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What you can do
Responding to the call from Colombia's churches
Colombia's church members and leaders ask that Christians in the U.S. and Canada respond to the suffering and turmoil caused by decades of armed conflict. Listen to their voices and consider what you can do to answer the call.
Look for materials on this Web site to learn more about the Colombian conflict and stories of hope and healing. See a human rights report documenting abuses against members of Colombia's Protestant churches.
Human rights report: A Prophetic Call (PDF)
Share
Share the story of Colombia with friends, church members, neighbors and colleagues.
Pray for peace and healing for victims, perpetrators and peacemakers in Colombia. Explore other worship resources compiled for an advocacy initiative, Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia.
Prayers
Speak out to government officials. Participate in Days of Prayer and Action in May or the Bread and Peace (below) initiative in September. Hold a coffeehouse (below) for peace in your community. Children could color or paint a mural for peace.
Speak Out
Prayers
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A Prayer for North America and Colombia
Mennonite Central Committee
Leader: "And the leaves of the tree shall be for the healing of the nations."
Reader 1: For the healing of the poor, whose bodies suffer from malnutrition and disease, and whose hearts ache when there is no food for their children,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 2: For the healing of the rich, who are bound up in protecting their possessions, and do not experience the life-giving freedom found in sharing,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 3: For the healing of members of armed groups, who struggle to come to terms with the violence they have seen and done, and who see no way out,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 1: For the healing of those who have lost trust in their neighbors, believing they do not have their best interests at heart,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 2: For the healing of those who have given in to cynicism, who see injustice as inevitable,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 3: For the healing of those who no longer have hope, who have been waiting for signs of spring for far too long,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 1: For the healing of policymakers, who continue to seek security through arms and peace and through violence,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 2: For the healing of the land, water and sky, which have been degraded by those who see God's creation only as a resource to be exploited and not as a gift to be cared for,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Reader 3: For the healing of both the United States and Colombia, countries who have seen parts of their populations as expendable, leaving scars that are still visible,
All: We pray to you, O Lord.
Leader: Thank you, God, for your vision of restoration and healing, revealed to us in Scripture. We long for people of all nations to find rest together in the shade of your healing tree.
All: Amen.
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A Prayer for Peace
Rachelle Schlabach
Leader:
God, we praise you for the courageous work being done by Christians in Colombia, as they strive to bring about peace and justice for all within their country. We pray for their protection, as they are being targeted by all sides. We pray for strength to persevere in their long struggle. We pray that through it all you will sustain their hope.
Response: "Oyenos, mi Dios" (Hear us, my God) Hymnal: A Worship Book #358
Leader:
Good Shepherd, we ask for your care and protection for those suffering in Colombia. We ask for strength for those who have lost loved ones in the war. We pray for healing for the victims of violence. We pray that the many displaced persons will find a home — both a physical home and comfort in your presence.
Response: "Oyenos, mi Dios"
Leader:
Prince of Peace, we pray for the thousands of Colombians who are working to bring an end to the conflict and a more just society for all. We also pray for all of the armed groups in the conflict - the paramilitaries, the guerrillas, and the military - that they will cease their violence, repent, and turn in humility to you.
Response: "Oyenos, mi Dios"
Leader:
Merciful God, we confess that for too long we in North America have complacently stood by, unaware of the situation in Colombia and implicitly supporting government policies which have prolonged the war. We ask for forgiveness for our complacency, and for courage to stand with our Colombian brothers and sisters. We pray for wise policies from our governments that will bring peace instead of continuing this destructive war.
Response: "Oyenos, mi Dios"
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Prayer For Colombia
Lutheran World Relief
Leader: Let us pray. We lift up our prayers for human rights workers, journalists, health care workers, humanitarian aid workers, and for all those who in countless ways seek to right the wrongs, heal the wounded and sick, speak the truth, minimize the violence, and protect the vulnerable. We give you thanks, and ask that you would protect them from all harm and danger. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For the Colombian people seeking peace and for all peacemakers everywhere who at local and national levels seek the ways of peace and the management of conflict. We pray that they may be given wisdom, patience, and courage for their tasks. Open the hearts and minds of those who now see each other as enemies, and lead them to negotiate in good faith and a spirit of justice, for the good of all. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: For the nations of the world, we ask your guidance, that they may accompany the Colombian people with compassion and wisdom. Inspire us all to turn our swords into plowshares, and to wage war no more. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: Help policy makers to see beyond partisan politics and to pursue justice for the poor and the powerless. Give our leaders eyes to see with wisdom and hearts to judge with compassion and justice. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We remember the churches of Colombia and their leaders. We pray to God that they may continue to find strength and hope amidst so much despair, and violence. Thank you God for their courage, patience, wisdom, and unfailing love for you and all people as they hold up the light of hope and life in the midst of darkness. Help us to learn from them and be guided in the ways of prophetically pursuing justice.
All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: These and all other concerns for peace, hope, and love we commend to you, oh God of judgment and mercy.
All: Amen
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A Colombian Prayer for Peace
Janna Hunter-Bowman
God of justice and peace, Holy Spirit that moves in our midst allowing us to love and forgive, we pray
for a sweeping of the Spirit through the peoples of the world, a swelling of desire for closer relationship
with you, and true peace among the nations. God of salvation, we pray for restoration and peace in
Colombia. We place the United States before you, God, lifting before you our sisters and brothers of this
great and powerful nation.
We plead for a pouring of your grace and wisdom upon them—strengthen and make bold those
walking your nonviolent path. Touch the hearts of those hardened in the ways of violence and greed,
fill them with uncertainty about their oppressive policies, and give them willingness to hear the words
of those who give voice to your loving will.
We pray that they use their power for good and stun the world by granting pardon and gifting the
nations with peace.
God, we know that weapons don't heal the wounds generated by conflict. At this moment we ask that
the U.S. people, government, and economic powers help us sow seeds of love and peace in our
Colombian soil so that one day we may enjoy these same fruits.
We cry out for an end to the systems and policies that impoverish our communities, intensify violence,
and kill our food crops.
We pray that the leaders of Colombia speak on behalf of the majority, suggesting alternatives to military
solutions that steal rather than give life to our nation.
And for ourselves, continue gracing us with the strength and will to struggle against the principalities
and powers and for the coming of your kingdom on Earth. Even as we rise before the powers
demanding an end to the exportation of war into our land, we humble ourselves before you, our King
of kings and Lord of lords.
We who are tired of violent death and woundedness bow to the true God of salvation. Saving Grace,
use us as instruments in the Spirit's work of restoration for peace.
Oh Lord, hear our prayer.
Amen.
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Speak out
Colombian Mennonites and other Colombian Christians call on people in the U.S. and Canada, especially within the Christian community, to speak to lawmakers about the situation in Colombia.
U.S.
Since 2000, the U.S. has provided nearly $5 billion dollars to the Colombian government ostensibly in support of the wars on drugs and terror. More than 80 percent of this has been in military assistance — military hardware, helicopters, fumigations support, military training. Church leaders in Colombia call this "fuel for the fire" of Colombia's protracted armed conflict. Since 1985, more than 3.5 million Colombians have been deliberately and violently forced from their homes. Churches, leaders and peace communities are often caught in the crossfire of warring groups. Check the MCC Washington Office website for contact information for lawmakers and updates on the situation in Colombia.
Canada
Canada's foreign policy towards Colombia has been a relatively passive one, historically. However, there are two issues which should unsettle Canadian citizens. One is the unconditional support the Canadian government has demonstrated in what MCC partners call a dangerously flawed negotiation process with paramilitary groups. There are strong concerns that as paramilitaries demobilize, members are forming other armed groups. The other is the lack of federal legislation for Canadian multinational firms operating in the resource extraction industry — an industry that has been notorious for employing questionable techniques in land acquisition, including the use of paramilitary forces in the displacement of communities. Check the MCC Ottawa Office website for contact information for lawmakers and updates on the situation in Colombia.
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Bread and Peace — Pan y Paz
Throughout Colombia, MCC and Mennonite Churches mark Sept. 21 through a "Bread and Peace," or "Pan y Paz" initiative linking poverty and peace.
"What we try to show to the government, to the people and churches is that if there is poverty, if people are hungry, it is almost impossible to achieve a lasting peace," said Yamile Bejarano, a former coordinator of the effort.
Bread and Peace events were first held in 2002 and have grown each year, involving churches and Christian organizations throughout the country in holding public events in neighborhoods and cities and talking to government officials about their vision for peace. Churches are also encouraged to have a time of reflection the Sunday before or after Sept. 21.
In 2006, some 50 churches hosted events in 45 cities.
Some churches send letters to elected officials. Some have concerts and dramas. In Bogotá, church members walk through the streets with large baskets, giving out hundreds of rolls and calling people to think about relationships between bread and peace or economic justice and peace.
For Colombian congregations, Bread and Peace is an important opportunity for churches to express what they believe about peace and to show how they work for peace throughout the year. MCC and its church partners in Colombia invite congregations in the United States and Canada to join in the event as well, speaking out to the public and their governments about Colombia. As September approaches, check the MCC Washington Office website for resources.
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Convene a coffeehouse for peace
A youth-focused advocacy initiative
Gather people — youth, young adults or others — in a church basement, community center or another informal setting. Let church youth help create an atmosphere where they can invite school friends, young folks from the neighborhood and even the media to learn about Colombia and to respond to the suffering there.
The event would include a time to share information, a time for young people to share their gifts through music, drama or poetry and a time for an advocacy initiative, such as letter-writing, signing a petition or planning a later public vigil or march.
Open the microphone. Give participants a chance to share their gifts and talents, whether through music, dancing, theater or poetry.
Advocate. Offer the opportunity to respond to the situation in Colombia. Participants could write letters, sign a petition or plan a public march or vigil. See resources to speak to lawmakers (above). Youth could create posters or other artwork. Children could color or paint a mural for peace in Colombia.
Incorporate a taste of Colombia. Display photographs or artisan work from Colombia. Serve fairly traded Colombian coffee, coca tea or dried tropical fruit. In Cazucá, an impoverished area on the outskirts of Bogotá, Frutos de los Andes pays fair wages to small-scale farmers for fruit that is hand-cut, dried and sold in the U.S. and Canada, including in Ten Thousand Villages stores. Find Colombian delicacies such as buñuelos, a cheese bread, at Colombian bakeries. A popular late afternoon or early evening snack in Bogotá is hot chocolate with bread and a white cheese — some people dip the cheese into the hot chocolate.
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