Call to Prayer for Sri Lanka Crisis
04/08/09 Sri Lanka (International Christian Concern) – Key organizations that work on religious liberty issues around the world made strong statements on the civil war in Sri Lanka and launched a global campaign calling for prayer for that nation. In what is being called “The Toronto Statement,” the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), with member organizations that include International Christian Concern (USA), Open Doors International (Holland), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (United Kingdom), The Voice of the Martyrs (Canada), HMK (Switzerland) and the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance (representing 128 countries), is calling the worldwide Christian community to pray for the crisis in Sri Lanka.
The Toronto Statement acknowledges some positive elements within Sri Lanka, including the role that the church is playing, but expresses deep concern about the ways in which humanitarian efforts are currently being handled. In addition, the Statement calls on the worldwide church to pray for work toward the religious rights of all Sri Lankans, and to support efforts to end hostilities and seek an enduring peace.
“This statement is an important step in helping our hurting brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, but it will not mean anything if Christians around the world don’t take it as a call to action. We believe that God answers prayer, and that if we pray for Sri Lanka, God will move in that country,” said Jeff King, ICC’s President. “Our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka need our prayers as they face attacks from Buddhist monks and are caught in the middle of a civil war.”
The Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) is a collaborative effort of Christian organizations in over a dozen countries focused on religious liberty. The RLP seeks to more intentionally work together in addressing advocacy and in raising the awareness of religious liberty issues globally. The current membership of the RLP is listed on the Toronto Statement.
For more information about the Religious Liberty Partnership or the Toronto Statement, please contact Jeff King (contact information above).
