Pastor's Wife Killed by Guerrillas

The wife of a pastor who serves in one of Colombia's "red zones" was shot to death recently by FARC guerrillas.

One night at around 9:30 p.m., after the family of Pastor James and his wife had gone to bed, two men on a motorcycle stopped by the home. The men lured the pastor outside by asking him to help them fix their motorcycle. When the pastor went to take a look at the vehicle, he heard men behind him ask his wife her name. When she replied, they shot her twice at point-blank range.

Pastor James and his family were the only Christians in their village, and his wife was very active in sharing Christ with everyone she met. The pastor and his four daughters are now being cared for by a VOM contact in another city as they mourn the unexpected loss of their greatly missed wife and mother.

Please bring this heartbreaking situation to our loving Heavenly Father in prayer, asking Him to grant His peace to those who are grieving. May He provide safety and shelter for this family as they mourn, shielding each one of them from further attack. Please intercede on behalf of the gunmen, praying that they will heed the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repent of their sins so they may also become bold disciples of Jesus Christ. In addition, remember in prayer the other brave men and women who are ministering in dangerous areas of Colombia, that God would grant them wisdom and endurance as they serve Him at great personal risk.

For more information on Colombia's persecuted church, please visit our Country Report.

  • 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

  • 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. 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.

  • 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 church and city.

  • Standing Firm Amid Death Threats
    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.