The Griers’ work touched Colombo, Peradeniya and Nuwara Eliya. Little did they realize that the seeds they planted sacrificially in those
early years would bring an abundant harvest in the years to come.
They left in 1917, handing their work to Rev George H Doyal. Rev Grier’s ministry had touched a number of locals, among whom was J J B de Silva, a Baptist lay-preacher who received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
In 1924, his work with the Government Audit department took him to Jaffna, where he found a good response to the gospel, and founded the Assembly of God, Jaffna in 1927. He was the first Pentecostal Sri Lankan to establish a Church in the country.
