Colombia - Christians worshipping together - Photo: VOMC

Colombia

Many Christians in Colombia are taking great risks to share the Gospel with those living in some of the most dangerous places for followers of Christ to evangelize. Taking the Gospel to these hostile areas often results in persecution from armed guerrillas and paramilitary forces. After voters rejected a peace agreement with rebels affiliated with the Marxist Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia in 2016, the government approved an agreement with the insurgents without public approval in 2017. Because of the agreement, various paramilitary groups within rural areas in the north and west have grown more active and violent, making worship, evangelism and travel dangerous.

Life for Christians:

Christians are targeted because their obedience to God's Word will not allow them to join the violent factions in their areas. To worship or travel, Christians in red zones must have permission from whichever group is currently in charge. Indigenous Christians in remote areas have been the recipients of instigated attacks -- to the point of being driven from their homes, schools, farms and jobs for not participating in the pagan animistic activities of other community members. Schools and churches were burned as a precursor to the expulsion of the assaulted believers from their communities. As a result, they lost their crops, school supplies, and the few livestock they once owned. Everything had been taken away from them without any compensation in return for their seized properties and belongings. Children and elders alike were beaten with whips on their legs as a form of punishment.

Current Ministry Project

VOMC’s provisions have proven to be a vitally needed means of help and encouragement for a group of expelled Christians who are rebuilding their lives in a new community. In addition to helping them establish a secure means of sustainability and livelihood, the ministry is supporting their efforts to present the Gospel from their new community – seizing this opportunity as a means of outreach to Colombians residing in surrounding areas.

Project Fund: Relief and Development

Country Information

Designation
Persecuted

Population
50,355,650 (July 2021 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Mestizo and white (87.6), Afro-Colombian (including mulatto) (6.8), Amerindian (4.3)

Religion (%)
Christianity (92.3), other (1), unspecified (6.7)

Leader
President Ivan Duque Marquez (2018)

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
Civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes

Source: CIA World Factbook

Pray for Colombia

Please uphold all those in Colombia who’ve been victimized through acts of violence, asking the Lord to meet their needs, heal them of their brokenness, and bring about renewed hope and restoration. Also intercede for their persecutors so that they, too, will witness the love of Christ and experience His forgiveness and salvation.

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Colombia News

  • Law Proposed to Ban Evangelization
    Martyr's widow, Kelly Saenz
    Kelly Saenz, wife of martyred believer Pabel Tujillo, understands how costly it can be to follow Christ.
    Hear Kelly's testimony.
    Photo: 100 Huntley Street

    Sources in Colombia are calling for urgent prayer, as organizations endeavour to ban Christian evangelization among Indigenous communities. Withi

    ...
  • Church Traumatized by Fatal Shooting
    Small church in Colombia
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    Pastor Leider Molina, 24, had just finished preaching at his church in Caucasia (northwest Colombia) on Friday, February 9th. As he stepped out of the building, he was shot with five bullets. The young man was known as a passionate preacher and active youth leader in his c

    ...
  • Standing Firm Amid Death Threats

    "Xavier" from Colombia
    Photo: The Voice of the Martyrs USA

    Death threats have been a typical part of ministry life for "Xavier," a partnering church planter who works in one of Colombia's most dangerous regions; a poor, rural area currently being ruled by paramilitaries. Before his involvement in ministry, Xavier had a su

    ...
  • Varied Reactions over FARC Deal


    Flag of the FARC-EP
    Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Boris Arenas

    June 23rd was an historic day in Colombia. After four years of peace talks, and more than 50 years of armed confrontation, a bilateral ceasefire was agreed upon between the Colombian government and representatives of the Revolutionary Armed

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