Colombia Partnership Celebration
150^th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia
August 8-15, 2006

A delegation from Miami Presbytery traveled to Barranquilla, Colombia to join people from the Presbyteries of Tres Rios and Winnebago, delegates from the General Assembly, as well as people from other groups throughout Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America, to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (Iglesia Presbiteriana de Colombia). The anniversary conference provided opportunities for brothers and sisters in Christ to worship, pray, reflect and learn together.

►Interim Executive Presbyter Judy Kolwicz filed this report about the trip to Colombia:

Colombian travelers have returned! 

There are so many ways to approach telling this story it is hard to begin.  We could offer a travelogue describing the beauty of the beaches, the wealth of the natural resources, the wonders of this warm and beautiful country.  We could talk about the conference we attended and the theological reflections we shared with our brothers and sisters in Colombia.  We could provide funny anecdotes of things that happened during our journey…from an ambulance trip on the first night to a hungry sniffer dog who decided to sit down in front of one of our backpacks in Miami.  Turns out, the dog was interested in the peanut butter crackers that were in the pack!  We could describe the hospitality that was far warmer than the air temperature and the wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ whom we count as family as much as they count us as family.  We have lots of stories to tell and I encourage you to seek out the stories from the individuals who went. 

We went to help celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Colombia.  Let me tell you, this church is alive and well!  I continue to be amazed at the power of the gospel evidenced in the lives of these brothers and sisters who have such a profound struggle in daily life.  For them, personal safety is elusive because they stand for human rights.  (I hasten to add that we were perfectly safe while we were in Colombia)  Colombians, on the other hand, live lives under siege, so to speak.  Many have died, many have “disappeared” because of the political situations of their country.

Even with this significant and daily struggle, the Colombians are a people of great joy and that joy pervades all that they do and say in the name of Jesus.  They know how to enjoy God’s gift of life!  They have a clear understanding of who they are called to be in God’s world and know with certainty whose they are.  Alvin Schutmaat, a Presbyterian missionary to Colombia sums it up in his hymn, Canto de Esperanza (The PresbyterianHymnal #432):   

“May the God of hope go with us every day, filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.  May the God of justice speed us on our way, bringing light and hope to every land and race.  Praying, let us work for peace, singing, share our joy with all, working for a world that’s new, faithful when we hear Christ’s call.” 

We can learn a lot from our brothers and sisters in Colombia.  I encourage all of our churches to explore the possibilities we have with this wonderful long-standing partnership between the Presbytery of the North Coast and Miami Presbytery.  

If you would like to hear more stories, please contact any of the travelers:  Mark and Carol Hess in Troy; Tom, Mardie, Mandy and Calvin Milligan in Sidney; Fred Richards in Springboro; Richard Culp in Troy; Mark Barnes in Oxford; Judy Kolwicz in Dayton.