Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: October 17, 2026
Today we stand with the family of Jesús Alberto Puerta Pérez, a Protestant preacher who was recently killed in Colombia.
Jesús Alberto was a husband, father and missionary who spent years sharing his faith with others.
After receiving threats and attacks against the church facilities, he and his family were forced to relocate to the city of Cartagena in December 2025.
There, he earned a living as a motorcycle taxi driver while regularly reaching out to members of criminal groups operating in dangerous areas of the city. His friends warned him to be careful, but Jesús Alberto continued his brave evangelism.
Tragically, Jesús Alberto was killed on 7 October, allegedly by members of one of the criminal groups to whom he regularly preached.
According to sources who spoke to CSW, he had refused to let them use his motorcycle after being warned they were planning to use it to transport illegal drugs.
Our sources believe they intended to entrap Jesús Alberto by using his motorcycle to implicate him in a crime, and that he was killed in retaliation for refusing.
He leaves behind his wife and their three young children, aged 5, 6 and 12, as well as his wife’s elderly parents, for whom she is a caregiver.
Please surround and uphold Jesús Alberto’s loved ones in prayer today, drawing on these words of comfort:
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
(Psalm 34:18)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
(Matthew 5:4)
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
(Revelation 21:4)
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
(Psalm 9:9)
Surely I am with you always.
(Matthew 28:20)
As we remember Jesús Alberto and hold his family in prayer, we also pray for others in Colombia who are at risk because of their beliefs.
Religious leaders face specific vulnerabilities, which is why we have been calling on the Colombian government to restore their protections as a matter of urgency. Thank you if you were one of the 1,600 people who signed our petition, which we delivered on Tuesday.
In just a few weeks’ time, we’ll have another opportunity to stand with people in Colombia through prayer. If you haven’t already signed up, please join us on Sunday 1 November for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).
We’ve put together some resources to help you mark the day with your friends, family, church, or small group, including a short film in which pastors Rodian and Kelly share their story.
Register to download the resources today: csw.org.uk/idop
Whether you choose to pray on Sunday 1 November, or another day in November, we hope you’ll join us as one body standing against injustice – praying not only for those experiencing persecution, but with them.
Thank you for raising your voice.