SRI LANKA’S GOSPEL MOVEMENT GAINS MOMENTUM
ALISTAR CHIU
JUNE 01, 2025
In the midst of a challenging economic climate that gripped Sri Lanka in recent times, Naresh Sathiyaseelan, the CTCAP Network Leader in SL, is in the pioneering stages of a gospel movement. As the country faces an uphill battle with economic crises and uncertainties, the message of the gospel stands as a beacon of hope and resilience within the hearts of its people. Read on to find out more.
It all began last year at the CTCAP Asia Intensive followed by the Network Leaders Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Naresh attended the Intensive along with Arun, a young missions pastor with a background in the corporate field. Arun caught the vision of City to City at the Intensive and went back with a renewed passion to see a gospel movement take roots in his country. As a team, they decided to bring various church leaders together to the first City to City event in Sri Lanka, that aimed to share this vision with them and more importantly, impart the true essence of the gospel. ‘Gospel in the City’ was scheduled for the 26th of April 2023 and preparations kicked off.
Recognizing that the busy schedules of the top leadership teams of various organisations often hindered their ability to take action on the ground, Naresh and Arun shifted their focus to younger, upcoming leaders. To do this, they partnered with Blessing, a vibrant, young leader who was well connected with other youth catalysts in the country. Together, they invited these youth leaders to stand as catalysts for change. The response was overwhelming! 55 people responded and attended the event, with 80% of the participants under the age of 35.
With their momentum building, Naresh and his team also embarked on a mission to identify church planters and observers for the upcoming CTCAP Asia Intensive in Bali. They found four young church planters and one observer, all
under the age of 35, including Blessing who will be making their way to Bali in August to really capture the CTC Vision and to immerse themselves in the training that’s centred around gospel renewal.
Recognizing the urgency of the moment, Naresh received guidance from Pastor Chris, the chairman of AG churches in Sri Lanka. They understood that the next five years were crucial, given the economic crisis and challenges facing the country. The Sri Lankan church needed to strategically position itself in different cities, and time was of the essence.
With this revelation, and emboldened by the success of the Gospel in the City event, the team outlined their plan for the future, which included a follow-up event in September centred around gospel-centred preaching tailored for the participants of the first event who expressed a desire for more, and thus setting the stage for future engagement and growth. Word of mouth from the first event created a buzz, and many were eagerly anticipating the next gathering. Additionally, Naresh also shared his vision for a South Asian intensive to be hosted in Sri Lanka, uniting church planters from other countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal.
Looking ahead, Naresh envisioned a Tamil intensive and a translation project to expand their impact. Their goal was to equip 50 church planters solely from Sri Lanka within a year. With each step, the team is growing stronger, with young leaders like Blessing responding to the call to become an integral part of the team.
Naresh’s story painted a picture of hope and determination, with Sri Lanka’s gospel movement gathering steam. Through their visionary approach and unwavering commitment, they are propelling their nation towards a brighter future. As the gospel takes strong root, transforming lives and communities, Naresh & his team stand poised to make a lasting impact in Sri Lanka and beyond.