04/30/2019 Sri Lanka (International Christian Concern) – Three churches and three hotels were attacked by ISIS-inspired suicide bombers in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. As a result, at least 253 people were killed, many victims being Christians attending Easter services at the three churches.

Pastor Roshan Mahesan of Zion Church in Batticaloa, leads one of the churches that was attacked on Easter. According to Pastor Mahesan, 28 people in his congregation were killed and more than 70 others are still hospitalized.

In a video posted on Facebook, Pastor Mahesan explained how his congregation is feeling in the wake of the tragedy. “We are hurt. We are angry. The whole congregation and every family [was] affected,” Pastor Mahesan said.

However, instead of holding on to this pain and anger, Pastor Mahesan and his church have offered their persecutors love and forgiveness. “We say to the suicide bomber and also to the group that sent the suicide bomber that we love you and we forgive you,” Pastor Mahesan said.

“Jesus Christ on the cross, he said ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’” Mahesan explained. “We also, who follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, we say for the Lord to forgive these people.”

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