Pray for Colombia on Sunday, November 20, 2016
Lectionary Selection: Luke 23:33-43
Prayers for Colombia:
Loving God,
Today we come before you to lift up the country of Colombia and our partners in mission there. This is an exciting time in Colombia. After 52 years of war, the Colombian government and FARC rebels have recently signed a peace accord. We pray for peace in Colombia and we pray for violence to end all over the world.
Our Global Ministries partners, Justapaz – the Colombian Mennonite 
Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action and the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia have actively engaged with the peace process through the Interchurch Dialogue for Peace – DiPaz. We pray for Colombia’s peacemakers, may you guide their work.
Christ, you were crucified with criminals at a place called Golgotha, the place of the skull, outside Jerusalem’s walls. In death, as in life, you drew close to the outcasts of society, showing them transforming love and inviting them to join you in God’s kingdom. We thank you for the transformational, kingdom-building, peace-giving work of our partners in Colombia.
Help us to walk with them, the paths of peace. Amen.
Mission Stewardship Moment from Colombia:
After over fifty-two years of fighting and four years of negotiating, the Colombian Government and the FARC rebels signed a peace accord on September 26 of this year. They asked the Colombian people to approve the peace accord through a plebiscite on October 2nd. After more than 12 million votes were counted, just over 50% of voters had voted “No” to the peace accords, potentially stalling their implementation.
Churches and faith-based organizations, such as our Global Ministries 
partners, Justapaz – the Mennonite Center for Peace, justice and Nonviolent Action and the Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia, have been working for peace and a peace accord between the warring parties for over 25 years. But the setback of the “No” vote in the plebiscite, which could have been devastating, simply brought out their steadfast commitment to peace and pushed them to take new steps to ensure Colombia would not return to war.
Since October 9th, a broad church-based peace movement called the Interchurch Dialogue for Peace has taken to the streets in massive peace marches that have shown Colombia’s commitment to finding a solution to the political impasse around the peace accords. Members of DiPaz have also maintained a permanent presence at the spontaneous peace camp of some 50 tents that have occupied Bogotá’s central Bolivar Plaza just steps from the Presidential Palace. In joining the peace camp, churches and faith based organizations are calling on the Colombian Government and the FARC rebels to maintain their ceasefire and to work with representatives of those who voted against the peace accords to find solutions that can bring a lasting peace to Colombia that all Colombians can support.
Thank you for your supporting these efforts for peace with justice through your gifts to Global Ministries!
(Prayer and Mission Moment by Michael Joseph)
Mission Partners in Colombia:
- CEDECOL – Peace Commission of the Evangelical Council of Colombia
- Justapaz – Mennonite Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action
More information on Colombia: http://www.globalministries.org/colombia
Global Ministries Missionary in Colombia:
Michael Joseph serves with Justapaz, the Colombian Mennonite Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action. His appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Churches Wider Mission, and your special gifts.