Colombia (MNN)–Exploratory peace talks between the Colombian government and the country’s second-largest guerrilla group, the ELN, resume next month.
The Colombian peace commissioner and leaders of the National Liberation Army, or ELN, said they would hold a third round of preliminary talks in Havana after early negotiations ended with no promise of an accord.
But in a war that’s been waged for nearly four decades, both sides are tired. What’s more, the ELN is not the only terrorist group fighting the government.
OMS International’s Randy Spacht (spate) explains they got involved when the former ELN spokesman, Francisco Galan, contacted them. “He initially asked us to help set up some meetings where he could actually apologize to some people that the ELN had targeted for assassination and the Lord had protected them.”
Spacht says as they began to arrange for the talks, they saw another change. “The level of trust grew and Galan actually has involved the OMS people in the actual peace talks.” Galan is now talking about the need for reconciliation and forgiveness.
What began as a prison ministry has resulted in an open door to help shape a country.”What I’m excited about is, here we have the possibility of some Christian organizations bringing health to an entire nation, and that is just incredible, the kind of opportunities that the Lord has placed before us.”
OMS urges people to pray for those working in the areas of reconciliation for this war torn nation. Praise God for the trust God has granted to believers at the grassroot level. Pray for discernment and wisdom.
