Pray for Colombia on Sunday, April 17, 2011

Pray for Colombia on Sunday, April 17, 2011

Prayers for Colombia: Matthew 21:1-11

Loving God we pray today for the people of Colombia. We have heard their calls for peace and we join our hearts with theirs in this desire. Just as Jesus’ shocking entry into Jerusalem on a donkey challenged the armed and oppressive “pax et securitas” of the Roman Empire we long to join in building the peaceable kingdom. Today we pray especially for the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia. We ask you God to guide their work. Give them strength as they provide pastoral care to thousands of victims of violent conflict in their country. Bless them with creativity and steadfastness in the midst of trial and pain that they may faithfully witness to the justice and peace that you desire for your people. We thank you for their courage and ask that you keep our brothers and sisters safe as they seek to follow your call and example in Colombia.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Colombia:

For over forty years Pastor Salvador and his rural community have farmed the land of El Garzal. “Most people used to grow plantains and were extremely poor,” he told me when I visited El Garzal last month. Over the past few years Pastor Salvador has helped most families in the community start to grow Cocoa that has doubled, and in some cases even tripled, their incomes. “There’s still room for improvement,” stated the pastor as he showed me the community owned cocoa bean drying station.  Over the years the community of El Garzal has faced guerrilla groups, paramilitaries and drug traffickers who have wanted to use the remote region for their purposes. Later this week a delegation from the CEDECOL Peace Commission, supported by Global Ministries, will visit El Garzal during a critical juncture in their legal battle to get titles to the land they’ve worked for decades. As a judge is measuring the land at the behest of a paramilitary-connected landowner in the hopes of displacing the peasant community of El Garzal, we’ll be joining with them in prayer and a public demonstration demanding their right to stay. Thank you for joining Global Ministries in supporting the brave work of the CEDECOL Peace Commission as they support communities like El Garzal and Pastor Salvador.

(Prayer & Mission Moment by Michael Joseph)

Multimedia Resources for Colombia:

Global Ministries International Partner in Colombia:

  • CEDECOL – The Evangelical Council of Colombia. Global Ministries partners closely with the Restoration, Life and Peace Commission and the Christian Women’s Network for Life and Peace.

More info on Colombia: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/colombia/

Global Ministries Missionary in Colombia:

Michael Joseph serves in Colombia with the Restoration, Life and Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia (CEDECOL), including the Christian Women’s Network for Life and Peace. He is providing a pastoral critical presence to church and lay leaders who are living in life-threatening situations.

Pray for Partners without Global Ministries Mission Personnel: Ecuador

God, we pray for our partners in Ecuador. We left up especially the ministry of FEDICE and thank you for long-term volunteers, Marilyn Cooper & Glen Hebert, who are walking with FEDICE in their ministries of education. Bless their work together. Amen

More info on Ecuador: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/ecuador/