"In areas where there is high cartel influence, the communities feel the detrimental impact. Bishop Rubén saw the fear in his community and demanded the cartels leave. His choice almost cost him his life.
"Cartels arrived at Bishop Rubén's doorstep and commanded him to stop his message. His community heard about the cartel's interference and many became afraid to even attend church.
"David Curry, President and CEO of Global Christian Relief, says, "The situation for followers of Jesus [in Colombia] is deteriorating very rapidly, especially in the countryside. For example, Christian farmers in Colombia who refuse to grow the coca leaf face some of the most intense persecution in the world-death by drug cartel."