Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: January 10, 2025
For religious leaders in Colombia, 2025 ended as violently as it began.
We are deeply saddened by the news that a Protestant pastor was shot to death on New Year’s Eve while celebrating with his family in northern Colombia.
Pastor José Otoniel Ortega was a leader in the Foursquare Gospel denomination. They described him as a beloved pastor, a faithful servant, a man who walked with God, who preached the word with love and gave his life to Kingdom service.
‘This event brings sorrow not only to his family and congregation, but to the entire Christian church in Colombia,’ the Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches (CEDECOL) said in a statement. ‘We raise our voice in defence of life, calling for justice, peace and an end to all forms of violence that continue to shatter homes and communities.’
Please hold the pastor’s family and church community in your prayers today.
This was clearly a premeditated, targeted assassination. It reflects the frightening reality of being a pastor in Colombia today, amid the country’s long-running internal armed conflict.
Between December 2024 and November 2025, one Catholic priest was kidnapped and at least ten Protestant leaders were extrajudicially executed or assassinated in Colombia. One of them was Iván García, a 28-year-old church leader and preacher who was killed this time last year. This was also in Magdalena Department, which is where Pastor José Otoniel Ortega was assassinated.
Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups. These groups often perceive religious leaders as an obstacle, for example because many of them play the role of peacemaker, and may encourage their communities to reject violence and criminal activities.
Please pray:
- That the Colombian government will reinstate protections for religious leaders, who are clearly at risk from criminal groups.
- That illegal armed and criminal groups would stop targeting civilians, and would not escape punishment.
- For the families, loved ones and communities who mourn. May the Lord draw near to comfort and provide for them.