As I was slowly coming awake one morning, two words made my eyes pop open: extrajudicial killings. Though the radio journalist was not talking about Colombia, she could have been. I was now fully conscious and thinking about the grave situation there. The country doesn’t make the news very often despite the fact that, “with nearly five million internally displaced persons, Colombia is now the Western Hemisphere’s ... best hidden humanitarian crisis.”

Their faith-based and God-sustained choice of risky peacemaking constitutes a sacred yes to help show Colombia the path out of violent conflict.

That startling statistic is included in a summary of a report on a delegation to observe the humanitarian and human rights situation in the southern province of Córdoba that MCC partner Justapaz (The Christian Center for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action) participated in last October 2009. The report continues, “Findings… illustrate the growing humanitarian crisis … a deterioration of respect for human rights … and increased violence as a result of growing paramilitary actions.”

A summary of the report presented other examples of the violence and injustice that affects church members and civil society alike.

• In Córdoba – home to infamous paramilitary leaders Don Berna and Salvatore Mancuso, now extradited to the U.S. – murder rates have steadily increased and displacement continues. 
• Between January and October of 2009, rearmed paramilitary groups allegedly assassinated six church leaders, causing the displacement of five communities, or a total of 1,230 people, from their land.
• Across the country, municipal and departmental governments are compromised through paramilitary links. Córdoba represents a particularly emblematic example of this, with a significant number of [Colombian] Members of Congress either in jail or under investigation for ties to the paramilitary apparatus. Córdoba represents an alarming precedent which is emerging in numerous other regions.

Yet seeds of faith and hope grow amid this landscape of despair. From Report 4 of A Prophetic Call: Colombian Churches Document Their Suffering and Their Hope, we hear “the sacred ‘Yes’ of the peacemaking community of faith”. “What can Colombian people of faith say in the face of corruption, injustice and protracted violence? Colombian churches speak truth through being intentional and active peacemaking communities. Their sacred yes confronts the narrative of human lies; their witness both condemns violence and invites redemption. ... Through their embrace of peace and justice, they declare peace is possible. Their faith-based and God-sustained choice of risky peacemaking constitutes a sacred yes to help show Colombia the path out of violent conflict.”

As I thought about these things, the perennial question settled in: what can we do in response? Colombian church members are calling and inviting us to participate again this April in the Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia to show our support for the life-giving work they undertake in the midst of these most dire circumstances.  Let us stand and join our Colombian sisters and brothers in being salt and light in each of our communities. Visit MCC Washington for more information and to see how to get involved in Days of Prayer and Action.