Pray with Colombia, July 19, 2026
Lectionary Selection: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Prayers for Colombia
God, Father of Mercy and Tenderness, You who said to Your people, “Call to me and I will answer you; I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3): today we cry out to You, O Lord God, for peace, justice, and reconciliation for Colombia—a country of diverse regions, a country seeking an end to war and the possibility of God’s “shalom” for all.
We thank God for the lives of pastors and leaders in the regions who, through their actions, bear witness to hope; who—guided by the Gospel—promote social dialogue in their territories, comfort families affected by the conflict, transform conflicts, and courageously continue participating in local peace dialogues because they feel in their hearts that they are, and will remain, Churches that serve as Sanctuaries of Peace.
Today, during this election season, we join in a collective cry and prayer for Colombia’s future: may sanity and social harmony prevail, and may the longing for peace—grounded in social and environmental justice—become a reality. We ask, O God, that whatever the election outcome, the country, the citizenry, and the international community ensure that the parties accept the results and that no new violence arises.
God of Mercy and Justice, we place ourselves in Your loving hands, and from the depths of our hearts, we lift up our prayers for life—and life in abundance—for “In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears!” (Psalm 18:6).
In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen and Amen.
Mission Moment from Colombia
There are several testimonies, but we wish to highlight that of Nora Hernández—a social leader, woman of faith, survivor of conflict-related sexual violence, head of her household, and coordinator of the Admucajevi Women’s Association in Tarazá, Antioquia. Nora faced a critical health crisis due to cancer. Through medical treatment, prayer, and the support of the Christian church—specifically pastors linked to Justapaz’s “Sanctuaries of Peace” program—she began to recover. Although she remains under medical monitoring, she was able to leave the clinic and made a promise to God and her community to continue her volunteer work preventing violence and abuse against women through empowerment and leadership workshops and the management of productive projects. She has kept that promise, to the point of being selected—thanks to her testimony and commitment—as a delegate for the department of Antioquia on the “Guarantees Roundtable” for the protection of women, particularly those in the Lower Cauca region of Antioquia. At the Second Gathering of Women for Reconciliation, she shared her life story and described how her faith and biblical accounts of empowered women led her to fulfill a mission. She participated in advocacy efforts in Bogotá, demonstrating a command of the issues; in a firm voice, she told officials: “Today, as a woman and a social leader, I demand concrete plans and investment for the protection of women. Look at the cases we have reported regarding sexual violence and the recruitment of girls and young women by armed groups. It is time to act and to show a real commitment to the lives, bodies, and minds of women who are peacebuilders.”
Written by Martin Yepez, Director, Justapaz
Mission Partners in Colombia