A Guerrilla Commander's Crisis
In the heart of the Colombian jungle, many young lives were entangled in the violent cause of the FARC guerrilla movement. Among them was Jerónimo Guerra, who rose to the rank of a commander. Under his leadership, pastors were expelled, churches shuttered, and those who refused to abandon their faith faced dire consequences. Yet, despite the authority he wielded, Jerónimo began noticing an unshakeable resilience among Christians. They continued to grow in number, even as they faced persecution.
Encountering Hope
Jerónimo's turning point came during a moment of war-induced chaos. Amidst the turmoil, he encountered a group of pastors who were steadfast in their mission to help their community. It was then that he realized the destruction his actions had wrought contrasted deeply with their message of hope and restoration. As Jerónimo reflected, he felt a divine nudge, a realization that the path he was on was not the one he was meant to follow.
Edier's Prison Conversion
In a separate story, Edier Osvaldo Ruiz, once a feared contract killer, found himself imprisoned. Within those walls, he encountered Christians who shared stories of transformation through Jesus. God spoke to Edier, promising him a new life if he believed in Jesus. It was this divine invitation that led him to embrace a new identity and purpose.
From Violence to Ministry
For Jerónimo, the transformation was profound. Declaring himself a "guerrilla, honestly defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ," he took up a new mission—preaching the Gospel to those who once fought alongside him. His message was simple yet powerful: Jesus changes lives. Others, like Edier, followed similar paths, sharing their testimonies and leading others to faith.
Today, these former guerrillas, now pastors and evangelists, continue to share their stories of redemption. They face challenges and threats, yet they press on, committed to drawing a new 'map of Colombia,' one defined not by violence but by the transformative power of Christ.
