🔥🕊️ FARC Dissidents Execute Church Group in Jungle Ambush

GOOD MORNING.

While headlines may be filled with challenge and unrest, we’re reminded that God is always on the move—even when we can’t see it clearly. 

Behind the scenes at ROAM, He’s opening doors, stirring hearts, and aligning new opportunities that we believe will shape lives and communities for eternity. We’re especially excited about the growing partnerships forming in this season—each one a testament to His faithfulness and perfect timing.

Stay tuned… there’s more to come, and we’re honored to walk this journey with you.

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SPECIAL REPORT

The Tragic Discovery

A mass grave discovered on July 1–2, 2025, in the remote jungle of Calamar, Guaviare, has confirmed the execution of eight evangelical church members who disappeared in early April. The victims—Jesús Valero, Carlos Valero, Marivel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Maryuri Hernández, Óscar Hernández, James Caicedo, and Nixon Peñaloza Chacón—had been conducting a religious mission when they were abducted by armed men. Their bodies were found in a shallow grave, sparking outrage and grief across Colombia.

Who Was Responsible

Colombian investigators have identified the perpetrators as members of the Frente Armando Ríos, a FARC dissident faction led by alias Iván Mordisco. According to officials, the victims were accused of collaborating with rival guerrilla group ELN before being summarily executed. Prosecutors believe the killings were a brutal message aimed at reinforcing territorial control and deterring outside influence. This act of extrajudicial violence mirrors a broader trend of dissident-led intimidation in lawless rural zones.

Condemnation and Consequences

The massacre has provoked strong condemnation from national and international leaders. President Gustavo Petro called it a “grave violation” of religious and human rights and pledged increased protection for vulnerable communities. Church leaders, along with UN human rights officials, criticized the deliberate targeting of spiritual workers and called for justice. The mayor of Calamar declared three days of mourning and urged the national government to address the chronic insecurity that plagues isolated regions. This incident, now labeled Colombia’s deadliest massacre of 2025, marks the 33rd multi-victim killing in rural areas this year, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed groups in post-peace-deal Colombia.

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REGIONAL THREATS

AFRICA

• YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA – On June 23, 2025, two young suspects—20‑year‑old Dad Yusuf and 17‑year‑old Gibson Husseini—were arrested on June 28 by Adamawa State police for stealing a 100 Ah generator battery from the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria Cathedral in Jimeta, Yola.

• MAZOWE, ZIMBABWE – On June 28, 2025, two Mugodhi Church members died after falling on rocks while fleeing machete-wielding robbers during a nighttime prayer session on a mountain. The attackers stole phones and money from congregants; police have launched a manhunt and urged worshippers to avoid unsafe terrains.

• TONJ NORTH, SOUTH SUDAN – On July 1, 2025, Adventist evangelist James Mangong Akol was killed and Pastor Joseph Ayii Agieu wounded in an armed ambush while returning from a wedding. The attack highlights rising threats to religious workers in Warrap State, prompting calls for government protection and justice.

MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA

• No current updates.

SOUTH & SOUTHEAST ASIA

• QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – Three individuals were arrested over the weekend after attempting a burglary inside a church compound in Barangay Bungad, Quezon City. CCTV footage captured them loading copper air-conditioning tubes onto a tricycle around 2 a.m. A church employee alerted the police via the 911 hotline, leading to a swift manhunt and arrests—though the stolen items were not recovered.

• WENZHOU, CHINA – On June 26, 2025, Pastor Huang Yizi was criminally detained again, a move widely condemned by Christian groups as religious persecution tied to his activism against church cross removals. His arrest highlights China’s ongoing crackdown on unregistered Christian communities.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

• COMAS, PERU – Extortionists fired multiple gunshots at the “Gracia Divina” evangelical church in Collique, demanding S/50,000 from the property owner under threat to his family. No injuries were reported, and authorities are investigating the attack, linking it to a local gang known as “Los amigos del Cono Norte.”

• VILLAHERMOSA, MEXICO – On June 30, 2025, Father Héctor Alejandro Pérez was critically injured after being shot multiple times by two men on a motorcycle. Authorities are investigating possible links to organized crime, while church leaders decry the incident as a grave precedent.

NORTH AMERICA

• MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Derrick Starks, 31, was arrested inside the Whitfield United Methodist Church around 11:30 PM on June 25, 2025, after intentionally setting a fire that damaged a window and part of a wall. He has confessed and is now facing second-degree arson charges—a Class B felony in Alabama—and is being held on a $20,000 bond.

• LIVINGSTON, TEXAS – On June 21, 2025, former Camp Cho-Yeh counselor Mario Bernal (23) allegedly threatened campers, warning he would “turn this into the next Columbine shooting” if provoked. He was fired on June 20 for locking children in a hot room as “discipline” and subsequently arrested near the camp entrance. Bernal faces terroristic threat charges and is held on a $250,000 bond.

• WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH – On July 2, 2025, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the shoulder/back area in a church parking lot after a suspect in a white SUV or sedan asked for him by name and then opened fire. The teen is expected to survive, and police are actively searching for the shooter.

• PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – In the early morning hours of July 3, 2025, a man was critically injured after being shot outside a church on North 26th and Allegheny Street in North Philadelphia. Police recovered over 30 shell casings and components of a semi-automatic handgun at the scene. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

EUROPE

• YEREVAN, ARMENIA – Armenian security forces detained top clerics, including Archbishop Mikael Adzhapakhyan, amid escalating tensions between the government and the national church.

AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA

• No current updates.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please join us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in China who are enduring intensifying persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. As the government continues to target house churches, detain pastors like Huang Yizi, and suppress public expressions of worship, many believers face harassment, imprisonment, and the loss of basic freedoms.

May God strengthen His church in China, and may His peace and presence dwell with every believer facing trial.

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