Colombia Focus:
by Larry Jerden, freelance photojournalist

How the Bible Society is rising to the challenges

Highlighting the work of women in Christian ministry

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — In order to bring God’s healing Word into a context which presents the geographical, social and spiritual challenges of Colombia (see box), the Bible Society is involved in a broad range of programs and ministries, some reaching out beyond the country’s borders.

Among the priority projects are those to reach the indigenous peoples scattered across the country’s 440,700 square miles. They include the Faith Comes By Hearing audio Scripture program – an Opportunity 21 initiative run in conjunction with partner Hosanna Ministries, and the training of churches in evangelism, church growth, and developing youth work.

The Society is also preparing a training and support program for churches in the jungles of the northeast, where the guerrilla fighting continues, while in the south, it is taking God’s Word into the Amazon jungle where, according to the General Secretary Alfonso Corzo, poverty, drug trafficking and prostitution are rife. “The Bible Society is very active there with our mission projects,” says Mr Corzo. “We have taken 5,000 Bibles per week there, and have trained the pastors.”

A land of diversity

Situated on the border of Central and South America, Colombia is the only South American country with coasts on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Some of its people live high in the Andes Mountains and deep in its Amazon jungles, making communication a physical challenge. Yet more than 70 per cent of its people live in the major cities, with ready access to modern communications and transportation systems.

It is also a nation with a diverse religious history: the pre-Colombian religions of the indigenous peoples, the Catholicism of the Spanish conquistadors and the Pentecostal Christianity growing today. Even outposts of Islam and Mormonism are spreading roots among a population searching for new spiritual experiences. And all of this against the backdrop of a continuing rebel movement and a drug trade that has brought the name of the country itself to symbolise cocaine. (WR 371/13 - 10.02)

Because of the distance, the danger, and the poor infrastructure locally, the Society prefers to have the pastors come to Bogotá for training one week per year. Then they go with other missionaries travelling along the rivers doing outreach and distribution in the village squares.

Another ministry is a radio programme which goes out both morning and afternoon on weekdays and a children’s radio programme on Saturday. All reach large audiences in Bogotá.

Thanks to these ministries, Mr Corzo says that the churches of Colombia increasingly see the Bible Society as a partner and a training resource for their own efforts.

“They thank us for all of this by supporting us financially as they are able,” he says. (WR 371/12 - 10.02)