46Colombia

The fragile peace between the government and guerrilla groups in Colombia has had limited impact. Although the violence has receded, guerrilla groups, often linked to drug gangs, have grown more powerful and control more territory. These groups often target Christians for attack, especially if they perceive that believers are opposing the “business” of the cartels or gangs. Church leaders are particularly at risk because they’re seen as competing for influence over the young people who make up much of the guerrilla groups’ ranks.

In some communities, Christian preachers and indigenous converts can face hostility because they’re seen as traitors who’ve betrayed their tribe or community. These believers live at risk of expulsion from the community, imprisonment, ostracism and other punishments.

And finally, there are signs that Colombia’s public sector is less committed to true pluralism. Christians speaking in public about their beliefs are sometimes targeted for supposedly being discriminatory or promoters of hate-speech. For this reason, some choose to self-censor.

Meet David

“I’m not close to my brother, nor to my sister, and I’m estranged from my brother-in-law. Because you preach the Gospel, you’re no longer considered part of the family. And because you preach, you also lose the right to work in the community. I no longer have the right to work because, as a Christian, I’ve lost their trust.”

David (name changed), an indigenous believer in Colombia.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors strengthens the persecuted Church in Colombia through Bible distribution, training, trauma care, community development projects, emergency relief aid and assistance in legal proceedings.