Eight Missing Christians Found Dead in Mass Grave in Colombia

Eight Christian Humanitarian Workers Found in Mass Grave in Colombia

The remains of eight Christians who had gone missing while serving in humanitarian and spiritual missions were discovered in a mass grave in Colombia, weeks after their disappearance.

The victims—Isaíd Gómez and his wife Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Jesús Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa, and Oscar García—were all residents of Agua Bonita, a rural village in Calamar. Most were affiliated with the Evangelical Alliance of Colombia Denomination (DEAC) and the Foursquare Gospel Church (ICCG).

In early April, the group had reportedly been summoned to meetings by members of an illegal armed group operating in the area. They never returned.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), a religious freedom organization, revealed that following the group’s disappearance, their families reached out to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which holds influence in the region. FARC initially denied any involvement but later warned the families to stop searching and “consider the case closed.”

The breakthrough came in May, when authorities found a phone belonging to a captured guerrilla fighter. The device contained images of the eight detained believers and later, disturbing proof of their deaths.

In response, the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) issued a heartfelt statement demanding justice.

“We call on believers everywhere to pray for peace and comfort for these grieving families. We also raise our voices to demand swift investigation and real protection for pastors and Christian workers in Colombia’s most dangerous regions,” the statement read.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro strongly condemned the killings, describing them as “a grave affront to the right to life, religious freedom, and the spiritual and community work carried out in areas long affected by violence.”

Though the Colombian government signed a peace treaty with the FARC in 2016, splinter groups have continued armed activity, particularly in remote, unstable regions like Calamar. These dissident factions often engage in violence, extortion, and territorial disputes, making it dangerous for religious and humanitarian workers to serve.