SSTS Seminar – Negombo

NCEASL staff conducted yet another Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) seminar for 33 Church leaders from the Thunkorala Pastors Fellowship. This seminar was held at the Camelot Beach Hotel Negombo from the 12th – 14th August 2008.

The main objective of this seminar was to prepare the Church to stand strong in the midst of hardships. Some of the more important issues addressed at the seminar was on how to respond (or in certain instances not actively respond) to persecution, and also how to grow (spiritually) amidst such afflictions and harassments. The participants shared their personal experiences and testimonies which were very relevant to the topics that were discussed, and it made the seminar more meaningful.

“This seminar greatly encouraged us and showed us how we should handle problems in the future, how to strengthen each other & learn to forgive our adversaries” said a pastor who attended this seminar. “We also had great pleasure and joy as we had the opportunity to get to know fellow colleagues & their families, relaxed, played games and took time away from our daily duties” he added.

At the end of the seminar participants were given books on SSTS so that they could further refer to the topics that were discussed and also a CD titled “Behind the Sun”. All these material would enable the participants to put in to practise what they had learnt at the seminar.

We believe this programme was a great success and impacted all who attended it; strengthening and motivating all participants to carry on their mission to serve our personal Savior. As one of the participants put it “Isn’t our Lord wonderful? Yes, he is wonderful and great!”