Christians facing increased and intense violence

VOM contacts 26 May 2011

Colombian Christians are on high alert as intense and deadly violence continues in the country. On May 12, a bomb exploded in Puerto Lleras, killing several policemen and injuring bystanders. For several months, members of Colombia's main Marxist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have been openly killing individuals in town streets and burning buses throughout the region. FARC guerillas have also been conducting an internal purge, reportedly killing many of their own men and accusing them of being traitors to the communist cause. It is suspected that many of those killed were secret Christians. "In all our years in Colombia, we have never seen it this unstable," said a VOM contact. "Yet we believe that this is also the most opportune time that we have ever seen for the gospel."

Pray for those working to supply Bibles to Colombian believers in this region, as the need is reportedly very great. Pray the various other ministry efforts of Christian workers in Colombia will be effective. Ask God to guide and sustain new believers as they serve Him in a climate of intense and ongoing violence. Pray those who persecute Christians in Colombia will repent and embrace Christ as Lord.

To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Colombia, visit the Colombia Country Report.

Colombia

Country Information
Population
49,336,454 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Mestizo and white (87.6), Afro-Colombian (6.8), Amerindian (4.3), unspecified )1.4)

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

Leader
President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego (2022)

Government type
Presidential republic

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.

Colombia News

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Pastor Marlon Lora and his family.
Photo: The Lora family

Police are currently investigating the drive-by assassination of Pastor Marlon Lora and his family, which took place on December 29th. Pastor Marlon, his wife Yurlay Rincon – along with their two children, Angela and Santiago – had been finishing lunch when they were suddenly gunned down by men on a motorcycle. The violent attack occurred just metres away from the police station in Aguachica, northern Colombia.

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Law Proposed to Ban Evangelization

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Hear Kelly's testimony.
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Sources in Colombia are calling for urgent prayer, as organizations endeavour to ban Christian evangelization among Indigenous communities. Within the Colombian constitution, Indigenous communities are granted special rights of self-governance. As a result, Christians have encountered significant persecution, with little or no recourse.

Currently, a group from within the Paez community of Huila are in the capital city of Bogota fighting for a law to ban evangelization and give the Paez people complete control over education. The proposed law would then prevent the operation of Christian schools in Indigenous communities.

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Photo: World Watch Monitor

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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 successful career in broadcasting. Yet, in 2009, God directed him to begin a church in one of Colombia's poorest cities, a call that Xavier couldn't deny.

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