Pray for Colombia

Colombia is located in northwestern South America.

It is bordered by Venezuela in the east, Brazil in the south, Ecuador and Peru
in the north and Panama in the northwest.

Bogota is the capital.
The population is 46 million.

FACTS
The name 'Colombia' comes from the last name of Christopher Columbus.

Colombia is the 3rd largest country in South America.

It has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean

Columbia is the 2nd most biodiverse country in the world.

The first external artificial pacemaker with internal electrodes was invented in Columbia.

Colombia is the 2nd largest producer of coffee in the world

Colombia produces half of the world's emeralds.

Colombia supplies 75% of the world's cocaine.

DEMOGRAPHICS
58%   Mestizo  (Mixed European and Amerindian)
20%   White    (Mostly Spanish, partly Italian, Portuguese, and German).
14%   Mulatto  (Mixed African and European)  
4%    Black
3%    Mixed African and Amerindian  
1%    Indigenous Amerindians

81%    Catholic
13.5%  Protestant
2.3%   Jewish
1.9%   None
3.6%   Other  

HISTORY
Colombia was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples including the Muisca, Quimbaya, and Tairona.

The Spanish arrived in 1499 and initiated a period of conquest and colonization.

Columbia became independent from Spain in 1819.

The Republic of Colombia was declared in 1886.
Colombia was the first constitutional government in South America.

Tensions between political parties have frequently erupted into violence.

Since the 1960s, government forces, left-wing insurgents and right-wing paramilitaries have been engaged in the continent's longest-running armed conflict.
Fueled by the cocaine trade, this escalated dramatically in the 1980s.

CONDITIONS
The economy is based on agriculture, textiles and petrochemicals.
The country has major commercial and investment ties to the US.

Colombia is rich in natural resources.
Its main exports include mineral fuels, oils, distillation products,
precious stones, forest products, pulp and paper, coffee,

In recent years there has been a lot of economic growth.
Columbia has one of the highest rates of economic growth in Latin America.

Despite this 46% of the population lives below the poverty line.
17% live "extreme poverty".
Tens of thousands of children live on the streets.

Prostitution is high.

Since the 1970's, Colombia has been plagued by powerful drug cartels.
Medellin is Colombia's drug and crime capital.

Colombia is also plagued by paramilitary and Marxist guerrilla groups,
which are known for assassinations and kidnappings.

The government has gained control over major metropolitan areas.
Rural areas and the jungle are the domain of guerrilla groups.

Colombia is considered one of the world's most violent countries.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
80% of the population are Catholic.
For many this is purely cultural.

There is a growing number of Christians in Colombia.

Guerrillas see Christians as a threat to their recruitment of young men
and women.

Life for missionaries working in rural areas is extremely dangerous.

Only a small number are committed to working as missionaries with
the remote Amerindian tribes

Many church leaders are targets of violence and many have been martyred.

Many Christian leaders have left the country

MARTYRS AND SUFFERERS
The Marxist guerrilla group Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) has killed
hundreds of evangelicals and displaced hundreds.

In 2009 Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by FARC guerrillas in San Jose del Guaviare,

The mother of an 11-year-old girl named Grace was shot to death by the FARC
for leading devotions in her home.
Grace's pastor father had been killed by the FARC just a year earlier.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that the violence will stop.

Pray that the drug trafficking will be stopped.

Pray for all of those suffering from poverty.

Pray for wisdom for the leaders of the government

Pray for protection for pastors

Pray that souls will be saved.

Pray that more Colombians would be inspired to get involved with missions
to the Ameridians.