COLOMBIA - Finding hope in the aftermath of Violence
01/09/05 - wives and children of martyred pastors find healing and hope
Manuel and his brothers, Caleb and Mario, joined one of the illegal armed groups in Colombia when they were virtually children. A chilling desire for power motivated them to spread terror in the city of Bogotá. For years they revelled in violence, shamelessly executing any suspected collaborator with rival groups, calling it 'cleansing'. They even 'earned' the protection of police officials by paying them a 'service fee' to turn a blind eye to their despicable crimes.
One day, Manuel was told about the Lord Jesus Christ and he soon became a Christian. His two brothers also gave their lives to Jesus as they saw Manuel’s transformed life. They dedicated themselves to preaching the Gospel and came to Open Doors for training. Manuel told Open Doors:
“In this bag, which I always take with me, I used to carry my revolver, to kill anyone who got in my way. Now the only weapon I take in this bag is my Bible, which I use to give life to all who will listen to the wonders God has done in my life."
Manuel distributed more than 1,000 Bibles amongst members of illegal armed groups, many of whom also accepted Jesus Christ. Naturally, this incurred the wrath of their leaders. Death threats followed Manuel; but he remained faithful.
One night, in the Autumn of 1999, several armed men came to Manuel's house, ordering him to accompany them. Manuel's wife and children began to weep, pleading with the men not to take him. Ignoring their cries, they disappeared into the bush. Some of his children followed their father and his abductors and silently witnessed their father being tortured. The men then threw Manuel into a car and drove away. Hours later Manuel’s lifeless body was found, his body evidencing unspeakable torture. Next to his corpse lay his bag, his beloved Bible and many evangelistic tracts.
The entire extended family was grieving and distressed, but conviction and purpose soon replaced despair. They told Open Doors:
"Please – we want to honour the memory of our brother, husband and father by distributing Scriptures to the violent groups, including his killers."
Open Doors has been helping supply Scriptures to these courageous, faithful Christians and many others like them ever since.
More than 100 pastors have been killed in the last three years in Colombia, for standing up for their faith – and they usually leave behind a wife and family.
Manuel’s widow, Miriam, had seven children. Open Doors came alongside her, helping her to set up a small sewing business. An Open Doors team from the UK who went to visit her last month report that the children are well, happy and serving the Lord, although the sewing business is in need of capital.
Christian pastors, evangelists and leaders are targeted by the illegal armed groups as they influence people to live peaceful lives and not to join the violent groups. Some even preach the message of love and reconciliation to members of the armed groups when they can do, often leading to many defections.
Other pastors’ widows visited by the Open Doors team were Maria and Connie. Maria’s husband was a pastor, as well as, working as a guard at the airport. In 2003, he was shot dead and there is now no one prepared to take up the position of church pastor because of the danger it would put them in.
Maria and her eight children belong to a group of widows and orphans that Open Doors is supporting. She told the team that, although life is still very hard; knowing they are not forgotten and not alone is a great encouragement to the whole family.
Connie was from a wealthy family and was living very comfortably when the paramilitaries came to her village and threatened her husband. He refused to give in to their demands, and he paid the price with his life. Connie and her children were forced to flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Sadly, Connie has been subjected to repeated rape attacks and has an additional four children as a result. However, through the assistance of Open Doors, she is now making a living for her family by making colourful jewellery and crafts.
Other groups of people whom Open Doors support are children and young people in need of counselling or a safe place to live. Colombian youth raised in conflict areas must learn to live and function in a world full of massacres, kidnappings, forceful displacement from homes, and gun battles at any hour of the day or night. The indiscriminate violence that permeates their lives creates many orphans. The youth have no hope for a better future, as the prospects for work or higher education are completely lacking in their areas. Because most of them are forced to join the illegal armed group predominant in their zone, 85 per cent of the insurgents are young men, women and even children, ranging in ages from 10 to 28.
Once they are part of an armed group, leaving it requires God’s intervention, and rehabilitation into society poses almost as many challenges. Open Doors continues to reach members of the armed groups through Bible distribution and has also started a centre for those who have responded to the Gospel and left their lives of crime and violence.
Through such support, the vulnerable church in Colombia is strengthened, as expressed recently by one Colombian Christian who said:
“I thank God because Open Doors arrived exactly when we needed it most. All the letters sent by brothers and sisters in different countries, reassuring us that they were praying for us, were a great encouragement to our family.
"Through the unconditional support that Open Doors has given us, I have seen – and felt – a direct manifestation of God, as voiced by the Psalmist when he wrote, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:5–6ª).
To find out more, call Open Doors UK & Ireland on 01993 885400, email info@opendoorsuk.org or go to the UK & Ireland website at www.opendoorsuk.org.
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Open Doors strengthens persecuted Christians in over 45 countries across the world by
1. Training Church leaders and Christian workers
2. Supplying Bibles, hymnals, Sunday School materials and other Christian literature
3. Providing livelihood training and self-help opportunities
4. Visiting, comforting and encouraging those who are suffering
5. Raising awareness of the difficulties persecuted Christians face and mobilising prayer for them throughout the western world.
For other articles/press releases on the Persecuted Church, go to:
http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/articles/
http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/releases/
http://www.opendoorsuk.org/media_photos/world_watch_list_pics/html/index.htm