A historic shift in Colombia’s political landscape has emboldened the country’s armed guerrilla groups, particularly in their violent opposition to Christians.
In 2022, Gustavo Petro became the country’s first left-wing president, a notable change for Colombia, where leftist politicians have historically been ideologically aligned with the guerrillas. In addition to the president’s background as a former member of M-19, a Marxist group that was active from the early 1970s until 1990, Petro has enacted policies marking him as more friend than foe to the country’s current militant groups.
In his inauguration speech, Petro declared his commitment to what has been called “total peace” — a promise to end the decades-long conflict between the government and the guerrillas.
Petro unveiled a ten-point programme to accomplish his total-peace initiative, including commitments to social dialogue, an offer of legal benefits to guerrilla groups in exchange for disarmament, and a promise to prioritise the prosperity of the rural working class.
Petro claims his policies are meant to end the criminal activities of the country’s armed groups through increased dialogue, democracy and redistribution of wealth. But they have instead empowered the groups, a result that front-line workers believe is rooted in Petro’s identity as a former guerrilla.
“We don’t think he has stopped being a guerrilla,” a front-line worker said. “He has taken power from the military and given benefits to the guerrillas.”
Front-line workers have also reported that guerrillas are trying new tactics to recruit young people. VOM received video evidence of guerrillas in public schools distributing ‘care packs’ similar to VOM’s Christmas Care backpacks. Instead of distributing Bibles, however, they’re handing out Marxist literature.
“The guerrillas saw what we were doing, and they counterfeited it,” said Rolo, a former guerrilla who now distributes Bibles in Colombia’s ‘red zones’. “They are trying to come up with strategies so the children will join willingly. They go to a school and give them a backpack and a notebook. The notebook has images of the [guerrilla] commanders who have been recognised [and describes] their objectives and how they are successful.”
Petro’s policies have also resulted in increased persecution of Christians in Colombia, especially pastors and those working to advance the gospel.
Edgar and Isabella, who lead a church in Buenaventura, one of Colombia’s most dangerous cities, have experienced increased violence since the new president took office. In early 2024, Isabella was held at gunpoint by a guerrilla commander. He tried to shoot her multiple times, but his gun malfunctioned. The guerrilla was eventually arrested and detained, but in May 2024 a government-appointed official released the commander and ordered that the charges against him be dropped. Isabella is now afraid to leave her house because the man has returned to her neighbourhood.
Another pastor was threatened by guerrillas after posting critical comments about the president and communism on social media. The pastor was warned that he would be kidnapped and tied up in the jungle if he continued to share his views publicly.
Yet even as pastors and church leaders face increasing persecution, they remain undeterred in their work to advance the gospel in Colombia’s red zones.
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