Christians taken hostage


Children from a Kogui villag

Sixteen Christians belonging to the Kogui indigenous people group in Colombia are being held captive on their reserve in an attempt to force them to renounce Christianity. The group of believers, which includes men, women and three babies, was captured during a meeting called by the Kogui governor. Community leaders shouted abuses at the believers through the night. They were later taken to a remote area of the reserve and told they would not be freed until they renounced their faith in Christ. At last report, two of the kidnapped infants were seriously ill. The governor and his allies also humiliated non-Christian leaders who had supported the Christians in the community and protected them from being expelled. The governor reportedly intends to capture remaining Christians and force them to renounce their faith. (Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

Pray for the release of these believers. Pray that their captors will see the love of Christ, repent and come to trust in Jesus. Pray for other Christian members of the Kogui community under fire in Colombia.

To learn more about Colombian believers suffering for Christ, visit the Colombia Country Report.

E-mail Print
 

Colombia Profile

Location
Latin America

Population
44,725,543 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
mestizo (58), white (20), mulatto (14), black (4), mixed black-Amerindian (3), Amerindian (1)

Religion (%)
Christian (94.42), Ethnoreligionist (2.90), Non-religious (2.40), Other (0.28)

Leader
President Juan Manuel Santos

Government type
Republic

Legal system
Based on Spanish law; a new criminal code reached full implementation in January 2008.

Statistics provided by CIA World Factbook and Operation World.


Persecution News - Colombia

Christians facing increased and intense violence
(May 26, 2011)

Christians taken hostage
(November 18, 2009)

Pastor martyred by guerillas
(October 14, 2009)

Pastor murdered by gunmen
(September 16, 2009)

Priests Receive Death Threats
(April 23, 2008)

Correction to Report on Martyred Colombian Pastors
(July 18, 2007)

Two Pastors Martyred
(July 11, 2007)