Stories of Persecution and Resilience Among Colombia’s Indigenous Churches

Amid Rising Tensions, Colombia’s Religious Leaders Face Increasing Peril

In the picturesque yet turbulent landscapes of Colombia, religious leaders and their communities find themselves under an escalating threat. As unseasonal rains drench the rugged paths leading to isolated villages, the danger posed by armed groups grows more pronounced. Recently, a team from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) navigated these treacherous routes to visit communities in Cauca, where stories of persecution and resilience were shared.

Arriving at a small settlement deep in the hills, visitors were greeted with warmth despite the underlying tensions. Children played, while men and women prepared for a gathering in a modest church building, a site of both spiritual solace and recent hardship. The occasion marked the release of ‘Perseguidos mas no Destruidos’ (Persecuted but not Destroyed), a collection of testimonies from the Nasa Indigenous Evangelical Church.

Initially intended to be launched in Bogota, safety concerns necessitated a change in plans. The risk was deemed too high for contributors to travel to the capital amid national elections, prompting CSW to bring their support directly to Cauca. There, community members bravely recounted experiences of violence and intimidation over the past two decades.

These narratives are part of a troubling trend. Juan Carlos, an indigenous Kogi Christian leader in Santa Marta, recounted how armed groups are now extorting profits from indigenous lands. The violence is not confined to remote areas; urban centers like Santa Marta have also witnessed the destruction of religious sites, including the burning of Rodian’s church and home by a local gang.

In Magdalena, the violence claimed the life of Ivan, a pastor who resisted criminal use of his church. His widow, Karen, continues to face the grim reality of their environment but remains determined to uphold her community’s faith and integrity. Visitors to her home find a semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos, with children attending school and families going about their daily lives despite the shadow of violence.

The escalating threats are compounded by a disturbing level of impunity, with perpetrators often going unpunished. The Colombian government’s recent decision to withdraw special protections for religious leaders has left individuals like Karen, Rodian, and Juan Carlos increasingly vulnerable.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide advocates for the reinstatement of these protections, pressing authorities to take definitive action to safeguard these communities. As Scot Bower, CEO of CSW, emphasizes, “In this beautiful, hospitable country, religious leaders need protecting, and CSW stands in solidarity, demanding action from the authorities.”

Scot Bower is CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Click here to sign CSW’s petition calling for protections to be restored to religious leaders in Colombia.