‘I have no words to thank you’

‘Thank you for your prayers, thank you for accompanying me in the midst of that captivity… I have no words to thank you for your immense love.’

The Venezuelan bishop and human rights defender was arrested on 30 July 2021 after being summoned under false pretences. He was subsequently accused of terrorism, criminal association and conspiracy. He was one of 81 prisoners confirmed to have been released on 14 August, although the regime claimed the number was significantly higher. 

Before his arrest, Bishop Jurado Farfán dedicated much of his time to serving others. His ministry included providing free legal assistance to political prisoners and helping run community soup kitchens for those in need. The authorities characterised these activities as ‘political confrontation’. 

The bishop had also been developing an education programme on the subject of democratic values, which the authorities interpreted as an attempt to destabilise the government.

The years that followed took a heavy toll.

While imprisoned in Rodeo III Prison in Miranda State, not far from Caracas, his health deteriorated severely. The bishop suffered from multiple serious medical conditions: atypical pneumonia, intercostal neuritis, and both upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Specialists also warned of possible hypovolemic shock or cardiac arrest. However, prison authorities ignored at least six court orders requiring his urgent transfer for medical evaluation.

Bishop Jurado Farfán was mocked for his faith and restricted from accessing religious materials and spiritual support. When he defended the religious rights of other inmates, he was confined to an isolation cell for ten days, where he faced inhumane and degrading treatment. He later shared testimony with the UN describing the brutal torture he had endured. 

He sadly lost both his mother and grandmother while in detention.

Today, after five years and 15 days in detention, Bishop Jurado Farfán is free. Even after years of profound suffering, he speaks with gratitude of the faithfulness of God and of those who stood alongside him. He struggled to find the words, but one he repeated was ‘grateful’.

‘The Lord broke the chains of oppression, of fear, of torture, and gave us freedom,’ he said. ‘Every morning He showed His mercy, and everything that has breath praises the God of justice.’

On the blog:

‘God will not get you out of here

When Pastor Armando Montero* was summoned to give evidence against a former client, he expected to be home within hours. Instead, his witness interview turned into eight days in detention. 

After officials discovered he was a Christian, everything changed. They mocked his faith and insisted that God had abandoned him. Senior officers called him ‘crazy’ and threatened to send him to a psychiatric institution. Yet throughout his ordeal, his spiritual anchor held firm.

*Name changed

Read Armando’s story