Two pastors were murdered in separate recent attacks in northern Colombia which occurred within a ten-day period.

On 29 December Pastor Marlon Lora, his wife Yurlay Rincón and 24-year-old daughter Ángela were shot dead after hitmen opened fire on them as they were having lunch at a restaurant in Aguachica, Cesar Department, following a Sunday church service. The pastor’s son, 21-year-old Santiago, was critically injured in the attack and died in hospital a few days later. Authorities suspect that the attack might be related to the fact that Pastor Lora’s brother allegedly had ties to a criminal organisation and are investigating if there is a connection.

Together with his wife, Pastor Lora led the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church and he oversaw 35 urban and rural churches of the Missionaries Biblical Churches denomination across several regions in Santander Department, requiring him to travel frequently to support these congregations. According to Pastor Bermúdez, the couple’s direct supervisor, Pastor Lora had previously expressed concerns about threats to another pastor but not provided further details. Pastor Bermúdez said: “Marlon was like many of us pastors – we keep quiet about many things so that everything runs smoothly, even while we carry heavy burdens inside.”  The Lora family was much loved by their local Christian community and Ángela and Santiago were both active in the local church. Ángela worked in communications for a public utilities company in Aguachica and Santiago was an engineering student.

The second attack occurred on 8 January, when Pastor Iván Darío García was murdered on his way home from preaching at an event at the People of God Christian Vision Church in the Magdalena Department. He was walking on a country road with his 14-year-old stepdaughter and six other people when he was shot repeatedly, including twice in the head, by two assailants who had arrived on motorbikes. A church member who was standing next to Pastor García during the attack was injured after a bullet hit her arm.

His wife Pastor Karen Niebles leads the Nuevo Renacer Christian Church in the village of Garital and the couple had only been married for six months when Pastor García was killed. He had formerly been a member of an illegal armed group. According to Karen her husband’s involvement in the small church had contributed to its growth, from seven to thirty church members. She told Christian Solidarity Worldwide: “A few days ago, he told me that he was not afraid to teach the Bible, that he had a new life. He told me ‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain’.’

Reaction

Christian organisations including the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) denounced the two attacks as severe violations of religious freedom. In a statement, CEDECOL urged authorities to bring those responsible to justice to prevent further violence against religious leaders, saying:  “These tragedies highlight the vulnerability of pastors and religious leaders in Colombia. We call on the government to ensure the protection of those who dedicate their lives to serving their communities.”

CSW’s Director of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl said: “CSW grieves with the family and church community of Iván García. The nature of the attack on Mr García, like the massacre two weeks ago of Pastor Marlon Lora and his entire family, indicate that these are premeditated, targeted assassinations. Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups for many reasons, including the role many of them take up as peacemakers and their willingness to use their influence in their communities to encourage others to reject participation violent and criminal activities. Mr García had made a decision, despite the risks, to separate himself from an illegal armed group because of his religious beliefs and it is unacceptable that he might have been made to pay for that choice with his life.  We reiterate our demand that the Colombian government take immediate action to reverse its changes to Decree 1066 to include a specific protection protocol which addresses the unique needs of religious leaders in Colombia and reinstate the inclusion of religious leaders in the National Protection System as a matter of urgency. A full investigation into both sets of murders must take place and those responsible must be held to account.”

Background

Colombia is a majority-Christian country (47 million of a population of 51 million people) which has religious freedom. However, it is one the most dangerous countries in the world to be a church leader or missionary. The fragile peace agreement between the government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 2016 has not brought more security to Colombians. Guerrilla groups control more territory and continue to become more powerful. Church leaders are specifically targeted by these armed groups as they are known to oppose violence, speak out against the drug trade, defend human rights and are seen as competing for influence over young people whom the groups want to recruit. This leaves church leaders constantly at risk of being attacked, kidnapped, extorted or even murdered.

Sadly, the cases of Pastor García and Pastor Lora and his family are not isolated. In November 2024, Christian brothers Ever and Gerson García Vélez, members of a church in Valle del Cauca, were murdered on their farm and Pastor Salvador Zapateiro Mercado was killed in suspicious circumstances in Cartagena while watching a sports match

(Christian Daily International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors)

Photos: Social Media via Christian Daily International