In northern Colombia, a beloved Evangelical pastor and two members of his family were killed after a church service. A gunman shot pastor Marlon Lora of the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church, his wife, Yorley Rincon, and his 24-year-old daughter, Angela Lora Rincón, from a motorcycle. His son Santiago Lora Rincón, was injured in the shooting as well
Lora and his family were part of the Missionaries Biblical Churches (IBM) denomination. He oversaw nearly three dozen urban and rural churches across different regions in the country. Pastor Giovanni Bermúdez, who was Lora’s supervisor, said the slain pastor had been worried about his security for weeks. Other pastors in the area have been threatened as well.
“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,” Bermúdez said. The family was well-loved in their Christian community. According to Alfonso Calle, president of the Association of Pastors of Aguachica, Lora was well-loved. The Colombian government announced a reward of up to 50 million pesos ($11,000) for anyone with information about the slaying of the family.
The mayor of the town, Mayor Greisy Roqueme, declared a curfew. “We cannot allow violence to steal our hope, so I demand that the National Government, the Minister of Defense, and the Public Force turn their attention to the department of Cesar, but above all to the municipality of Aguachica,” Roqueme said. Colombia ranks as the 34th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.
The violence also drew the attention of President Gustavo Petro and Director of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior Alexander Jaimes. He said, “We express our solidarity with the families of the victims and the religious community.” Anna Lee Stangl, an advocate for Christian rights, demanded the authorities “ensure protection for religious leaders, who remain at risk of violence and intimidation because of their role as peacemakers in their communities.”
She said, “As the government continues its post-conflict negotiations with the armed groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), which is known to target religious leaders in areas where it operates — such as the Aguachica region — we urge the government to recognize victims from the religious sector within the framework of the individual peace accords.”
Other Christians have been targeted as well. Ever and Gerson Garcia Velez, brothers who attended church at Valle Del Cauca, were killed by three men on their farmland. Pastor Salvador Zapateiro Mercado was murdered in circumstances in Cartagena. Earlier this year, the home of a pastoral couple was set ablaze by neighbors upset with the services they would hold outside their home.
“[C]hurch leaders continue to be harassed, extorted and murdered due to the violence around control of territories between armed guerillas, drug gangs and other armed groups,” one watchdog warns. “Christians in these areas who dare to speak publicly about corruption and violence face attacks for their bold witness. Similarly, church leaders who oppose criminal activities in their sermons also can be targeted.”