Presbyterian Peace Fellowship - Colombia Accompaniment 2.0

A New Program  Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (PPF) has strong ties to Colombia that predate the start of the accompaniment program in 2004. That program began at the invitation of our partners in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (known as the IPC, its Spanish acronym). From 2004-2020 PPF trained and sent at least 168 volunteer accompaniers. They served in a ministry of presence and supported the work and witness for peace with justice of the IPC. The program came to a halt with the pandemic, but PPF has remained in contact and visited the IPC several times in the interim.    Today, with gratitude and hope, we answer the invitation to renewed partnership in what we have been calling “Colombia Accompaniment 2.0.” Calling it this draws attention to the ways we are both continuing the same program that began 22 years ago and also doing so in new ways that respond to the changing dynamics, capacity, and needs on both sides.    The Current Situation (La Coyuntura)   Ten years after the 2016 signing and ratification of the Peace Accord between the Colombian state and the former FARC insurgent group, Colombia continues to struggle with a peace process full of contradictions and complexities, with steps forward and with setbacks. Some sectors of Colombian society maintain a firm commitment to build peace even in the face of powerful overt opposition. In this challenging time, our commitment to walking the paths of peace as followers of Jesus remains steadfast.    If you were connected to the accompaniment program in the early days, you may remember hearing the story of Saiza, a remote community in the mountains. The Presbyterian church there was established in the 1930s and grew to be one of the IPC’s largest congregations. Then in 1999, a paramilitary group carried out a massacre in the center of town. The Presbyterian pastor in Saiza at the time was able to escape from the massacre, and the surviving community fled because of the threats. Some 1,200 families migrated to towns in Urabá and other municipalities in Colombia. Years later, the population slowly began to return, and eventually the Presbyterian church resumed its life and witness as well.    In Saiza today, there is an “apparent peace” but under the control of the paramilitary group. The Presbyterian church and its young pastor play a prominent role in the community, and Saiza’s community action board has invited us to come and support them in promoting peace.   In collaboration with a team representing the IPC’s three presbyteries, we are planning a series of four joint PPF-IPC accompaniment delegations for 2027. The delegations will offer solidarity and ministry of presence, psycho-spiritual accompaniment and support, and peace education through creative expression. PPF executive committee member Ben Daniel and Colombia accompaniment coordinator Sarah Henken will make a preliminary visit this fall to begin preparations.    Spreading the Word and Praying   We welcome and appreciate your support for this new season of accompaniment. Please pray for this new initiative, for the community of Saiza, and for the accompaniers who will take part in our delegations. PPF is committed to making accompaniment economically accessible to all eligible volunteers, and your donations make that possible. Donations sent to PPF using this link will be designated to Colombia Accompaniment 2.0: https://bit.ly/colaccomp   Would you like more information about serving as an accompanier? Here is a link to let us know of your interest: https://bit.ly/3Vrpz2q (wait a few seconds for the form to appear).

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