Presbyterian Church of Colombia sends a pastoral letter

Calls on churches everywhere to protect lives through pastoral, humanitarian care

by The Presbyterian Church of Colombia | Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church of Colombia is reaching out to its siblings around the world, sending greetings of “solidarity in God’s call that invites us to do everything in our power to protect the life of the people in our congregations and neighboring communities through pastoral and humanitarian care.”

In a letter dated April 2, the Rev. Diego Higuita Arango, General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, said the Church in Colombia is praying “for you, your families, your churches, your ministries, your country, that God grant us consolation and relief in the midst of the difficulties that we are living in the world today. May God provide the resources required at this moment in the face of the unexpected number of serious illnesses and the economic effects that place in greatest danger those who live in extreme poverty.”

“We pray that our God of life and love,” Higuita Arango wrote, “might calm our fears and soften every wave of panic so that we can concentrate on what we are able to do for one another.”

The Presbyterian Church of Colombia encourages solidarity and responsibility, good sense and mutual care, according to the pastoral letter.

“We express our gratitude to all of you for struggling alongside us to share the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for your unconditional solidarity with us,” he wrote.

Higuita Arango closes his letter with Acts 14:22, which describes the works of Paul and Barnabas as they ministered to the early churches in Iconium and Antioch: “There they strengthened the souls of the disciples, and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God.’”

Presbyterian World Mission partners with the Presbyterian Church of Colombia. Founded in 1856 through efforts of our predecessor denomination, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S., the Presbyterian Church of Colombia was the first Protestant church established in Colombia and the first Presbyterian mission in Latin America. We have been engaged in God’s mission in Colombia for more than 160 years.