Sadly, on 1 July it was confirmed that the bodies of eight people were discovered in a mass grave in Colombia, nearly three months after they went missing. They were each summoned by an illegal armed group in the first week of April and never returned.

All were from the hamlet of Agua Bonita in Calamar and were involved in social initiatives in the community, while seven of them played a part in church leadership.

James Caicedo was the former pastor of a church within the Protestant denomination Foursquare Gospel Church (ICCG). He continued to play a leadership role, alongside fellow ICCG members Oscar García and Jesús Valero.

Married couple Isaid Gómez and Maribel Silva were both church leaders who frequently preached within the Evangelical Alliance of Colombia Denomination (DEAC). They leave behind two children, aged 4 and 11.

Carlos Valero was Jesús Valero’s brother and the uncle of Isaíd Gómez.

Nixon Peñalosa was married for 46 years. He was president of the Community Action Board of Agua Bonita, and treasurer within the DEAC. 

Maryuri Hernández assisted the current DEAC pastor in different ways. She leaves behind a husband and five-year-old daughter.

We remember them.

Pray:

Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort their families and all who mourn. Pray that the Colombian government will make every effort to uncover the truth about countless others who have been forcibly disappeared by criminal groups.