Global Ministries

Lectionary Selection: Luke 18:9-14

Prayers for Colombia:  

Loving God,

Today we pray for the country of Colombia and our partners in mission there. As they work for the full implementation of the peace accords that seek to bring fighting to an end, may they feel your guiding presence. Encourage them even as they feel like a voice in the wilderness calling for peace. Give them stamina when others become discouraged at the slow pace of peacebuilding. Show them a way forward even when others return to violent confrontation.

May your justice, oh Lord, be known through the work of our partners as they minister to the millions of internally displaced persons in Colombia, as they work for the reintegration of former combatants into civilian life and as they speak out for restorative justice and reconciliation even in the midst of ongoing violence. May your healing touch be felt in their lives and seen through their ministries.

We thank you, God, for the witness of Justapaz and of the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia. Watch over them and give them strength as they witness to your peace with justice in Colombia.

Y juzgará entre las naciones, y reprenderá a muchos pueblos; y volverán sus espadas en rejas de arado, y sus lanzas en hoces; no alzará espada nación contra nación, ni se adiestrarán más para la guerra. Isaías 2:4b

A principios de 2017, más de 10,000 ex guerrilleros de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) se desarmaron y desmovilizaron como resultado del acuerdo de paz de Diciembre de 2016. Así comenzó un largo y desafiante proceso de reentrada para muchos de ellos que habían sido parte del ejército rebelde durante la mayor parte de sus vidas.

In November of 2016, the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) joined people all over the world in celebrating the signing of the Colombian Peace Accords between the Colombian government and the ex-guerrilla of the FARC-EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia--People's Army). These Accords were achieved through decades of peace-building efforts and documentation of human rights abuses (including efforts by our Global Ministries partners), ending over fifty years of civil war that displaced millions and cost the lives of over 200,000. Today, the hope generated through these Accords is all but gone as promises made by the government remain unfulfilled and several aspects of the Accords have not been implemented.

Angel L. Rivera Agosto
Krista Johnson Weicksel

September 20-23, 2019

Colombia’s faith communities stand firmly for peace amidst grueling violence. Now they ask faith communities across the U.S. to join them in this year's Days of Prayer and Action for Colombia. Hundreds of faith communities will dedicate part of their worship service that weekend to praying and working for peace in Colombia.

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They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Isaiah 2:4b

In early 2017, over 10,000 former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrilla fighters disarmed and demobilized as a result of the December 2016 peace accord. Thus began a long and challenging reentry process for many of them who had been part of the rebel army for most of their lives.

Conflict Transformation and Restorative Justice Between Ex-Combatants, Victims, and Communities

Introduction:

As we end this year of witnessing God´s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, we cannot avoid feeling in our spirit, mind and will the spiritual strength of solidarity.  Our partners continued embracing the Spirit through receiving pilgrimages, sponsoring workshops and projects, sharing resources in an ecumenical way and confronting the powers that deny the fullness of life.  The Caribbean Initiative came to closure with resources and experiences that will endure not only in the work of the continent but also globally.  The accompaniment of our partners through civil unrest, migrations, and emergencies awakened a divine presence through the experience of contingency.  The Good News were heard and shared in a powerful way. 

Global Ministries is excited to share the opportunity to purchase artisan crafts from around the world while supporting the life-giving work of global partners.

Lectionary Selection:  Mark 12:28-34

Prayers for Colombia:  

Loving God, today we pray for the country of Colombia and our Global Ministries partners there. Laying down weapons of war after fifty years of internal armed conflict is not easy. But you commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and the people of Colombia are attempting to do just that through a comprehensive peace accord, signed in 2016. Today we pray for partner churches located in the regions where thousands of former guerrilla combatants are reentering civilian life. Give them courage and knowledge to best know how to minister in these complex times. We pray for our partner organizations, Justapaz, of the Mennonite Church of Colombia and the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia as they implement peacebuilding programs while still facing considerable threat in unstable times. Through the practice of radical love, may we draw near to your kingdom.