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.
In addition to providing leadership to 36 churches across the region, Pastor Marlon personally pastored the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church in Aguachica. According to the couple's supervisor, Pastor Giovanni Bermúdez, "Marlon was like many of us pastors; we keep quiet about many things so that everything runs smoothly, even while we carry heavy burdens inside."
The motive behind the attack is not yet clear. However, there has been speculation that one of the perpetrators may have previously attended a service at Pastor Marlon's church. Authorities are investigating whether there may have been extortion threats in an attempt to obtain offering money that was collected by the church.
The office of the ombudsman in Colombia has warned that incidents violating religious freedom increased by 31 percent within the first nine months of 2024. In particular, the report noted a concerning increase in cases involving death threats against religious leaders. For further information on Christian persecution in Colombia, and/or to view informative video interviews, visit our country report.
- May the comfort of the Holy Spirit rest on all those who are now mourning the heartbreaking loss of this dear family of believers.
- Pray that God will mightily protect Colombia's church leaders and their families from those opposed to the Gospel message.
- In fact, ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage all believers throughout Colombia, empowering them to stand firm in the face of opposition and faithfully serve as testimonies of God's love and grace to those around them.
Population
