Last month we prayed for Christians in Gaza and their need in adversity to sustain love for their oppressors. This month we go right across the world to Colombia, a strife-torn country where a vicious three way civil war between government forces, drug barons’ paramilitaries and left wing rebel fighters have devastated civilized life for over 25 years. It has oil, gold, silver, emeralds, platinum and coal in abundance, affording its landowners deep vested interests which they often ally to criminals and drug cartels. It is a land of a powerful few and a huge multitude of destitute people, many of them supplying cocaine and deliberately armed. It is a very dangerous place.
In a jungle settlement in Caqueta Province Jose, 47, father of seven children had been pastor of a church of 400 members for 15 years. He had established a school for 150 children and his church sponsored the support of 200 poor people. But last year a local rebel militia chief accused him and fellow pastor Rene of causing desertion amongst his soldiers – many of whom were sickened by the cruelties demanded of them. Both Pastors and four more nearby were put on hit lists and received threats that if their work did not cease they would die. The threats, by letter and banner, were marked kill the pastors’. In March it happened: Jose was shot dead, Rene fled. He appealed for held to Open Doors, a front line European Christian mission dedicated to support the persecuted church, writing “Come to the region and give us guidance. We feel we have no spiritual support at such a difficult moment for us and our families.”
Recently in a neighbouring province, Gabriel, a regular visiting Pastor was conducting a wedding in a village where the church cared for orphaned children. Suddenly guerilla fighters burst in and, for the fifth time in seventeen years, abducted him. He expected a beating but this time it was different; He was told that his radio talk about loving your neighbour and dropping arms in search of peace had caused recruitment and desertion problems. He was told that the high command had ordered the killing of all pastors who entered the territory. He was bound, told that he would die that night and left alone in darkness. His prayer: “God, I haven’t finished my work on earth but if it is to be I ask two things. Please raise up another to take my place. Please as with Saul of Tarsus when your servant Stephen was martyred, may some witness at my death repent and come to know the Lord.” At 1.00am he was suddenly released by one of the guerillas who told him “go”. He said that some of the orphans were the children of his comrades and if we kill you they will be left with nobody. But he was warned not to come back.
This month please pray for the pastors and their families in this environment where wisdom and courage are needed so much; that the Gospel of Christ will break into the lives of the powerful and bring repentance, an end to greed and violence and a willingness to work for peace; and for the success of the Open Doors Mission to Colombia which aims to strengthen and encourage believers to stand firm in face of violence and intimidation, and to receive, distribute and teach from Bibles, also for wisdom and success in enhancing their training schemes for pastors.
The Persecuted Church
Anthony Hutton