Discover
The identity of the nation
Colombia is the only country in South America bordered by two oceans, the Pacific and the Caribbean, and the point where the Andes split into three mountain ranges. From that geography comes one of the continent’s most diverse nations: hot valleys, cold highlands, Amazon rainforest, the savannas of the Llanos and a coastline with African roots. More than 50 million people live there, most of them in large cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Barranquilla.
It is a nation of visible faith. Its Catholic heritage shaped centuries of history, festivals and popular religiosity, and in recent decades evangelical churches have grown significantly, especially in urban outskirts and among young people. The vast majority of the people identify as Christian, and prayer, music and devotion are part of everyday life.
Colombia also carries deep scars. More than fifty years of armed conflict, tied to guerrillas, paramilitary groups and drug trafficking, left millions displaced and marked entire generations. The 2016 peace agreement opened a new chapter, but violence from armed groups and organized crime persists in many regions, and reconciliation remains a work in progress.
The missionary calling of the Colombian people is remarkable. Churches are at work helping addicts in recovery, welcoming Venezuelan migrants, and speaking prophetically against violence, often at a high price. Here is a people passionate, festive and resilient, who worship intensely and serve with courage.
The spiritual challenges remain great: indigenous and riverside communities with little or no full access to the gospel, regions dominated by armed groups where the church suffers, and a blend of religions that mixes the Christian faith with popular beliefs. Colombia is a nation that needs healing, justice and a mature church, and God has shown that He is present among this people.
- Before colonization, peoples such as the Muisca, Tairona and Quimbaya inhabited the territory with organized societies.
- 1499 The first Spanish navigators reach the Caribbean coast; colonization begins.
- 1533 Founding of Cartagena de Indias, a key port for the Spanish empire and the Atlantic slave trade.
- 1538 Founding of Bogota, the future capital, on the Andean plateau.
- 1810 On July 20, the cry for independence in Santa Fe de Bogota begins the break with Spain.
- 1819 Simon Bolivar's victory at the Battle of Boyaca seals independence; Gran Colombia is born.
- 1830 With Bolivar's death, Gran Colombia dissolves; Venezuela and Ecuador separate.
- 1948 The assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan sparks the Bogotazo and opens the period known as La Violencia.
- 1964 The FARC and the ELN emerge, beginning decades of internal armed conflict.
- 2016 The government and the FARC sign the peace agreement, ending more than five decades of war.
- Today A majority Christian nation, seeking reconciliation, with regions still marked by armed groups.
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Spanishofficial, spoken by nearly the entire population
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Indigenous languagesabout 65 native languages, such as Wayuunaiki, Nasa Yuwe and Embera, officially recognized
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San Andres CreoleEnglish-based creole spoken in the Caribbean archipelago
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PalenqueroAfrican-rooted creole from San Basilio de Palenque
Colombia occupies the northwest of South America and is the only country on the continent with coasts on both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The Andes branch into three mountain ranges that cross the country, creating fertile valleys and cold highlands; to the east stretch the savannas of the Llanos and the vast Amazon rainforest.
Major cities
- BogotaCapital and largest city, political and financial center in the Andes
- MedellinHub of innovation and industry, known as the city of eternal spring
- CaliCapital of salsa, in the Cauca River valley
- CartagenaHistoric walled city on the Caribbean, a world heritage site
- BarranquillaCaribbean port famous for its carnival
Climate and temperature
Bandeja paisa
A hearty dish from Antioquia with beans, rice, meat, egg, chicharron, plantain and avocado.
Arepa
A grilled or fried corn disc, present in almost every meal.
Ajiaco
A creamy soup of potatoes, chicken and corn, typical of Bogota.
Sancocho
A hearty broth of meats, cassava, corn and plantain, a family celebration dish.
Lechona
Pork stuffed with rice and peas, roasted for hours, served at celebrations.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Warmth and joy
Colombians are warm, hospitable and festive, even amid hardship.
Music that unites
Cumbia (traditional Colombian musical genre), vallenato (musical genre from the Colombian Caribbean coast) and salsa pulse through daily life and celebrations.
Family at the center
Family ties are strong, and the home is the heart of community life.
Regional diversity
Paisas, costenos (peoples of the Colombian Caribbean coast), llaneros (peoples of the Colombian Llanos savannas) and indigenous peoples give the country very distinct identities.
Faith present
Religiosity marks festivals, devotions and the community calendar.
Pride in coffee
Coffee is a national symbol and part of the people's identity.
- Reducing the country to stereotypes of violence or drugs It hurts the people and ignores their richness and resilience.
- Being cold or distant Closeness and warmth are highly valued in relationships.
- Speaking lightly about politics or the conflict These are real wounds that require sensitivity.
- Treating poverty with pity or superiority Dignity and partnership matter more than charity.
- Dismissing indigenous and Afro-Colombian culture They are vital parts of the Colombian soul.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Decades of armed conflict left trauma, fear and cycles of revenge yet to be healed.
The drug economy corrupts institutions, enslaves young people and fuels the war.
Guerrillas, dissident factions and gangs dominate territories and oppress entire communities.
Distrust in institutions undermines justice and hope for the common good.
The gap between rich and poor excludes millions from opportunity.
The Christian faith blends with popular beliefs and superstitions, diluting the gospel.
Native communities remain on the margins, without full access to the gospel.
Millions were torn from their land, living with uprootedness.
The culture of getting rich quickly seduces and destroys lives.
Reconciliation after the conflict remains an open wound.
Persecution of Christians in Colombia does not come from the State but from armed groups and organized crime. Guerrillas, dissident factions and gangs tied to drug trafficking control vast regions and see the church as a threat to their interests.
Pastors and leaders who denounce violence, take in addicts in recovery, or compete for the loyalty of young people become targets of threats, extortion, displacement and even murder. In indigenous territories, converted Christians may face pressure from community structures that reject a change of faith.
Despite the risk, churches show remarkable courage and creativity, serving precisely the most vulnerable populations. Religious freedom exists in law, but on the ground dominated by armed groups, following Jesus can still cost dearly.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Colombia is home to more than a hundred people groups, including dozens of indigenous communities and Afro-descendant populations. Although the nation is majority Christian, some of these groups, especially isolated indigenous peoples in the Amazon, the Pacific coast and the Caribbean coast, still have little or no full access to the Scriptures in their mother tongue. Many live in remote regions and in territories affected by violence from armed groups, which makes gospel work difficult.
- 218K Unreached 0,4%
- 112K Minimally reached 0,2%
- 55K Superficially reached 0,1%
- 16.1M Partially reached 30,2%
- 36.8M Significantly reached 69,1%
- 16 Unreached 13,2%
- 20 Minimally reached 16,5%
- 7 Superficially reached 5,8%
- 54 Partially reached 44,6%
- 24 Significantly reached 19,8%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Siripu Frontier
Miranha
Passe Frontier
Embera-Baudo Frontier
Yari Frontier
Carabayo, Macusa Frontier
Embera-Catio de Alto Andagueda Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
lower than in Brazil for foreigners
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn Spanish: English is rarely spoken outside tourist areas.
- Pay attention to safety: avoid displaying valuables and get informed about the different regions.
- Respect altitude differences: Bogota is cold, and the thin air can cause discomfort in the first days.
- Appreciate coffee and hospitality: accepting a cup of coffee is a gesture of relationship.
- Avoid traveling through conflict zones without reliable local guidance.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.