Colombia has officially honoured the memory of eight evangelical Christians who were kidnapped and murdered earlier this year by dissident members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Their bodies were recently returned to their families in a solemn ceremony led by the Attorney General’s Office, marking a significant moment of recognition and truth in a country still grappling with decades of conflict.
The victims: James Caicedo, Óscar García, Máryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza and Jesús Valero were all members of the Alianza Evangélica de Colombia and the Foursquare Church. Though not well-known nationally, they were respected spiritual and community leaders in their rural towns. Most preached the gospel in informal settings, helped lead local development efforts, and supported families in need.
In April, they were kidnapped after arriving in the municipality of Calamar, in Guaviare. Dissidents from the FARC, operating under the command of a leader known as Iván Mordisco, accused them of collaborating with the National Liberation Army (ELN), a rival armed group. These claims have since been proven entirely false. According to the prosecutor overseeing the case, the eight Christians were interrogated, forced to dig their own graves, and executed victims of fear and criminal paranoia, not of any real wrongdoing.
Their remains were discovered in a mass grave after a tip-off during a humanitarian operation by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The information provided led authorities to burial sites in remote jungle areas. Once recovered and formally identified, the bodies were returned to their loved ones in a symbolic act of justice and remembrance.
The ceremony, held on 17 July in the city of Villavicencio, brought together prosecutors, forensic experts, and family members. Officials shared identification certificates and described the painstaking process of recovery. Though it cannot undo the pain, the gesture was a powerful statement: these lives were not forgotten, and their stories will not be silenced.
The murders have sent shockwaves through the Christian community in Colombia. The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) described the killings as “vile” and expressed deep grief over the loss. In areas like Calamar, fear continues to shape daily life. A local pastor told Colombian media that the presence of armed groups has altered even basic routines. “After six in the evening, you can’t go out. Church services must be held earlier. We have to obey because our lives are at stake,” he said.
Sadly, this kind of violence is not new. Although Colombia is home to a large and vibrant Christian population, rural believers, especially pastors, often face persecution. Armed groups see church leaders as a threat to their control, particularly because of their influence over young people, many of whom these groups try to recruit. Christian advocacy groups like Open Doors have long warned that pastors in these regions are at risk not only for preaching the gospel but also for standing against injustice, violence and exploitation.
This recent tragedy has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for protection of faith communities in Colombia’s conflict zones. While the return of the eight victims may offer a step toward closure for their families, it also stands as a call to the wider Church, and the international community, to pray, advocate and act on behalf of those who continue to serve Christ under threat.
Adapted from reports published by Evangelical Focus.
