Resource for International Organizations
by Shiran Karunaratne

Christian Foundation Grants is pleased to announce that Shiran Karunaratne will be guest writing several articles. His work in Sri Lanka with businesses and Christian organizations gives him expertise in helping foreign organizations. Shiran has been married for 20 years and has three sons.

 

I was born to a Roman Catholic ( RC) family in 1960. Although I was a RC, I was not happy and I sensed that there was more in life.

 

When I was 14 years, I met a friend who told me about the Saving Grace of Jesus, and shared that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can live a victorious life. With this message, I committed my life to the Lord Jesus and began to live for Him. I began to love reading the Bible and I experienced His Grace on me.

 

At the age of 16, I began helping my father in his small handicrafts workshop, as he battled cancer. As the eldest in the family I had a lot of responsibility, however, the Lord provided all our needs.

Now the handicrafts business (Gospel Handicrafts, Ltd.) has grown to a full time staff of 38 and we work with 12 sub-contractors that have about a 170 work force, and I am the Director of the company. I also handle all Exhibition Marketing for Gospel House and was trained by the Dutch Government. You can visit www.woodbrix.com to see some of our toys & read about the company.
 

In the year 1994 I was invited to a meeting of Christians in Business. At one of the meetings, I was appointed as the Vice - President for the Sri Lanka Chamber of the ICCC. This helped me gain experience and to go forth in faith and build the organizations and the work I am doing now in Sri Lanka.

 

Some of the companies and organizations I work with include:

 

CRUF (Community Restoration & Upliftment Foundation) www.cruf.org--- this organization began when our company decided to cancel our annual Christmas party and instead use the money to send a truck load of water and food. CRUF has now done projects that amount to three million U.S. dollars.

 

Puttalam District Chambers of Commerce for Industry and Agriculture—in 2007, I helped form this organization. We have nearly 120 small and medium companies involved. We provide many training programs and services. PDCCIA won the 2nd runner-up award at the National & International Chambers Competition conducted by the Federation of Chambers of Sri Lanka.  The Chamber provides free education on small businesses.

 

My main area of work have been to help, advise and build the small & medium entrepreneurs & industries in the villages and provinces in Sri Lanka. I have traveled much in Asia & Europe for my work in the Company in marketing of crafts & toys. 

Now I would like to use my talents to help other some overseas organizations grow. I am willing to undertake short term projects for organizations (without any working fee and only travel & accommodation to be covered) to help the people in need of advice & help in building their business up. 

 

Finally, I want to encourage all the readers of this life story that it is the Lord who controls our lives. He has given us the free will, but we are answerable to Him at Judgment day.  Ecclesiastes. 12:13-14 says, " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man's all. For God will bring every work in to judgment. Including every secret thing weather good or evil.”

 

 This word has helped me to do all for the glory & honor to the Lord. Let us therefore always in all our circumstances seek God with an upright heart, stay for His face and not allow any one or any earthly thing to seduce us. I am learning more & more to give thanks for everything,  for every situation, every trial, every testing as I know clearly from 1 Pet; 4 12 - 19 is  " the way of suffering is to Glory"

 

May the Lord bless us all in to a glorious life

 

Your thankful brother in Jesus

 

Shiran Karunaratne.

 

If you are an international organization and have more questions about working with Shiran, send an email to info@christianfoundationgrants.com

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