AFWIS Joins Operation World in prayer for the Republic of Colombia in Latin America

Colombia

Republic of Colombia

Latin America

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 1,141,748 sq km
Northwest corner of South America. The fourth-largest country on the continent. Mountains in west; plains, forests and jungles in east.
Population: 46,300,196    Annual Growth: 1.47%
Capital: Santa Ré de Bogotaá
Urbanites: 75.1%
HDI Rank: 77 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 93 (4% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Spanish    Languages: 83 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian

Religion		Pop %	Ann Gr
Christians	43,716,645	94.42	1.4
Evangelicals	3,460,847	7.5	6.0

Answer to Prayer

The Church continues to grow, even out of Colombia’s history of crime, lawlessness, terror and murder. From a tiny minority in 1960 (0.6% of the population), evangelicals have grown to 7.5%, and charismatics now number an estimated 18% of the population. Such growth is all the more wonderful considering that Christians have often been targets of drug cartels, guerrillas, paramilitaries and others. The greatest denominational growth has been within indigenous Colombian churches which have sprung up locally.

Challenge for Prayer

The upheaval from political and drug-related violence has had a terrible human cost. Tens of thousands have died, producing many orphans and widows. Colombia has the world’s second-highest number of internally displaced people (three million). These desplazados are pushed from rural into urban areas, where there is little work or shelter, but much exploitation. Former guerrillas and paramilitaries who have disarmed under amnesty conditions find themselves ill-equipped to re-enter civilian life. Three million more Colombians who have fled the country exist largely in conditions of poverty and a precarious immigration status. Pray for all who suffer from loss, that the Lord might meet their needs and that they might find in their Creator hope and restoration.
     For an additional 8 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Colombia.