Twenty years ago, 30 Christian families were evicted from their indigenous community in Columbia, simply because they believed in Jesus. It was a harsh punishment. But they found a place where they could rebuild, raise some crops and live their lives openly according to their faith. They even built a Christian school. It was a peaceful life.
But the peace didn't last.
There is a great deal of violence in Columbia, and refugees (of the same people group as the Christian familie;s original village) fleeing massacres and other situations came across the community built by the Christians - and stayed. Eventually, so many people came that they established a town council and begin dictating what was allowed in the community.
Suddenly, Christianity was no longer permitted. Teachers at the Christian school were given 72 hours to close the school and leave town. If they did not agree, they faced 10-14 years of imprisonment.
The believers refused to compromise their faith, and so they now face threats of expulsion, physical punishment, seizure of their property, and even the loss of the right to state for the next 15 years.
The irony is that the indigenous people fear the loss of their culture when people find Jesus. Juan Garcia, a Christian who lives in the community, said nothing could be further from the truth.
"We don't loose our culture, we identify with it. I know the language, and although I don't know how to write, the history is preserved. The arts and crafts are preserved. The medicinal knowledge of plants is also preserved. Many plants have helped us, even during the pandemic."
The pressure is so intense that it's hard to even look at. A pastor who visited said: "Sometimes I had to turn my face to cry because I didn't want to cry in front of them, seeing so much misery in the body of Christ."
Would you please pray with these believers in Columbia?
Pray for the non-believers to ease the restrictions on the believers and realize why the community was such a good place to come to. Ask God to show the value of His people.
Ask God to strengthen them those who are wavering in their faith in the face of this persecution. Pray that they can stand strong and show His love to all around them.
Lift the hearts of the people in the community who need to know Jesus, asking God to move in their lives in a powerful way, bringing the community into unity again.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.
But the peace didn't last.
There is a great deal of violence in Columbia, and refugees (of the same people group as the Christian familie;s original village) fleeing massacres and other situations came across the community built by the Christians - and stayed. Eventually, so many people came that they established a town council and begin dictating what was allowed in the community.
Suddenly, Christianity was no longer permitted. Teachers at the Christian school were given 72 hours to close the school and leave town. If they did not agree, they faced 10-14 years of imprisonment.
The believers refused to compromise their faith, and so they now face threats of expulsion, physical punishment, seizure of their property, and even the loss of the right to state for the next 15 years.
The irony is that the indigenous people fear the loss of their culture when people find Jesus. Juan Garcia, a Christian who lives in the community, said nothing could be further from the truth.
"We don't loose our culture, we identify with it. I know the language, and although I don't know how to write, the history is preserved. The arts and crafts are preserved. The medicinal knowledge of plants is also preserved. Many plants have helped us, even during the pandemic."
The pressure is so intense that it's hard to even look at. A pastor who visited said: "Sometimes I had to turn my face to cry because I didn't want to cry in front of them, seeing so much misery in the body of Christ."
Would you please pray with these believers in Columbia?
Pray for the non-believers to ease the restrictions on the believers and realize why the community was such a good place to come to. Ask God to show the value of His people.
Ask God to strengthen them those who are wavering in their faith in the face of this persecution. Pray that they can stand strong and show His love to all around them.
Lift the hearts of the people in the community who need to know Jesus, asking God to move in their lives in a powerful way, bringing the community into unity again.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.
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