Anthony Alexander, the Seventh-day Adventist pastor imprisoned in a Sri Lankan jail for more than two years, has been granted refugee status in Canada, along with his wife, Saratha. The January 24 decision ends more than 18 months of uncertainty for the Alexanders, who have been living in Toronto while their refugee application has been processed.

“We have to thank all our brothers and sisters for their prayers,” said Alexander after the hearing. “I have no words to express how I felt when the judge read that they accepted our names as convention refugees. I couldn’t speak. I never expected it would take just 20 minutes.”

“The judge said that she had read all the Global Mission articles [about my case] on the Internet and was really convinced about our situation,” he added. “She was sorry there had been such a delay [in hearing the application].”

Alexander expressed his particular gratitude to the public affairs and religious liberty department and the office of general counsel at the Adventist world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, for their tireless work on his behalf.

John Graz, the church’s public affairs and religious liberty director, said he hopes last week’s decision represents a closing chapter in the Alexander’s four-year ordeal. “Anthony has endured false imprisonment, torture, and separation from his family, but through it all he has continued to keep his trust in God,” said Graz. “We are thankful that the family can now move on with their lives.”

Alexander, a longtime Adventist pastor and Global Mission Pioneer in Sri Lanka, was convicted and jailed in March 1998 on charges of terrorism. After a prolonged legal battle, he was exonerated by the Sri Lankan High Court and released from prison in May 2000. According to Graz, the political situation in Sri Lanka could make Alexander’s return to that country dangerous.

The Alexanders will now apply for their landed papers, equivalent to the American green card, said Gary Krause, communication director for the Adventist Church’s Global Mission initiative. “This process, usually a mere formality, should take six to nine months to complete,” he explained.

Since arriving in Canada in June 2000, the Alexanders have established a new church for Tamil people in Toronto, and in March last year Alexander was hired as a half-time pastor for the Ontario Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. “Anthony started new congregations all through Sri Lanka, and his passion is sharing the love of Jesus,” says Krause. “You can be sure he isn’t working just half-time.”

The Alexanders’ refugee status clears the way for them to be reunited with their five children. “My children are good musicians and when they come to Toronto our church will really come alive,” says Alexander. Currently the Alexanders’ three eldest children—Dennish, Esther, and Dan—are studying in India, while their two youngest children—Elkins and Tenny—are in Sri Lanka.

For a history of the Anthony Alexander story, visit www.global-mission.org.