CARACAS, Venezuela — With the death of Hugo Chávez, Venezuelans face an uncertain future after his 14-year presidency. The nation’s evangelical community is urging Christians around the world to be in prayer for their country. Chávez, 58, died March 5 after battling cancer.
“[March 6], scores of people came into the street to view his funeral procession and show their respect for the fallen leader,” a Christian worker in Venezuela said. The country has declared seven days of mourning for their president.
Consejo EvangÈlico de Venezuela (The Evangelical Council of Venezuela), a Venezuelan organization of evangelicals including the National Baptist Convention of Venezuela, issued a statement March 5 offering condolences to the president’s family and all Venezuelans, and calling for Christians to pray for peace and unity in their nation.
The statement urged Venezuelans to “avoid hatred, damaging language and confrontational attitudes” during this time of national grief and to “look to God as our only giver of grace and truth.”
Alluding to political divisions and tensions that have plagued Venezuela during the Chávez administration, the statement encouraged Venezuelans to “live together in the midst of differences.”
The statement also challenged Venezuelans to be peacemakers — to “be a country that constructs peace and rejects confrontation.”
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