MCC Colombia Prayer Request

Friends,

The last few weeks have seen close friends and loved ones persecuted and threatened, and we need your prayers.



Colombia is living a particularly tense moment in history currently and although main stream media is telling the story of a Colombia with an improved security situation, a strong economy and in a time of post-conflict, we are seeing the opposite.



On August 29, Mennonite brother Hector Mondragon was falsely accused in the national newspaper of having ties with guerrilla organization, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), just days before a planned speakers tour the United States around the Free Trade agreement being negotiated between the United States and Colombia. He is now in hiding and in fear for his life, as well as the safety of his family.



On September 17, close personal friend of the MCC Colombia team, Nelson Berrío, along with a list of other union leaders, members of the Permanent Assembly for Civil Society, and members of a political opposition party, the Polo Democrático, received death threats from a newly established paramilitary splinter group. These threats have created deep concern within the MCC team and we denounce these aggressions against our friends and colleagues.



The Colombian government, justice system and military intelligence system play a significant role in either generating threats against civil society leaders or in protecting those who suffer threats. For that reason, the Colombia government must be held responsible for the safety of these leaders.



Although the government has stated that the paramilitary apparatus has been dismantled and that security in the country is improving, these cases, like many other recent cases, highlight a different reality. We are concerned that the government is not responding adequately to the increasing insecurity faced by many peace movement and civil society leaders, and we ask for your prayers and your attention in the next months as action may need to be taken.



Pray for:

- the spirit of wise discernment in deciphering the right steps to take in response;

- light and truth to shine forth amidst confusion and anger;

- the perpetrators of these threats, that they may repent and turn from violent ways;

- strength and solidarity for these friends from the broad church community;

- the safety and well-being of those under threat, as well as that of their families



We remember the words of the psalmist, "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever" Psalm 136:1-3.



We believe that the Lord is good and that His steadfast love endures forever, and we trust in His strength. We believe that His love is made manifest through Christian solidarity and the community of believers' unconditional support for each other.



We appreciate your prayers.