A HEART MADE SIMPLE | KAIROS GLOBAL | SEPTEMBER 2021

Author: Sonal Eranda Fernando

Intro: Sonal Fernando, the JY National Coordinator of Sri Lanka reminisces about a ‘not cool’ meeting that brought him to the movement.

I was invited to the movement at an unexpected moment in my life. One of my school friends, Dilan, called me one day and asked to join a team called Jesus Youth. But I had no idea about JY.  With his guidance I joined my very first meeting on Saturday, 22nd of February 2014. That day; the first meeting was not cool. They started the meeting with praise and worship. I had to play guitar for them. I was not comfortable with shouting and praising as I was an ordinary Catholic. After praise and worship they started Bible study and experience sharing; during the sharing one girl started to share her life experience with us. She started to cry in front of us, in front of unknown people. I didn’t find that very nice, such sharings from someone I don’t know. I was expecting a jovial, funny environment there. However that incident made a mark on me and tied my heart with the Jesus Youth movement. I think God tied my heart and soul with him through this incident to start the journey with him. Even now I reflect on that incident when I am weary.

In 2014, I got the opportunity to attend the Discipleship Training Programme. I was a young boy who was uncomfortable with praise and worship before.  But through the journey with JY, I started to praise God, and also became a member of the music ministry. Day by day, God moulded my life with his blessings, the gift of sharing the Word of God, leading adorations, taking leadership in the prayer group and the local movement. DTP was an amazing training programme. I began to live in the Holy Spirit and consciously practice the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Living in the Holy Spirit was an amazing opportunity I got from God. Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6 verses 25 to 34 makes my life meaningful. Depend on God and stop worrying are the main things every JY should have. Six pillars in Jesus Youth movement, is an extraordinary lifestyle belonging to every JY. It taught me the value of personal prayer, living the Word of God, meaning of all the sacraments and it opened my mind to do something for the society to share the love of God. I didn’t want to do big things; I needed to do small things with love and passion. Home-visiting, supporting other prayer groups, conducting programmes for teens, and supporting retreats with music and conducting adorations were what made my life strong to maintain a better relationship with Christ. 

My education ended in 2015 and I began work as a voluntary teacher because I wanted to teach students and share Christ encounters with them. That opportunity set my life on another path. Life with the students gave me plenty of opportunities to share Christ with them and direct them on the right path. This was also my personal mission for God. After one year of working as a voluntary teacher, I resigned from the school and began to look for a new job. But it took me seven months of waiting and I used this period for God’s work. Working in parishes and apostolates was challenging. Soon I had to face another challenge – managing family members with regards to my career choices. But God saw me through it all. However much they found fault with me, they eventually came around and began to encourage me. However there is a special thing that I have to share about my parents. They believed in me and my work and it was a blessing for me. Finally I got a job as an office executive in an educational institution. 

After a couple of months, I unexpectedly got the opportunity to shift my career onto my passionate path, and I became a teacher in 2017.  It was a Catholic school.  I started my mission again; working with students and encouraging them in studies and living in God. I met a lot of wounded students there and  did what I could do for them. In 2018, I was appointed as a National Team member of my country, Sri Lanka. I got the opportunity to work more for God.

Two years ago, Sri Lanka witnessed a huge disaster. It was the Easter attack, which took place on 21st April 2019.  After that incident, we supported our priests and nuns to help the victims recover.  That year I got another opportunity to attend the National Leaders Training in India. After DTP, it was an amazing training programme. It encouraged me to do more as a leader in the movement. With the pandemic, we started virtual missions and gatherings. Also as a teacher I had a huge  responsibility towards my students and youngsters. Walking with the Lord in every situation is a challenge to me. But the guidance of Spirit and missionary enthusiasm I have as a Jesus Youth, has never discouraged me. 

In 2020, August I married Nethmi, both of us wanted to do more for God. She is also a JY and a passionate missionary, and is a blessing to my life. Staying together and doing something with love for God is our mission as a married couple. This March, we had a reconstitution to the National Team and I was appointed National Coordinator. God filled me with his blessings and gave me a big responsibility. He has a better plan for me as well as the movement to fulfill through my work. I need to maintain my life with a simple heart for him.  

From 2014, the year I started a strong relationship with God, until now, I have faced many struggles but God made my heart simple to face every situation with a smile. 

Sonal joined the Jesus Youth movement in Sri Lanka in 2014 and worked within the prayer groups and ministries in Sri Lanka to spread the love of God. He is currently serving as the National Coordinator. Sonal is working as a teacher at Catholic school