We give thanks to God for the pioneering work done by the Methodist Church in Sri  Lanka,  for the welfare of the people living with HIV Aids. The first Ward established  in the IDH Hospital was renovated by the Nugegoda Methodist  Church which  worked very closely with medical authorities in serving  the people who sought treatment. We have worked with many  other secular agencies in numerous  ways to serve these people.  We are proud that a special award was given to the Methodist Church in  recognizing the pioneering contributions made by us  to this challenge in  Sri Lanka.

We are happy that our ministry among the deaf is expanding. We rejoice that for the first time a Deaf community will be recognized as a full fledged Society at this Conference.

I would like to place on record the wonderful, committed and the encouraging support extended to the Methodist Church Sri Lanka, by Ms Penny Gordon.  In her ripe age she visits us regularly, going to the most difficult areas in the country and have  raised funds to set up three Children’s Centers and have helped in many ways to support other Nurseries, Homes, etc., A great model for simplicity, humility and a  committed prayer life. She gave not through  her  abundance but every project she undertook was a venture in   faith.

After the lapse of many years, the Retreat for the Local Preachers was conducted which was attended by well over hundred people and proved to be very beneficial. The UEM Pastoral visit in October 2008 was an event of expressing solidarity and encouraging the local Churches as we lived through   the past year amidst escalating war and violence. We express our gratitude to the UEM family for all their support and concern.

It was a joy to be part of the centenary celebrations at Mandur and  Talawakelle,   the One Hundred and Fiftieth anniversary celebrations at Rawatwatte, the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Kiran Ashram and the anniversary celebrations  at Mt. Lavina, Maharagama, and Thummodera and it was my privilege to be part of the Confirmation Service at Panadura, Komari, Miriswatte, Kollupitiya, Rawathawatte, Moratumulla, Point Pedro, Katunayake, Pethiyagoda, Jamapettah, Wellawate and Nugegoda. The pastoral visits and the interaction with the congregation is one of the joyous and most rewarding experiences.

Another  highlight of the year was the 25th Anniversary Celebrations of the Ordination of Women in the Methodist Church Sri Lanka and the visit of Rev. Dr. Samuel   Kobia the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.

A vast ocean of potentials that is not fully recognized and put to good use is the resources,  talents and ability that are within the spouses of our Church workers. They are rallying around together gradually strengthening their spiritual base and understanding their call, to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We are grateful to Ms Kim from  Korea who has encouraged and strengthened the spouses  through her dedicated service for well over 15 years.  In spite of her ill health she travels to Sri Lanka with this one purpose of strengthening and harnessing the potentials of the spouses of the Church workers for the cause of the Gospel. We express our sincere thanks to her. How can we use their talents and skills.  How can we equip them?  How can we empower them are some questions that we need to deliberate upon at this Conference. The Methodist Youth Revival just concluded  four days ago, was another God given graceful moment, where nearly 600 young Methodists gathered from all parts of the country.  It was special in that it harnessed the commitment of the young to live, witness and proclaim the good news. This was attended by around 20 young people from Germany and Indonesia.  We express our gratitude to the UEM family for facilitating this initiative

The Proclaimed Word.

 The task of proclaiming the good news is an essential task of the Church. We thank God for the experience of the  rich harvest.  The labourers are indeed few.  The proclaimed word, sustained by Prayer manifested n healing and deliverance, matched by examples of a devoted simple life, and the ministry of being present amidst the people suffering and hardships, results in the numerical growth we experience.