An evangelical pastor and his family were shot and killed by a motorcyclist on Sunday night in Colombia as they ate outside a restaurant after a church service. According to reports Christian Possta gunman killed Pastor Marlon Laura of the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church, his wife Yolie Rincon, and their 24-year-old daughter Angela Laura Rincon in the city of Aguacica. Meanwhile, her 21-year-old son, Santiago Lola Rincon, was also injured in the shooting.
According to a UK-based watchdog group, Solidarity among Christians around the worldLaura and his church belonged to the Missionary Bible Church (IBM) denomination, where he visited and presided over nearly 30 congregations throughout the country.
The couple's supervisor, the Rev. Giovanni Bermudez, said Pastor Laura had previously expressed concerns about potential threats. made To other pastors.
“Marlon was like many of us pastors, we carry heavy burdens in our hearts, but we remain silent about many things to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Bermudez said. .
Pastor Divanit Alfonso Cal, president of the Aguachica Pastoral Association, said the Christian community of Aguachica also loves Laura and her family. Santiago is systems engineering studentMeanwhile, Ángela worked as a journalist and communications specialist for a utility company in Aguachica.
The gunman remains at large and the central government has announced a reward of up to 50 million pesos ($11,000) for information about the killing of the pastor and his family, Spanish newspapers reported. el pais I will report it.
On Sunday evening, Aguacica Mayor Gracie Roqueme issued a curfew in response to the shooting.
“We cannot allow violence to take away our hope, so we demand that the central government, the Minister of Defense and the public forces pay attention to the department of César and above all to the city of Aguacica,” Roqueme said in the video. mentioned in. El Pais points out on social media:
According to Colombian Ombudsman Office In October, violations of the right to religious freedom increased by 31 percent between 2023 and 2024, including “discriminatory treatment against churches and religious sects, and death threats against religious leaders and authorities.” It was announced that “this includes.”” The number of death threats also increased by 50% between 2023 and 2024.
The incident is set to take place in Colombia in 2024, when brothers Ever García Vélez and Gerson García Vélez, who attended a church in Valle del Cauca, were murdered after being murdered by three men. This is further escalating the pattern of violence against Christians. own Farm in November. Meanwhile, in August, a pastor and his wife's home was set on fire by neighbors angry about a church service scheduled outside.
According to Open Doors International's 2024 World Watch List, Colombia ranks as the 34th worst country in the world for persecution of Christians.
”[C]Church leaders continue to be harassedThey were extorted and killed in violence between armed guerrillas, drug cartels, and other armed groups over territorial control.” open door warn. “Christians who choose to speak out publicly about corruption and violence in these areas find themselves under attack for their bold testimony. Similarly, church leaders who speak out against criminal activity in their sermons are targeted. There is a possibility that
Photo courtesy: ©CSW.org
