Colombia has a troubled history; 170 years of civil wars and dictators have scarred the country. A growing number of disillusioned people gave support to violent guerrilla groups.

Guerrilla groups and drug barons increased their violent hold on Colombia and spread fear and terror through frequent murders and kidnappings. Violence led to more violence – according to the International Institute for Peace Colombia’s conflict is amongst the 10 most bloody in the world.

A new constitution, introduced in 1991, attempts to give the government greater control in ending the cycle of violence. Although a couple of high profile leaders of drug cartels have been captured or killed, there is still no real improvement in the levels of violence or crime.

Colombia supplies 75% of the world’s cocaine. Drug trafficking continues to grow and is worth an estimated US $5 billion.

There is a growing number of Christians in Colombia. This is a miraculous sign of God’s faithfulness and protection because Christians are often targets of violence by drug cartels and guerrillas.

Bellavista Prison is a maximum security prison in city of Medellin. It is home to some of Colombia’s most hardened and violent criminals; the murder rate inside the prison used to be as high as one per day! Many prisoners are hearing about God and becoming Christians. In a place that was called “hell on earth” prisoners are praying round the clock, the murder rate has dramatically fallen and inmates are being trained in their very own Bible school!

Pray for Colombia’s cities; Bogota, Medellin and Cali. Tens of thousands of children live on the streets in these cities and Medellin is Colombia’s drug and crime capital.

Colombia has a reputation as being one of the most violent countries in the world. Corruption, kidnappings and murders continue to terrorise society. Pray for all those who are working to bring a lasting peace to Colombia.

In some cities the number of evangelical Christians has multiplied by twenty times in the last 10 years. This sort of growth can be threatening to whatever group is in control of the area. Many church leaders are targets of violence and many have been martyred. Many Christian leaders have left the country – pray that those who have stayed would be given strength and protection.

Life for missionaries working in rural areas of Colombia is extremely dangerous. There is only a small number of Colombians who have committed to working as missionaries with the remote Amerindian tribes. Pray that more Colombians would be inspired to get involved with mission – in their own country and around the world.