Colombia in Context

Thousands of Christians live in conflict areas of this South American country, which has been battered for years by violence between warring groups. The church and its leaders are often caught in the middle. Hundreds of pastors have been murdered, Christian children have been forcibly recruited into illegal armed groups, and thousands of believers have been displaced from their homes.

This is where Open Doors is ministering – in the most dangerous areas, where there are illegal armed groups, a concentration of land mines and many cocaine cultivations. Leftist extremists rule these areas and have included in their statutes an intentional prohibition of Christianity; they consider Christians fierce enemies of their revolutionary cause.

More than 45,000 pieces of literature were delivered to Colombia in 2006. And we plan to continue – increasing the number of Bibles delivered – along with training pastors and leaders, in 2007.

But a growing focus is on livelihood projects. There is an increasing need to provide places of refuge for children caught in the crossfire of war. Places of protection are also needed for guerrilla soldiers who come to Christ and desire to escape the endless cycle of violence. Christian widows and families who have lost husbands in the conflict need vocational training to learn to provide for themselves. This will not only help the church in conflict areas to survive the physical devastation of war, it will remind them that they have not been forgotten.

Colombia: "Four Arauca Churches Closed, Members Displaced"  

Mexican State Struggles 

Chiapas state is home to the worst cases of religious intolerance in the country.  Small  municipalities have the most problems with severe and long-term persecution of evangelical Indians, mostly from caciques, or powerful community chieftains. Caciques practice “traditionalist” religion, a semi-pagan mix of Roman Catholic beliefs and ancient Mayan religion.

Traditionalist caciques have proven especially vehement enemies of Christians because they see Protestant Christianity undercutting their control over local villagers. When villagers become Christians, they typically stop drinking posh – an alcoholic beverage produced by caciques – and stop participating in pagan-like festivities, which results in a loss of income for caciques. 

Pressure is put on the evangelical Christians by denying them access to community services; water, electricity, agricultural assistance, and by demanding that they pay “fines” and stop sharing the Gospel or leave the community.  Eventually arrests, destruction of homes and church buildings, even violence and murder are threatened or carried out by the dominant groups.

Mexico: "‘Caciques’ Grab Evangelicals’ Land in Mitziton"

One Pastor’s Words

“The Lord says, ‘Vengeance is mine,’ so we don’t respond by paying back their abuses,” Gomez Ton said. “Rather, we respond with patience, faith and love – because we hope that some day they’ll change their ideas about us. They act against us out of ignorance, and if Jesus Christ had not entered into us, we would be doing the same things. Our only weapon is prayer.”

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