Sinthamany was working in the rice fields while his son, Kuganesan, was off studying at the Foursquare Bible school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Little did he know that his wife, two other children and 16 church members (all relatives) were being murdered at the hand of rebels.
It was 22 years ago when this horrible day of grief and evil occurred. Nineteen people were slaughtered in a Foursquare church in the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka. This kind of horror has not been uncommon in the last 30 years of civil war. Often, our pastors and churches have been targets of violence.
Finally, the civil war has recently ended and our Foursquare leaders knew that they needed to seek the Lord for healing and reconciliation in their land. Last week, pastors Leslie Keegel and George Niranjan led the different ethnic groups of Sri Lanka in a foot-washing service, as a prophetic and prayerful act of forgiveness and healing at the opening of their convention. I, our missionary Wayne D., and over 1,000 leaders wept and prayed during this profound act we were privileged to be a part of. As the preparations for this service were being made, pastor Kuganesan (who lost most of his family 22 years before) asked to be one of those who would wash the feet of those who slaughtered his family. He commented, “I must do this as part of my healing.”
Although circumstances may not be as dramatic in your life or mine, there is much loss and hurt in our world. In the midst of it, may we be reminded that:
- Our Lord invited us to follow Him in washing each other’s feet, even the feet of those who hurt and betray us.
- As we obey and serve in radical ways, supernatural healing will flow through us, and restoration will take place—especially within ourselves.
- We were called, as a Foursquare family, to be the kind of healing agent that the Sri Lankan Foursquare church is modeling.
We are such a blessed family, to whom much has been given. I pray yours will be an awesome week as He uses you to heal and restore broken people and broken relationships.
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'” -John 13:12-17 (NIV)
