A Prophetic Call: Colombian Protestant churches document their suffering and their hope

Bogota, August 2006

Justapaz and the Commission for Restoration Life and Peace of CEDECOL have jointly issued a report related to the armed conflict as it affects churches.  This report is based on the results of a grassroots documentation program focused on the Protestant churches of Colombia, a minority group estimated at more than 5 million people.

During the report period of January 2006 through July 2006, this report notes 29 assassinations of men, women and children linked to congregations, 84 cases of displacement, 21 civilian combat-related injuries, 4 arbitrary detentions, and other human rights violations. Also documented in this report are several significant social restoration and peace-building initiatives undertaken by Protestant churches in the past three years.

To address the underlying factors that both cause and allow unacceptable violence to continue, the churches call for specific changes in Colombian and U.S. national policy.

We invite you to share this compelling data, pray for the victims, the perpetrators and the peacemakers, and advocate — speak truth to government officials — on behalf of those brave souls who, despite the smell of death, continue to give life to seeds of peace.

The report is available to download and print.