Colombian Mennonite Church Thrives Despite Conflict
by Islandes Losada and Pablo Stuckey
Colombia has been living amidst a situation of armed conflict for more than 50 years. During that time over two million people became refugees or left their homes seeking safety. Most of them were women and children.
This situation of generalized violence is producing more than 30,000 deaths every year. There is an acute economic crisis aggravated by conflict and corruption and by international economic policies that have led small- and medium-size producers into bankruptcy, bringing about the highest rate of unemployment in the country’s history (officially 20 percent). There is social disruption brought about by governmental policies that cause the closedown of hospitals and reduction of funds for schools. On the people’s side, there are strikes called by carriers, teachers, peasants, and native people, but also the emergence of people’s initiatives in favor of peace and human rights.
In this context, the Iglesia Cristiana Menonita is seeking to be faithful to Jesus Christ the crucified. Pastor Islandes Losada, in the course of one year, received death threats as a reaction to his ministry toward persons who are seeking God, trying to desert guerrilla groups, and setting arms aside.
With the support of sisters and brothers of the Mennonite churches, Losada tried to meet the armed group that was threatening to kill him to explain the Gospel and the ministry to which he and his church have been called. In spite of the threats and opposition, he explained, he would continue to be faithful to this call.
Losada was assaulted and had to confront very difficult moments. With the support of prayer and counsel from the church, he was able to witness to the Gospel of peace and to inform the guerrilla group about the projects of the Mennonite Church in Colombia. Since then, all threats have discontinued and Peace Sanctuary activities in his congregation and in others went ahead. A number of people have come, ready to desert violent groups. The presence and witness of Pastor Losada’s congregation, as well as other churches, have given rise to new Christian congregations in different parts of the country where armed conflicts have increased.
Many churches experience what this congregation has been enduring. The economic, social, and political situation in the country affects all of them. The Mennonite church in one small town is offering a program for families which helps recover and strengthen ties in many homes. One church in the capital city offers a weekly space to pray for peace in the country. It organized a Justice and Peace Committee to serve the number of persons that weekly come to ask for urgent help to overcome threats. Several churches carry out an educational ministry. Others organize programs to support marginalized elderly people.
Churches in the southern part of the country are also trying to survive the armed conflicts. The various Anabaptist denominations in the country are seeking to strengthen ties so that they can give more effective support to each other, as they face serious economic needs, and also to surrounding communities.
To tend to these needs the Mennonite Church gets help from the Mennonite Central Committee, from the missions agency of the Mennonite Church in the USA, as well as from other churches and organizations. The National Bureau of the Mennonite Church in Colombia is organizing committees in the congregations to tend to the spiritual, economic, psychological, social, and health needs of the people.
Justapaz sponsors efforts to promote conscientious objection to military service among all groups. Their initiatives combine peace and development, support to churches in their activities such as peace sanctuaries and in their connection to social movements towards peace in the country. Justapaz also is promoting a project of sister churches. Their goal is to relate Colombian churches with churches in other countries in order to share ways of action and support. The organization also takes part in the initiatives and dialogues with armed groups to promote peace. And Justapaz offers support to other evangelical churches through the organization’s Human Rights and Peace Committee. There is a good acceptance of Anabaptist perspectives and theology.
Another program, Mencoldes, continues its long history of promoting development projects for impoverished, marginalized, and displaced persons, to empower them to overcome the serious economic crisis they are facing. The program also offers medical, dental, and psychological assistance for the displaced, help with resettlement, farming techniques, and housing, and also training and pastoral care.
Mennonite schools offer training in the Gospel and explain the call to nonviolence. Two homes for the aged respond to the urgent need of elderly persons with minimum resources. The Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Colombia has training courses for those who will become the leaders of the church. The bookstore, Librería La Luz, and the Center for Anabaptist Resources (CLARA) offer Anabaptist literature which emphasizes the way of Anabaptism for the practice of faith today. In addition, the CREER Center offers space for retreats and reflection.
The witness of Christian Peacemaker Team’s sisters and brothers from North America, invited here by the Mennonite Church in Colombia, have been helpful. The Mennonite church is also sponsoring the Witness for Peace program, which brings to the country international delegations that want to verify personally the impact of USA policies and its Plan Colombia. When they are back in their country they hope to work to change policies, to stop the promotion of military solutions, and to support nonviolent peace initiatives in response to the situation in Colombia.
How does this uncertainty and unrest affect life? How do people maintain hope and continue to witness amidst such difficulties and danger? Pastor Losada reflects, “It is not easy to live amidst conflict, much less when your life is being threatened. But this threat also represents the challenge to keep on transmitting the Gospel of Peace to people who suffer because of the blatant violence that prevails in this country. Our only hope is God.”
Losada adds, “This experience has helped me not to become paralyzed because of fear. Instead, I have learned to look for spaces and to carry out actions that lead us to solutions different from the ones offered today in our country. The nonviolent option is one example.”
How has the situation affected the prayer life and worship of the church? “The experience has led people to a more personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, so that daily life may be more in accordance with Jesus’ ways,” says pastor Losada. “The local church I am part of has grown almost 200 percent. There is an attendance of about 400 people committed to the kingdom of God. The church is taking care of the basic needs of families and is taking the message of the Gospel to other areas of the country, particularly to those regions where the armed conflict is stronger. It is trying to do something to stop violence. The Gospel is undoubtedly the message and alternative for this situation in today’s hard times.
“We are thankful for prayers and support from sisters and brothers from all over the world. In my case, many churches in different countries organized prayer meetings to ask for God’s help. And God has responded. This encourages us to pursue our different projects. We ask our brothers and sisters to persevere in prayer. We need that perseverance to overcome this crisis our church and country is going through.”
Islandes Losada is a Mennonite pastor in Colombia and Pablo Stucky is Program Coordinator for Justapaz in Colombia.
