Days of Prayer and Action for Peace in Colombia

 May 20-21, 2007

• Jenny Neme, Justapaz, The Christian Centre for Justice, Peace and Nonviolent Action
• Ricardo Esquivia, Sowing Peace and the Commission for Restoration Life and Peace, CEDECOL
• Peter Stucky, President of the Colombian Mennonite Church

Mennonite churches in Colombia and MCC partners have sent out this invitation to their brothers and sisters in the North, and  Christians from across North America have heard the call —it is time to come together to pray and act for just peace in Colombia! We invite churches in the United States and Canada to participate in the Days of Prayer & Action for Peace in Colombia.  

Join us for Days of Prayer and Action May 20 and 21.
Encourage other churches to participate as well,
in fellowship with Colombian sisters and brothers.

 Churches in Colombia call on their North American sisters and brothers to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the country, home to the world’s second largest internally displaced population, after Sudan. Churches also ask us to heed the call of seeking more just relations between North America and Colombia, and encourage a more just relationship between the Colombian government and its people.  

On May 20 hundreds of local congregations in North America will join with hundreds of congregations and people of faith in Colombia to pray for the peacemakers and justice seekers in this war-torn land. On May 21 we will witness publicly in an international Day of Action for Peace in Colombia.  

More than ten people die daily in Colombia due to a war that makes civilians its primary target. Yet everyday thousands more put their lives on the line to heed God’s call for peace by working for justice and an end to war.  

Respond by taking a day to remember our brothers and sisters to the South in prayer and worship, and then act by asking our government to take action on the humanitarian crisis and to call for justice.  

Save the Dates, May 20 and 21, 2007, and begin discerning with your congregation how you might plan a worship service or vigil for the 20th, and what a fitting action on the 21st might be.  

More information  is available at www.mcc.org/colombia, including:    

• Congregational response
• Worship resources
• Background Information on Colombia and the conflict
• Stories of Hope and Renewal from Colombian faith communities
• Resources for action