Is God calling you to nonviolent action following Jesus Christ? Consider serving in the Colombia Accompaniment Program.
The people of Colombia have endured over forty years of violence and warfare. A variety of "armed actors" are present in the country: guerrilla forces, paramilitary troops, police and soldiers and a government committed to "controlling the violence" through a military response.
The Colombian Presbyterian Church (IPC) has courageously spoken out against the endemic violence in its country. For this stand its members have endured arbitrary arrest and death threats. Colombian Presbyterians have responded by asking members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to stand with them.
The Colombia Accompaniment Program is a partnership between the IPC, the World Mission office of the PC(USA) and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program provides educational material and promotional support.
The next round of training for potential accompaniers will take place at Stony Point Center on September 11-15.
In the words of a Colombian Human Rights worker, this program "provides an umbrella of safety which extends far beyond the Presbyterian Church" to help "all of us who seek to improve the lives of the poor and oppressed."