A 54-year-old Protestant pastor was shot dead by gunmen while gathering with his family on New Year’s Eve in northern Colombia. The killing occurred in the Santa Elena district of the Fundación municipality in the Magdalena department.
Police said Pastor Jose Otoniel Ortega was shot at around midnight on Dec. 31 as he celebrated the start of the year with relatives and was rushed to a nearby clinic, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a UK-based advocacy group.
Magdalena authorities had launched an investigation in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office to identify and arrest those responsible. They appealed to residents to call their local emergency number and share any relevant information.
The incident sparked outrage from religious leaders across Colombia, with the National Evangelical Network issuing a statement condemning the killing of Ortega, who belonged to the Foursquare Evangelical Church and served as the foundation’s religious leader.
Previous reports incorrectly identified his denomination as a Pentecostal church.
CSW called Ortega’s death a “premeditated and targeted assassination” and pointed to the timing and nature of the attack.
“CSW extends its deepest condolences to the family and church community on this loss of Pastor Jose Otoniel Ortega,” Anna Lee Stangl, CSW’s advocacy director, said in a statement. “The nature of the attack on Mr. Otoniel Ortega, who was celebrating New Year’s Eve with his family, makes it clear that this was a premeditated and targeted assassination.”
Mr. Ortega’s congregation described him as a dedicated pastor who is passionate about ministry.
The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches issued a statement saying the killing affected not only Ortega’s congregation but the larger Christian community in the country. The group called for justice and an end to violence against religious leaders.
The Interior Ministry called on local civil and police authorities to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He also reminded the public of the constitutional rights tied to religious freedom, including the right to life and security of religious leaders and their communities.
According to CSW, Ortega’s killing is the latest in a series of attacks on religious leaders in the country.
At least 10 Protestant leaders were murdered and one Catholic priest was kidnapped in Colombia between December 2024 and November 2025, including another priest in Magdalena in January 2025.
The group said religious leaders in conflict areas are often targeted by criminal organizations involved in Colombia’s long-running armed conflict, where illegal armed groups seek to maintain control over territory and suppress opposition.
Church representatives and advocacy groups have also expressed concern about recent changes to the country’s protection framework. CSW said that recent government reforms have changed Decree 1066, removing certain protection protocols that recognized religious leaders as a distinct vulnerable group and provided them with individual security measures under Colombia’s civil protection system.
These groups called on international stakeholders to track attacks against faith-based leaders and support efforts to hold them accountable.
Ortega’s final service was scheduled to be held at his church in Fundación. The police investigation is still ongoing.
Originally published by Christian Post
