The Overcomers: Colombia

Members of the notorious guerrilla group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) recently prevented a VOM evangelist, "Rolo," from entering La Macarena region in Colombia with radios, Bibles and Christian books. To find out more, watch this short video.


Visit VOM’s multimedia page to watch other Overcomers reports. For more on the persecuted Church in Colombia, go to our Colombia Country Report.

Violent guerrilla group impedes evangelism in Colombia

Pray that God’s Word and other Christian
material will reach all the regions of Colombia.

Members of the notorious guerrilla group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) recently prevented a VOM evangelist, "Rolo," from entering La Macarena region in Colombia with radios, Bibles and Christian books, reports our sister mission, VOM-USA.

The Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization has been a significant contributor to violence and volatility in the region. A VOM worker in the area reported that members of FARC are closing the churches and burning the buses of those attempting to enter the area.

Leftist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups in the country are both acting as lawless gangs raising funds with drug trafficking and ransom kidnapping. Despite the upheaval and political violence, however, the Church is flourishing. While there were about 15,000 evangelical Christians in Colombia in 1933, by last year, they numbered between 3.5 and 5 million with some churches growing 1,000-fold over the last two decades.

Please pray for Colombia.

• Please pray that Rolo's evangelistic efforts will not be thwarted any longer and that Christians in the region will not be impeded in sharing the gospel message. 
• Pray that the Church will continue to thrive despite the efforts to keep it from doing so.

Want to learn more about persecution in Colombia? Watch an interview with Celso, a mission worker in Colombia who was kidnapped but continues to share God’s love, or visit our Colombia Country Report for more information and for additional prayer requests. 

God’s love in Colombia

“The Lord has put in my heart a really big love for the people who do bad things.” – Celso

In this four-minute interview from our sister mission in the US, Celso, a mission worker in Colombia, shares the story of his kidnapping and how he continues to witness about God’s love.

For other videos like this one, check out VOM-USA’s YouTube channel or visit our multimedia site.

Watch this summer’s Persecution Report

In this video, you will hear about a family spreading the gospel in a warzone in Colombia and a Christian man who was tortured and killed by members of al Qaida in Iraq. You will also learn about believers arrested in Iran and Christians facing continued attacks in India. (Length: 13:42)



For more videos like this one, please visit our media site at www.persecution.tv.

Colombia today: Meet Pastor Manuel

The following is excerpted from Restricted Nations: Colombia, one of the latest books in the Restricted Nations series.

Pastor Manuel and his wife pastored a congregation in Chopal village, south of San Jose del Guaviare, for about eight years. They faced numerous challenges, and many churches in the area had been closed by FARC guerrillas.

Pastor Manuel decided to open a church building regardless of the threats and risks. The pastor was part of an evangelistic event at which three FARC guerrillas and seven members of the paramilitary surrendered their lives to Christ.

But on September 21, 2009, Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by FARC guerrillas. The guerrillas had made an appointment with Pastor Manuel and his family.

“He thought they were going to authorize him to have a church officially, which he had discussed and asked for before,” said a VOM contact. “One of them came in the house with the pastor’s wife, Gloria, and his daughter while the pastor was outside. He was shot five times.”

One FARC guerrilla, referring to the pastor, yelled, “Make sure that dog stays dead.” They then shot the pastor again, this time in the neck. Pastor Manuel’s wife ran outside and wiped the blood off his face. With the help of their children, she dragged his body under a tree.

“She ran and got her Bible, and shaking with tears, preached to all those who got near,” the VOM contact said. “Their ten-year-old son said, ‘Mom, don’t worry, Dad died for Christ and now he is with Christ.’”

Want to read more about persecution and stories of Christians in Colombia? Click here to order your copy of Restricted Nations: Colombia today.

Colombian Christians facing increased and intense violence

Pray for Colombian believers
as violence intensifies.

Colombian Christians are on high alert as intense and deadly violence continues in the country, report VOM sources. On May 12, a bomb exploded in Puerto Lleras, killing several policemen and injuring bystanders.

For several months, members of Colombia's main Marxist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have been openly killing individuals in town streets and burning buses throughout the region.

FARC guerillas have also been conducting an internal purge, reportedly killing many of their own men and accusing them of being traitors to the Communist cause. It is suspected that many of those killed were secret Christians.

“In all our years in Colombia, we have never seen it this unstable,” said a VOM contact. “Yet we believe that this is also the most opportune time that we have ever seen for the gospel.”

You can help by praying!

Pray for those working to supply Bibles to Colombian believers in this region, as the need is reportedly very great. Pray the various other ministry efforts of Christian workers in Colombia will be effective. Ask God to guide and sustain new believers as they serve Him in a climate of intense and ongoing violence. Pray those who persecute Christians in Colombia will repent and embrace Christ as Lord.

Want to know more about persecution in Colombia? Check out the newest edition to the Restricted Nation series, Restricted Nations: Colombia. Click here to order yours today for $7.

Make parachutes for Colombia!

One of our VOM partners flies a plane over the deep jungles of Colombia and simultaneously drops parachutes out his window.

Attached to a heavy-duty plastic bag, these parachutes float to the ground, delivering a Bible, other Christian literature and, sometimes, a shortwave radio pre-tuned to Christian stations, into the hands of villagers and FARC guerrillas alike. While outsiders cannot easily make it in, the saving message of Jesus Christ is permeating Colombia’s darkness.

Now you can join VOM in providing parachutes to our partner and his team by ordering ready-to-assemble Colombia Parachute Packs. Each Parachute Pack includes everything you need (cloth, ribbon, glue, plastic bag and instructions) to assemble 10 parachutes.


All you need is a pair of scissors and a willing heart!

Once the parachutes are assembled, simply return them to the VOM office along with $5 per parachute to cover the cost of deploying them in Colombia.

Each Colombia Parachute Pack is $10 and includes a DVD of VOM’s Underground Reality: Colombia, Episode 3. We have a limited number of ready-to assemble packs, so please call our office today to order!

1-888-298-6423

Can you sew?

If yes, then you can make the parachutes without using a kit by purchasing fabric, thread and nylon cord from a local fabric store. The nylon cord must be sturdy, yet thin, and flexible enough for a sewing machine to zigzag stitch onto the fabric. Muslin fabric works best.

Download the parachute pattern and sewing instructions here.

Send sewn parachutes to our office and include $5 per parachute for deployment costs.

Send to:

Parachutes for Colombia
The Voice of the Martyrs
PO Box 608
Streetsville ON  L5M 2C1

From the air, hope is coming to the people of Colombia looking for truth and purpose. Thanks for being a part!

Disarming Colombia’s darkness

Rolo (not his real name) used to be a member of the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC). He, along with fellow guerrillas, followed a Marxist ideology that opposes the gospel and demands total loyalty to the cause.

Amid the violence, Rolo found Jesus and committed his life to serving Him.

Today, Rolo travels about Colombia’s “red zones,” bringing the saving message of Jesus Christ to those living there. He ministers not only to guerrillas but also to pastors and villagers who are prevented from leaving their villages without permission.

Take a few minutes to be encouraged by Rolo's story and passion for leading fellow Colombians to Christ (Length 9:15).



You can check out more videos like this one at Persecution.TV.

Prayer Conference in Edmonton this weekend!

Join us a for a Prayer Conference and find out
how you can get involved in serving the
persecuted Church!

The Voice of the Martyrs annual Prayer Conferences are almost here!

This Saturday, March 19

West Meadows Baptist Church

Edmonton, Alberta

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Next Saturday, March 26

City Centre Baptist Church

Mississauga, Ontario

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, our special guest is Russell Stendal.

Russell Stendal was raised on the mission field in Colombia. He became a missionary jungle pilot at age 19. In 1983, Marxist rebels kidnapped him and held him hostage for five months. His book, Rescue the Captors, relates his experience, including how God worked in the hearts of the rebels.

Upon his release, God led Russell into radio ministry as a unique way to reach the fighting factions of the internal conflict in Colombia with the gospel.

Today, Russell heads up the work of Colombia Para Cristo, which operates 12 radio stations that cover much of Latin America with the gospel. Tens of thousands of people listen to radio broadcasts, as terrorists have banned church buildings, meetings and many ministries in the past 30 years. A thriving underground church continues to develop in remote jungle areas of Colombia.

In addition to our special guest, you will hear from the following individuals:

• Klaas Brobbel, VOM’s Co-founder and Finance Administrator
• Corey Odden, VOM’s CEO
• Floyd Brobbel, VOM’s VP of Operations
• Greg Musselman, VOM’s VP of Outreach

Make plans to join us for this incredible day of raising awareness for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world!

 

Reaching the unreachable

Russell Stendal, a Christian worker in Colombia, is headlining VOM Canada’s Prayer Conferences is Edmonton (March 19) and Mississauga (March 26).

Raised on the mission field in Colombia, Russell became a missionary jungle pilot at age 19. In 1983, Marxist rebels kidnapped him and held him hostage for five months. Upon his release, God led him into radio ministry as a unique way to reach the fighting factions of the internal conflict in Colombia with the gospel.

Take a moment to watch this video and find out why he works to reach FARC Guerrillas with the Good News. You’ll be inspired to reach out to someone you may think is unreachable.



Learn more about our upcoming Prayer Conferences here.

Save the date!

Russell Stendal will share his experiences in
Colombia during VOM's Prayer Conferences
in March. You won't want to miss it!

The Voice of the Martyrs’ annual Prayer Conferences are coming in March!

Saturday, March 19

West Meadows Baptist Church

Edmonton, Alberta

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 26

City Centre Baptist Church

Mississauga, Ontario

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, our special guest is Russell Stendal.

Russell Stendal was raised on the mission field in Colombia. He became a missionary jungle pilot at age 19. In 1983, Marxist rebels kidnapped him and held him hostage for five months. His book, Rescue the Captors, relates his experience, including how God worked in the hearts of the rebels.

Upon his release, God led Russell into radio ministry as a unique way to reach the fighting factions of the internal conflict in Colombia with the gospel. In partnership with Galcom, more than 88,000 radios have been deployed in violent areas of Colombia.

Today, Russell heads up the work of Colombia Para Cristo, which operates 12 radio stations that cover much of Latin America with the gospel. Tens of thousands of people listen to radio broadcasts, as terrorists have banned church buildings, meetings and many ministries in the past 30 years. A thriving underground church continues to develop in remote jungle areas of Colombia.

In addition to our special guest, you will hear from the following individuals:

• Klaas Brobbel, VOM’s Co-founder and Finance Administrator
• Corey Odden, VOM’s CEO
• Floyd Brobbel, VOM’s VP of Operations
• Greg Musselman, VOM’s VP of Outreach

Make plans to join us for an incredible day of raising awareness for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world!

Download a PDF flyer to share with you church, family and friends here.

Colombia: "Christians are dangerous!"

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC guerrillas, have inflicted violence upon Colombians for the last 40 years. Guerrilla leaders are constantly recruiting children to join their Marxist movement to replace the children and young adults who are killed. Those who speak against the violence or encourage others not to join the guerrillas are targeted, especially Christian leaders, like Dora and Ferley.

Dora Lilia Saavedra and her husband, Ferley, spoke freely about Christ to the children they taught in Santana Ramos, a farming village deep in the Colombian jungle and a hotspot for guerrilla violence. Each day children ages six to 12 piled into Dora's one-room, wooden schoolhouse and listened to her talk about Jesus, but this was risky. She was luring more away from the guerrillas’ cause. Guerrillas also didn’t like Dora’s commitment to truth. “Christians are dangerous,” they repeatedly said. “Christians cannot lie. If the army asks them about us, they will tell the truth.”

One day, while Dora was in the schoolhouse, a neighbour told her some shocking news: guerrillas were going to kill her and her husband the next day. Even though the neighbour was a guerrilla sympathizer he felt bad for the couple. “You can take your family and run,” he said. “You can leave this village right now.” Calmly, Dora told the messenger not to worry, reassuring him that she and her husband were ready to meet their Lord.

After the neighbour’s warning, Dora and her husband had a final devotion with their three children. The couple spent all night praying and fasting.

The following school day was like any other until around 10 a.m., when two armed guerrillas entered the school. “There will be no more school today!” one shouted. “Go home and return tomorrow.” The children quickly filed out the door as the guerrillas ushered Dora and her family to the back of the schoolhouse. They told Dora and her husband to say goodbye to their children. Suddenly more guerrillas burst into the room. One of them pointed to 12-yearold Marcella, saying, “We will kill her first.”

“No, please,” Dora pleaded as she stepped in between the guerrilla and her daughter. “It is me you want. Take me. Leave her here and take me now.”

Marcella cried as the armed men walked her parents across a field to a river just 300 yards away from the school. They ordered Dora and Ferley to lie face down on the ground. Marcella could not see her parents, but she remembers hearing the two shots as her parents were executed.

Just months after Marcella's parents were murdered, she said, "If I met the men who did this I would forgive them. I know this would be hard, but I know God forgives them. So I have to as well.” When asked what she would say to others who have to live with bad things happening to them, Marcella said: “In the name of Jesus nothing just happens.”

Young Marcella demonstrates the assurance that even in times of great suffering and loss, God is at work in the lives of His children. She is among many of the Christians taking a stand for Jesus in nations hostile to Christ.

You can read the full article and other testimonies of courageous believers from around the world in our Special Edition newsletter. Click here to sign up for your free copy today!