How does an old tumble-dryer motor change lives?
Thirty years ago, John Karunaratne had a dream to provide jobs for unemployed young men around Colombo, Sri Lanka. Using the motor from a broken tumble-dryer donated by a local pastor, John made a woodworking lathe and Gospel House Handicrafts was born. Tearcraft heard of the project and placed an order for the simple wooden products ‑ and that was the start of an export trade for Gospel House.
Sadly, John died of cancer in 1983, but he made it clear that he wanted the work to carry on. ‘God’s people may go, but his work must continue,’ he told his family. So his wife Noeline and sons Shiran and Modestus took over the business and still run it today. Shiran says, ‘If by making a particular decision I can give work to even one more person, then that is what I will do.’
The project has expanded over the years. The focus is still on building a successful business and reaching out to young people for whom there is little prospect of training or employment. When they arrive at the project, they have no skills, but this is quickly addressed through on-the-job training. Gospel House specialises in wooden products for children. Jigsaws are particularly popular. They are made of Albizia - lightweight trees grown as windbreaks on tea estates. It’s a sustainable source as the trees are fast growing. Gospel House has an arrangement with a tea estate to take all their surplus wood.
Now exporting its toys and games to 22 countries, Gospel House has received several awards for innovation and business success. This, together with their strong faith, has won the family many friends around the world. When they leapt into action to provide emergency assistance in the wake of the Asian Tsunami, support came from all quarters. As a result of the trust and respect built up in the community and with other organisations, the brothers have been entrusted with significant international funds. They are now building a village of 50 houses with a school and a community centre, refurbishing 120 more houses, and providing pumps, boats and equipment to help rebuild shattered lives.
All this because a man with a passion to serve God had a vision to put an old motor to new use. Noeline recalls, ‘The words “nothing is impossible with God” were in his mouth always.’
Deepa works for Gospel House
When Deepa’s husband was driving lorries in Saudi Arabia because there was no work in Sri Lanka, Deepa learnt to paint. She now works with Gospel House and says, ‘Little by little, God has provided for our needs. Our quality of life has improved.’ Her husband returned in 1990, and helps her with the spray painting.