sending excellently prepared men and women to the mission field.
- Supporting the local leaders to establish the church in remote areas.
- Networking with other local churches and Missionary Organizations.
- Providing consistent prayer and financial support to local workers.