Out of Colombia’s population of 52 million, at least 49 million people claim to be Christians. As we consider the church in Colombia today, we can gain insight by looking back in history to see how and when the gospel was first brought to this country. So, how did Colombia get to this point?
How Was the Gospel Brought to Colombia?
In 1525, Spanish colonists came to Colombia, bringing Catholicism with them. Catholicism became the nation’s official religion until 1991. Before the introduction of Catholicism, the indigenous Muisca civilization had its own polytheistic religion. The Muisca religion consisted of gods, goddesses, and sacred objects, all of which made an idol of the natural world. The most important Muisca gods were the sun god, Zue, and the moon goddess, Chia.
In 1856, Protestantism was first introduced to Colombia by an American Presbyterian missionary named Henry B. Pratt. Soon after, the Catholic church retaliated against the missionary’s efforts, beginning a pattern of persecution against Protestants. Yet, despite persecution, more Protestant missionaries came to Colombia, more people came to Christ, and more churches were planted.
What Does the Church Look Like Today?
In 1991, Colombia’s constitution formally granted freedom of religion, saying, “Every individual has the right to freely profess his/her religion and to disseminate it individually or collectively. All religious faiths and churches are equally free before the law.”
This brought a shift, with Catholicism no longer being the nation’s official religion. Protestantism still only accounts for a small percentage of Colombia’s population today. But there has been consistent, steady growth as more and more Colombians have shifted from Catholicism to Protestantism in recent years.
Colombia may be considered 95% Christian, but there are still unreached people, particularly in rural areas.
While Colombia may be considered 95% Christian, there are still unreached people, particularly in rural areas. Thirty-seven indigenous languages in Colombia do not have a New Testament, and 25 do not have a complete Bible. Even if the gospel is brought to these areas, churches are often seen as a threat to local powers of authority. Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported, “Illegal armed groups on both the left and the right often perceive the presence of a strong or growing church as a threat to their authority.” Despite most of its large Christian population meeting openly and freely, and despite improvements to the country since the time of infamous cartel leader Pablo Escobar, Colombia is currently ranked as one of the hardest countries to be a Christian because of the challenges still facing believers in rural and indigenous areas.
How Can You Pray for the Church in Colombia?
As we long to see the gospel preached to all Colombians, pray that the gospel that’s taught and heard is the true gospel, not a false or prosperity gospel. As believers face persecution and violence in rural regions, pray for churches to hold fast to the Word and to place their hope t in Christ. Pray for the safety of Colombian Christians and their boldness as they seek to share the gospel. While we pray, we can hold onto hope that despite the opposition that Colombian believers may face, nothing can stop Christ from building his church (Matthew 16:18).
Selah Lipsey is a Content Writer at Radical. She is a graduate of Samford University where she studied Journalism and Spanish. Selah and her husband Jeremy are members of Redeemer Community Church.
