Colombian Pastor Killed on New Year’s Eve

On New Year’s Eve, Pastor José Otoniel Ortega was repeatedly shot by three armed attackers in the Santa Elena neighborhood in Magdalena Department, Colombia. He was taken to a nearby medical clinic, where he died.

The 54-year-old pastor was celebrating the New Year with his wife and children when he was shot. The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches (CEDECOL) posted a 声明 on Facebook expressing regret for the incident.

“This event brings sorrow not only to his family and congregation, but to the entire Christian church in Colombia,” the statement said. “We raise our voice in defense of life, calling for justice, peace, and an end to all forms of violence that continue to shatter homes and communities.”

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Director of Advocacy, Anna Lee Stangl, talked with Premier Christian News about the event, citing the increase in targeted attacks on church leaders from armed cartels.

“Pastors tend to be preaching things like peace and rejection of violence, rejection of illegal activities,” she said. “That can cause an issue for them in recruiting new members.”

Ortega is the 11th church leader since November 2024 to be killed in Colombia. In the past year, criminal organizations assassinated 10 protestant leaders. One Catholic priest was kidnapped and later released.

Stangl called on the Colombian government to reinstate protection for church leaders under Decree 1066, which protected certain vulnerable groups. Religious leaders were included in this high-risk category until the decree was amended in 2023.

“We’ve been calling now for a few years for the government to reinstate church leaders under the National Protection System,” Stangl said. “It’d be great to pray for that as well, that church leaders in Colombia would have access to protection schemes that do exist, but right now they’re excluded from that.”

Officials are still on the hunt for the shooters. Meanwhile, Ortega’s congregation, Foursquare Gospel Church, is coming alongside his family and mourning the loss of their devoted pastor.

On Jan. 2, the church posted a 信 信 on social media in remembrance of Ortega.

“Today we do not say goodbye, but ‘see you soon,’” the letter said, “with the certainty that one day we will meet again in eternal glory, where there will be no more pain or tears, only joy in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

作者：Bella Agnello

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