Columbia is a country located in South America that also has territories in North America.

With over 50 million inhabitants, Colombia is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse countries in the world. Out of 50 million inhabitants, 47,706,000 are Christian.

So, at first sight one may ask why do we need to pray for this country since most of its inhabitants are Christians?

Persecution in Colombia is localized, and violent. Violations include prohibition of or severe restrictions on religious activity, threats, assassination, extortion and forced displacement of church leaders. 13% of the religious leaders have received death threats, 4% have faced extortion and 3.9% have been threatened with kidnapping.

If Colombia is a Christian country, who perpetrates the violence and why?

The violence is perpetrated by armed guerillas, paramilitary forces and other criminal groups, especially in the country’s most remote areas. Why? Mostly because of Christians denouncing corruption and violence, serving among youth, working for the defense of human and environmental rights, and pursuing peace and justice – all of these being a threat to the illegal activities of criminal gangs, the drug trade and the organized crime that pay for these groups.

Let’s pray for the Christian leaders, the Bible distributors, the families of those who have been assassinated, and for all the Christians in Colombia!

Thank you,

Genesis Mission