In a second act of senseless violence, a protestant church leader was assassinated in a deadly attack after a church service. The attack occurred as Iván García, 28, was walking with his 14-year-old stepdaughter, and six others along a dimly lit rural road. The group was walking home after a celebration at the People of God Christian Vision Church. The attackers launched their ambush from the back of a motorcycle and fled the scene.
The pastor was fatally struck six times, including twice in the head. A woman walking alongside the pastor was struck in the arm. He had only been married to his wife, Pastor Karen Nierles, for 6 months. She credited his dedication to growing the New Rebirth in Christ Church from seven to 30 committed members. García had lived a previous life as a member of an ‘illegal armed group‘ but had renounced all ties when he came back to Christ.
His wife said there were no threats or warnings before the attack. She was quoted as saying, “A few days ago, he told me that he was not afraid to teach the Bible, that he had a new life. He told me, ‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’” Another pastor, Yimys Peñalosa the leader of the Church of Revival and Fire for the Nations Under His Glory, says there were signs of impending violence.
He says that a month before the slaying, García and Nierles heard two gunshots as they were leaving García’s workplace. They quickly fled home, but didn’t think that the gunshots were intended for them. The slain pastor’s funeral took place last Saturday. This is not the first murder of a Columbian pastor, as we reported last year, a gunman shot pastor Marlon Lora of the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church, his wife, Yorley Rincon, and his 24-year-old daughter, Angela Lora Rincón, from a motorcycle. His son Santiago Lora Rincón, was injured in the shooting as well.
Anna Lee Stangl, director of Advocacy at CSW, a Christian watchdog, said “CSW grieves with the family and church community of Iván García. The nature of the attack on Mr. García, like the massacre two weeks ago of Pastor Marlon Lora and his entire family, indicate that these are premeditated, targeted assassinations.” She begged the Columbian government to take immediate action.
She added, “Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups for many reasons, including the role many of them take up as peacemakers and their willingness to use their influence in their communities to encourage others to reject participation in violent and criminal activities.” She specifically called on the state to reverse changes to Decree 1066.”
This decree was an amendment to a law that required the government to provide specific protective security measures to high-risk individuals, communities, and organizations. Decree 1066 amended this law to exclude religious leaders from the category of high-risk individuals eligible for protection. According to the Open Doors International’s World Watch List, Colombia ranks as the 34th worst country for Christian persecution.
In October of 2024, Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office found that violations of religious freedom rights had increased by 31% between 2023 and 2024. This data included discriminatory treatment towards churches and religious denominations, as well as death threats against religious leaders and authorities.” Death threats alone increased by 50% between 2023 and 2024.