Colombia (MNN) — Venezuela and Colombia have had tense interactions since diplomatic ties were cut in 2019. However, the icy relationship is warming and borders are now re-opening.
What changed?
Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, was elected in June. Petro’s predecessor, along with several other countries, called Venezuela’s 2018 election fraudulent which led to Nicolás Maduro’s return to power. However, newly-elected President Petro recognizes Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
With borders re-opening, this will likely mean easier access for people and goods between the two countries.
Colombia has many problems of its own, mostly in the form of violent guerrilla and paramilitary groups, human trafficking, and drug cartels.
(Photo courtesy of TWR)
Annabel Torrealba with Trans World Radio (TWR) says, “In Colombia, historically, we have seen that they went through like a civil war. They had the narco traffic taking over the government. Those situations are getting better, but there are a lot of people that are still suffering from those situations.”
Yet, with Venezuela’s economic collapse, many are fleeing to Colombia in search of a better life. Colombia currently has around 3 million Venezuelans seeking asylum.
TWR has a major hub of Gospel-centered Spanish program production in Venezuela. But ministry is becoming more difficult.
To support the Venezuela team and program production, TWR is building an additional studio in Colombia.
“One of the main interests of ours to have the office there is to work with those that are still healing from that process in Colombia, and for those that are [fleeing to] Colombia because they’re facing other types of problems in Venezuela,” Torrealba says.
“Our team needs a studio to produce those programs…that address these specific things that are facing the people [arriving] there and all of those that are still healing emotionally from the war.”
(Image courtesy of TWR)
The Church in Colombia has experienced tremendous persecution from criminal and paramilitary groups. Colombian believers and Venezuelan asylum-seekers need feeding and encouragement.
TWR has already raised $20,000 in Colombia for the new studio. If you are willing to donate, your gift will help TWR establish a studio and a stronger ministry in Colombia.
Torrealba leads the team and she says, “I will tell you that these people are willing to go to those areas where we cannot…. Our team already has people in those areas working. We just need to help them to do it better.
“We need to encourage them in this way too, helping them build this studio and reach more people in Colombia in the jungle, in those places where people are afraid to go out. They were persecuted for many years and they don’t trust. But we can build that trust and tell them there is a God that loves them and gave His Son to save us.”
Header photo of Colombian flag, courtesy of Flavia Carpio via Unsplash.
