Security issues limit scope of efforts

The greatest obstacle to Southern Baptist missionaries sharing Christ in Colombia is not resistance to their message, but security issues.

“The unique thing about Colombia is that we don’t have a problem getting into the country because we’re missionaries,” said Dickie Nelson, Richmond associate of the Caribbean Basin with the International Mission Board (IMB).

“Our security issue there is not one based on the fact that we’re missionaries, as opposed to some other restricted access countries around the world.

“As far as ministry in the country, we really have a lot of opportunity,” he said.

Nelson said 20 IMB missionaries are working in Colombia, adding the total includes one single adult and a husband and wife ream from Alabama.

But there are concerns with “physical security” because of Colombia’s volatile political and social climate- limiting missionaries in their efforts, said Nelson. “Our missionaries cannot travel to certain parts of the country because they’re United States citizens and because of the political turmoil,” he said. “Kidnapping and other things are a real issue there.”

Nelson’s comments are supported by information from the State Department. In a release dated Feb. 29, 2000, the State Department said there is a greater risk of being kidnapped in Colombia than in any other country in the world.

Warning against travel to Colombia, the State Department said “citizens of the United States and other countries have been the victims of recent threats, kidnappings, domestic airline hijackings and murders.” Information on the department’s Web site said more than a dozen U.S. citizens were kidnapped in Colombia in 1999, twice as many as in 1998.

“Living in Colombia, one needs to live with care but not with fear,” said a minister working in Cali whom the IMB had identified as Romando.

“I think we have to be aware of the dangers, but there’s danger everywhere,” said Nelson.