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The U. S. Embassy in BogotÁ has warned Evangelical missionaries and churches in rural Colombia that they may be the targets of guerrilla attacks.

The warning follows the recent breakdown of peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

In a statement circulated to resident missionaries throughout Colombia, the embassy said, "The U.S. Government is aware of information that the guerrillas may be targeting members of North American religious missions outside the major cities at this time. We urge all heads of missionary organizations in Colombia to contact their personnel in the field and alert them to this threat."

Embassy personnel told missionary security offices in BogotÁ that the major cities referred to in the statement were BogotÁ, Medellin, Cali, and the north coast cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.

Missionaries said that they considered this alert to be much stronger than normal embassy warnings. The first notice came March 4, in a late-night phone call from a representative of the embassy to missionary agencies. Veteran missionaries said that they could remember only one other time when embassy officials relayed a specific warning by phone after hours.

"The embassy security department wants Americans who may be working in rural areas to dramatically increase their state of awareness, and to rethink whether or not their presence in those areas is absolutely necessary," reported Jim McCauley of Wycliffe Bible Translators who also works with the BogotÁ Liaison Committee, an inter-mission task force that keeps watch on security issues.

"There was a lot of panic among the missionaries after the alert was issued," McCauley said. However, after lengthy conversations with embassy security officials, he reported that not all missionaries in Colombia are in increased danger. The major concern is for those who are living or working in areas where there is subversive (guerrilla) activity. "Missionaries in those regions should rethink the importance of their presence in those areas," he said. "They should stay on high alert."

The BogotÁ Liaison Committee is made up of representatives of diverse missionary groups in Colombia, including Assemblies of God, Southern Baptist, Wycliffe Bible Translators, TEAM, Christian and Missionary Alliance and others.

"For now, most missionaries are staying (in the country)," reported Mary Ann Armet, who serves with the Latin America Mission in BogotÁ. "There are a few individuals who have left and others who are going to leave."

Armet said that some of the larger missions are asking their personnel not to attend church this coming weekend when local elections will be held throughout Colombia.

Southern Baptist missionaries "have been advised of the report," said John Magyar who has served with the Baptist's International Mission Board in Colombia for 31 years. "We have no plans but to be extra careful," he said.

"My read is that if you stay in the larger cities and are with someone who knows the limits, you will be as safe as driving I-95 at rush hour," he reported, referring to south Florida's notoriously unsafe interstate highway.

"I have seen it a lot worse than this," Magyar said. "If you just use common sense, stay in major cities, you will be as safe as in any third world country today."

The alert to missionaries followed a public announcement issued by the U.S. State Department on February 23 warning American citizens to avoid all travel to Colombia. The department also warned that, "Americans already residing or traveling in Colombia are advised to exercise caution and vigilance under the current circumstances."

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March (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46