Kalithas Selvakeerthi, from Sri Lanka, knew that living out his Christian faith in a majority-Hindu village could carry a high price. But he loved the church and believed in the power of the gospel to change lives.
| “If the church is open and I am not there, it means I am either in jail or dead,” he often said. |
As a former seller of strong liquor on the black market and someone who had battled drug and alcohol abuse himself, Kalithas, along with his wife, Ketheswary, were the first Christians in their village. Kalithas soon began sharing the gospel and inviting neighbors to come to his house for prayer. And in 2001, the couple started the village’s first church in their house.
Kalithas had a particular concern for local youth, showing them that life with Christ was far better than a life of addiction to alcohol and drugs. Over time, his ministry work had a noticeable effect on black-market trade in the village, prompting threats from local dealers.
After a prayer meeting on Dec. 16, 2021, Kalithas was home with his wife when they were startled by something battering the metal gate outside their home. When Kalithas went to check out the noise, four men broke through the gate and beat him severely. When Kalithas fell to the ground, one attacker grabbed an iron crowbar and struck Kalithas on the head. The attackers then fled.
Shocked and frightened, Ketheswary summoned her son-in-law to take Kalithas, who was unconscious, to the hospital. He died two days after the attack.
With six children to support while dealing with her grief, Ketheswary said she experienced new hope when VOM provided her family with food and living expenses. And she remains unmoved in her faith in Christ.
“I believe in God,” Ketheswary said, “and I will meet Kalithas in heaven. I have never considered turning back from my faith or my God.”
Stand with them today, and let them know they’re not forgotten!