In August 2025, our ministry team returned to Sri Lanka to continue an outreach series that has been steadily moving across the island. This phase took us to six districts — Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kegalle, Ratnapura, and Colombo (Hanwella) — each with its own unique challenges and spiritual climate. In every place, we witnessed God’s unmistakable hand at work, transforming pastors, leaders, and youth through the power of His Word and Spirit.
Puttalam – From Reluctance to Leadership
Our journey began in Puttalam with a pastors and leaders conference unlike anything the district had seen before. The event was capped at 200 due to space, but the hunger for God’s Word far exceeded our expectations — over 270 leaders turned up, arriving on motorcycles, tuk-tuks, vans, and even packed buses. The sense of anticipation was electric, yet many of the leaders confessed to feeling dry and discouraged due to a lack of sound biblical teaching in the region.
We taught The Divine Exchange in a clear and practical way, showing from Scripture how Jesus took our sin, sickness, shame, and rejection, and gave us righteousness, health, acceptance, and joy in return. This truth broke through years of confusion for many, leading to visible changes — weary faces were replaced with smiles, and leaders began to pray with fresh boldness.
Following the conference, we ran a three-day youth program for a group often overlooked. Puttalam has one of the lowest education levels in the nation, and many of the young people who came were from broken homes, fishing villages, and poor rural areas. At first, several were hesitant to participate, unsure if they “belonged” in a Christian conference. But as the sessions went on, God’s love dismantled insecurity. On the final day, the Holy Spirit fell powerfully — every young person was baptised in the Spirit and spoke in tongues. They left with a fire in their hearts to reach their peers, many for the first time seeing themselves as leaders in God’s Kingdom.
Polonnaruwa – A Fresh Vision of the Cross
Next, we travelled to Polonnaruwa, a district where the Church has grown slowly and where Christian gatherings are often small. This was the first time we had held a conference there, and we were encouraged when more than 250 leaders came together from different churches and denominations.
Here, the teaching on The Divine Exchange again proved timely. Many leaders had grown accustomed to working hard in ministry with little visible fruit. As we taught on the victory of the cross, eyes lit up with revelation — the cross was no longer just a symbol of suffering but a declaration of complete victory. Several pastors shared that they now understood how to lead their congregations into deeper freedom and joy.
“Today I understood the cross in all its power and glory. I can now bring a fuller message to my people.” – Local evangelist
One elderly pastor, who had served for over thirty years, testified with tears that he felt as though God had “given him a new ministry” that day. We left Polonnaruwa believing this fresh vision would spark renewed life in the churches there.
Kegalle – From Knowledge to Encounter
Kegalle is a region where many leaders are well-educated and theologically trained, and our meeting included a large contingent from the Salvation Army. Our challenge here was not a lack of understanding but a need for fresh spiritual encounter.
As we taught The Divine Exchange, we saw the Holy Spirit begin to bridge the gap between head knowledge and heart experience. One lady pastor testified:
“Every part of the message touched my heart like never before.”
Pastors who had been cautious at first began to open up in worship and ministry times. One pastor testified of receiving physical healing during prayer, along with a deeper emotional renewal he had not known he needed.
By the end of the conference, the room was filled with heartfelt worship, spontaneous prayers, and a sense of unity between leaders of different traditions. The Spirit had turned sound theology into living reality.
Anuradhapura – Tears of Sorrow Turn to Joy
Anuradhapura, a historical and cultural centre of Sri Lanka, is also a stronghold of Buddhism. Christian leaders here often face hostility, isolation, and discouragement. When we arrived for the conference, the atmosphere was subdued — several pastors had recently gone through personal trials, and one couple was seriously considering leaving ministry altogether.
As the sessions unfolded, the Holy Spirit began to restore hope. One powerful moment came when a prophetic word was given to the discouraged couple, confirming that God had not finished with them. They broke down in tears and recommitted to their calling. Others testified of deliverance from fear and weariness, replaced with a deep sense of God’s presence and peace.
By the close of the conference, the heaviness had lifted. Leaders who had arrived burdened and uncertain were now leaving with joy, ready to keep serving in one of Sri Lanka’s hardest mission fields.
Ratnapura – Breaking Chains in the City of Gems
Known as the “City of Gems,” Ratnapura is surrounded by mining communities and home to many plantation workers who face poverty and harsh working conditions. Our gathering of pastors and leaders here was marked by a tangible sense of expectation.
One recurring challenge in this area is a fear of death — a spiritual stronghold rooted in both cultural beliefs and the hard realities of life. As we ministered, we confronted this fear with the truth of God’s Word. Several leaders testified that a long-standing fear that had kept them from stepping fully into their calling was broken.
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Prayer times were powerful, with the Holy Spirit moving mightily and setting many free. The joy and freedom that emerged were like unearthing hidden treasures. One pastor testified, “I thought I had no more time left in ministry, but now I see a long road ahead for the Kingdom.” Many left convinced that God had a significant work ahead for them, and that His Kingdom was worth every sacrifice.
Colombo (Hanwella) – Faith Strengthened and Fear Broken
In Hanwella we held a meeting for close to 150 pastors and leaders. This was a group that enthusiastically anticipated and absorbed the teaching. There are very few opportunities for this kind of teaching seminar for these people to attend, and so they were deeply grateful.
One of the testimonies here from a senior pastor was:
“I have preached on so many of the points that were shared today, but I must say I preached without a depth of revelation. Today’s teaching brought that deep revelation that transformed my perception of those passages of scripture. Thank you for coming.”
We ended with a powerful time of prayer - the Spirit of God moving amongst the congregation and setting many free from the bondage of fear - something that we have seen this trip across every city we went to. As a result, faith was released into their hearts, and they were encouraged and strengthened. Another common outcome was that many testified like the pastor mentioned above - that they now would be able to go boldly and give answers to the many questions that they previously did not know how to handle.
Conclusion
Across these six districts, we saw the same pattern repeated: God’s truth proclaimed, hearts softened, leaders empowered, and communities impacted. From remote fishing villages to bustling towns, the Holy Spirit met people exactly where they were — lifting burdens, restoring vision, and igniting faith for the future.
Truly, this was the most fruitful trip in the last 12 years of our ministry in Sri Lanka. We’ve ministered to more than 1,500 pastors and their leaders on this trip and distributed 27,360 Derek Prince books.
We left Sri Lanka with gratitude, knowing that seeds of revival had been planted. The leaders we met in August are now carrying the message of the cross back to their communities, equipped not only with fresh teaching but with the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe the fruit of this outreach will continue to grow for years to come.
We returned with hearts full of gratitude for all that the Lord has done. To God alone be the glory.
