Please Continue to Pray For Colombia

I am leaving for Colombia in a few hours (at 4.15am to be precise!) I wanted to post a few more prayer points for all my blog visitors – please remember to pray for our meetings in Bogotá.

• The primary thing is that Colombia, like all nations, needs revival. Please pray for the presence of God to flood the churches and streets of every city from north to the south – east to the West.

• The predominant denominations: 86% Catholic, 9% Protestant, 1% indigenous religions, 4% other religions

Las Lajas – Ipiales Considered by many the most beautiful cathedral in the world, Las Lajas Sanctuary looks like a building you would expect to find in a fantasy world. It was built between 1916 and 1949, in the canyon of the Guaitara River, with only the donations of local religious folk:

• As of January 2012, there were over 15,000 children who had been forcibly “recruited” into illegal armed groups. The girls often suffer repeated rape and the boys are forced to kill even people they know. Others are made to work the coca fields used to supply cocaine around the world. One child shared, “This happened last year while we were in school. Some flyers were passed around to recruit the children from our school. They ordered that the first ones to come must be the pastor’s daughters.” Pray for the protection of children vulnerable to being targeted in this way and for the ministry of Christians working through prayer, love and care to transform the lives of children who have suffered at the hands of these groups. (Information from Open Doors)

  

• Many areas of Colombia still suffer from the decades-long civil war between left-wing guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitary forces. The war peaked in the 1980s, but at the end of 2010 at least 3.6 million people remained uprooted from their homes and Colombia’s Ombudsman says numbers of missing people have risen by 30 percent during the last 12 months. Christians have long been a target for Marxist guerrilla groups but a spate of recent attacks is causing particular concern. Christian activity is restricted or banned in many parts of Colombia held by left-wing rebels who feel that their authority is threatened by the standing of pastors as community leaders. Church leaders have also been targeted for their efforts to dissuade young people from enlisting with the rebels. Pray for courage and endurance.

• Child prostitution is a growing problem in Colombia. The country’s Justice Ministry estimates that there are currently 35,000 child prostitutes. “Poverty and violence create an environment where sexual exploitation thrives,” explains Tearfund’s Rose Camargo de Bravo”. Pray for agencies and churches in Colombia as they battle against child prostitution and for an end to sexual exploitation. (Information from Tearfund 2010)

• In April 2011, Colombia suffered its worst flooding in living memory, most of the residents of Atlantico – a region adjacent to Colombia’s Caribbean coast - are still living in shelters or with relatives. Nearly 200 have died in the floods, and over 70,000 people were made homeless. Initial estimates have placed damage at US$5 billion. The floods have yet to subside and thousands of hectares and entire towns remain under water. Government help has been sporadic and with livelihoods disrupted, healthcare centers and schools closed, affected families face malnutrition and ongoing hardship. Christian organizations have been helping three affected communities with food, mattresses, healthcare and medicines – as well as pastoral care to restore flagging spirits. Pray for those living in shelters and ask that local authorities will provide vital assistance as a matter of urgency.

• Pray for President Juan Manuel Santos, his government and the 45,000,000 population. President Santos has continued the strong stance against illegal guerrilla groups.

• Pray for the economy of Colombia – the fifth largest in Latin America. Colombia exports principally coffee and oil as well as emeralds.

• Pray for righteousness, justice, and peace to become foundations of Colombia

• Continue to pray for the Church – for pastors and worship teams to make way for the presence of God

Go HERE to find more prayer needs for Colombia