Pray for Colombia

Colombia is home to the Caño Cristales, the river of five colors. From June to November, when water levels are just right, the sun turns this stream into a liquid rainbow, ranging from aquatic plants with rich reds and greens to bright yellow sand in deep pools of blue, with a black riverbed at the bottom. The nation’s terrain includes the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Rainforest, the Caribbean coast, the Pacific coast, and Los Llanos, a flat, tropical grassland. Colombia is also the world’s leading producer of emeralds and ranks among the top producers of coffee. In Colombia, Mestizos — people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry — make up the largest ethnic group, making up over 50 percent of the population. Three-quarters of Colombians live in urban areas and primarily speak Spanish.

Since gaining independence from Spain and forming a modern republic in the early 1800s, Colombia has had a turbulent political history. In the 20th century, guerrilla and paramilitary groups began using violence to pursue their political agendas. Alongside criminal organizations, these groups have made Colombia one of the world’s largest sources of illegal drugs. Children are kidnapped from their families and forced to serve these organizations, while public Colombian figures are murdered. Unemployment rates have fallen below 10 percent, but the instability caused by these groups has left about 30 percent of the population in poverty. Impoverished Colombians often live in territories controlled by drug traffickers and fear their power. Since 2014, Colombia has also struggled to provide for roughly 3 million Venezuelan refugees who seek jobs, healthcare, and housing.

Roman Catholicism has long been a part of Colombian culture, and more than 80 percent of Colombians identify as Catholic, though far fewer actively practice their faith. At the same time, evangelical churches are growing rapidly, with some congregations multiplying by nearly 1,000-fold! However, extremist paramilitary groups view these growing churches as a threat when their members leave the groups and turn to Christianity. Churches and ministries are attacked, and Christian leaders are murdered when believers oppose the evil of these organizations. Still, the Church is passionate and growing. Churches are raising up and sending missionaries to the unreached communities within Colombia. Young men and women are filling Colombia’s theological schools, eager to become church and ministry leaders. Christians are often quick to provide for the needs of Venezuelan refugees who continue to cross Colombia’s northern border.