Colombia
Date Entered: 1939
Major Ministries: Church planting, theological education.
Country Profile
Population: 45,013,672 July 2008 estimate from CIA World Factbook
Peoples: Mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Economy: Colombia has experienced accelerating growth since 2002 chiefly due to advancements in domestic security and to President URIBE's promarket economic policies. Investor friendly reforms to Colombia's oil sector and the US-Colombia FTA negotiations have attracted record levels of foreign investment. Inequality, underemployment,and narcotrafficking remain significant challenges, and Colombia's infrastructure requires significant updating in order to sustain expansion. Economic growth slipped in 2008 as a result of the global financial crisis and weakening demand for Colombia's exports.
Politics: Republic; executive branch dominates government structure.
Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Colombia is a fascinating land of diversity. The Andes Mountains, the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and the Amazon River provide the country with various regions of distinct climates and cultures. Colombia has an estimated population of 46 million people, and these people are the true beauty of the country. At least seven cities in Colombia have over one million inhabitants, and 26 cities have over 200,000 people. These cities offer an exciting and needy environment for evangelism, church planting and theological education.
By the grace of God and for the furtherance of the gospel in this country, the ABWE Colombia team exists to make disciples and to establish reproducing local churches, training nationals in biblical living, ministry and missions.
ABWE first began to reach into Colombia in the late 1930’s as an extension of the Iquitos, Peru work. In 1942 the first ABWE couple moved to Leticia, and by 1944 a church was established there. For the next 25 years a launch ministry extended the work to several preaching stations along the Amazon River. In the early 1970’s, aviation evangelism extended the outreach to neighboring towns within 300 miles of Leticia. In 1977, the Colombian government closed the aviation mission stations, but Christians who had been trained ministered in the works that had been started.
The first ABWE missionaries arrived in Bogotá in 1975; and, when the aviation ministry was closed, Bogotá became the center of ministry. The missionaries planted churches and organized a fellowship of churches. Today, new churches continue to be planted in this bustling city. The Colombia Baptist Seminary offers theological and ministry training through a four-year night-school program. The Berean Baptist Camp, located outside of Bogotá, provides a venue for Christian camping and conferences. ABWE missionaries serve in various capacities in Bogota, including church planting, theological education, and ministry training. Although a number of churches have been planted, many more are needed in Bogotá and the surrounding towns.
In 2010, ABWE missionaries arrived in Santa Marta, on the Caribbean coast, to open a new church planting center. The goal is to extend this ministry to other cities of the coastal region.