Brief Background on Colombia Accompaniment Program

For over 40 years, Colombians have suffered from a violent internal conflict exacerbated by the drug trade. At great personal risk, leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia [IPC] have spoken our in faith against human rights violations and supported families who have been displaced by decades of war. The IPC has much to teach us about being the church in a time of conflict.

The Colombian Accompaniment Program began in 2004 at the request of the IPC, in the midst of harassment and threats of violence to their prophetic ministry. They ask us to serve as international accompaniers to provide a measure of safety as they carry out the work to which God has called them.n response to their request, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has worked with PCUSA World Mission and IPC to train over 100 volunteers, of whom 70 have been deployed as short-term mission workers to Colombia.

The Colombian Accompaniment Program began in 2004 at the request of the IPC, in the midst of harassment and threats of violence to their prophetic ministry. They ask us to serve as international accompaniers to provide a measure of safety as they carry out the work to which God has called them.
In response to their request, the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship has worked with PCUSA World Mission and IPC to train over 100 volunteers, of whom 70 have been deployed as short-term mission workers to Colombia.

Community accompaniment is what we practice, a ministry of presence with the church and with the displaced communities and human rights leaders with whom they work. Out primary goal is to be a nonviolent presence of Christian Support and solidarity with our church partners, to "see and be seen," and to share the story with churches and communities in the U.S. through prayer, education, and advocacy efforts.