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Christianity Today, February, 2007 |

Death-Defying Ministry

Protestant leaders practice grassroots justice--and keep a low profile.

Alexa Smith | posted 2/05/2007 09:08AM

Jesús Goez is hiding in plain sight.

He preaches every Sunday.

Runs a feeding program for 600 kids.

Supervises a job-training program.

Operates a recycling program and a bakery.

He does all this to keep ...

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john lovelace

Posted: February 14, 2007 8:09 AM

Having been a missionary to Colombia for 11 years with two of those years being l983-1985 reading this article brought back memories of living in fear. In 1984 four drug lords were to be extradited to the USA to face charges dealing with drugs. These and other drug lords did all they could to keep this form happening. The last ploy was putting full page ads in all the country's newspapers saying that for each one extradited five north americans living in Colombia would be killed. As I read the Medellin newspaper where I lived on January first, 1985 where all four had been sent to the USA. I went about my ministry as usual but with new fear of being one of those 20 who might be killed. Over 10,000 North Americans fled Colombia those first two weeks of 1985, but no missionaries left. I knew that many Colombian pastors were suffering so much for their faith then. This article was so true and will make me pray ever more for our Colombian Christians.

Father Rick

Posted: February 09, 2007 4:59 PM


Thank you for this wonderful article. He is an inspiration to all of us. We will be adding him to our prayer list to pray for his continued safety and outreach in the Name of Christ. May God richly bless him. We need more information on pastors like him. He is inspiring to all of us.

Lisa Wallerstein

Posted: February 08, 2007 2:42 AM

Don't miss the National Geographic's extraordinary look at how Colombia's few remaining Indians are experiencing this war, "Colombia's Guardians of the Earth," in the October 2004 issue. (Spanish-America on the whole, however, is home to 65,000,000 Indians - a miracle of indigenous survival in starkest possible contrast with Anglo-America!) In this present article I found it especially sad that people believe that God would or could micro-manage their lives. But the last thing anyone needs is more roads - anywhere! In Mexico, road-building has only brought liquor stores and alcoholism. It's time to rethink our whole "progress and development" regime, one that has been so damaging to the family and the environment here and abroad, and to our relationship with "the third world." But thank you for the beautifully written report!

Yolanda Cartwright

Posted: February 07, 2007 10:35 AM

The situation in Colombia is quite tragic. Telling the stories of those who are living through persecution are important to hear for the sleeping North American church. Human rights is an issue that needs to be undertaken seriously by local churches in the United States of America. We need to cry out to government which is often complicit with the actions of these govenments regarding financing their regimes and exercising trade agreements. Let us pray not only for our brothers and sisters but for ourselves to become activists on their behalf. It's time to wake up!

Alvin Góngora

Posted: February 06, 2007 11:56 AM

I was saddened when Colombians decided to reelect their President as he's the tip of a horrendous right wing extremist apparatus that renders worthless the lives of Colombians. I appreciate that CT highlights the courage of people like Pastor Goez, Ricardo Esquivia (I know him personally) and other that remain faithful to God's kingdom of justice and peace, violence notwithstanding. Right now President Uribe is lending legitimacy to his hunchmen with no regards to corageous victims such as Pastor Goez.

maurice bailey

Posted: February 06, 2007 10:45 AM

Slanted article or ideological bias? It is tragic that our brothers and sisters in Colombia face such difficulty and violence but what seems important to Mr Santomauro is an ideological point. It really doesnt matter to the victims who is killing them. What difference would it make if the article focused on the FARC and their atrocities? The point of the article was about these pastors who are persevering in circumsatnces that most of us could not begin to comprwehend for the sake of the gospel. We need to pray for and support our brethren

Peg Vann

Posted: February 05, 2007 5:56 PM


This man exemplifies what a true Christian is, having a servant's heart! I am adding him and his family to my prayer list and pray for their protection daily. Thank you for the article.

frank savage

Posted: February 05, 2007 1:57 PM


Im inspired by this man Jesus Goez...hes a saint. god blesses him.

Paul Santomauro

Posted: February 05, 2007 1:19 PM


Slanted article indeed. Not a word of the the FARC leftist guerrillas that are killing pastors and closing churches as reported by The Voice of the Martyrs (a reputable ministry, not a freelance journalist) on their April 2006 magazine. Is this type of reporting that makes people to call your magazine Christianity Astray instead. Not renewing my subscription was wise.

Karl Hess

Posted: February 05, 2007 12:57 PM

Whether these are end times or not only God knows, as Jesus said very clearly. There is quite a lot of information on how US foreign policy supports the paramilitaries. I appreciate getting this information from a reliable source. Hopefully Christians will not only pray for these persecuted people, but will lobby our government to stop this oppression. Those with ears to hear can do something about this.

Glen Moody

Posted: February 05, 2007 12:48 PM

For the past 2 years, most Bible publishers have been printing their Bibles in China and Belgium, shuttering many U S printing firms. In my city, over 2000 printing company employees have lost their jobs due to these actions in recent years. I was told by a printer this morning that Nelson is printing many of their products in Columbia; one of my customers when there with the printing press that he operated here. Are a large portion of American purchasing dollars going to finance Columbian and Chinese government persecutions?

Gordon Nicol

Posted: February 05, 2007 12:09 PM

Thank you. Do you have any reporting of/for other nations? Links to beiever agencies that are working with schools in those areas, especially Christian schools, and not ONLY those associated with the BIG agencies like, ACSI, etc., which too seldom minister to the little guys? I want to learn more about the smaller-scale, and I want to personally join in in the ground by Working With the agencies/individuals who are working with that "unknown," much ignored, incredibly persevering brotherhood.

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