American Missionary Arrested in Colombia

We received word today that CBN friend and missionary Russell Stendal has been arrested in Colombia.

Here’s what we have learned so far from one report:

American missionary Russell Martin Stendal was arrested Wednesday by police in Colombia as part of an investigation into the alleged ties of the Marxist rebel group, The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Russell “is dedicated to distribute Bibles and preach the word to everyone and he has traveled to the most complicated areas of the country evangelizing," said Stendal’s lawyer Eder Castro.

The missionary, has written several books and is the subject of a movie “The Mountain” about his work evangelizing guerrillas and paramilitaries. He was taken to Paloquemao for a preliminary court hearing where the charges against him were to be announced.

Stendal was caught in the middle of an investigation conducted by the Cundinamarca Police anti-terrorism unit, which was operating against the FARC 53 front group.

According to sources, the missionary’s name appeared as an alleged member of the FARC support networks.

At present, both prosecution and police have been in contact with the US Embassy in Colombia.

I first met Russell Stendal back in 2002 while working for The Voice of The Martyrs. I’ve stayed at his home, and even spent time flying with him in his plane videotaping as he parachuted tracts and Galcom radios into both FARC and Paramilitary held areas of Colombia.

He is not a member of the FARC Marxist, narco-terror network. He is an agent for God who works tirelessly to bring the good news to all people of Colombia.

Pray that he will soon be reunited with his family. Pray that he will not become discouraged and will have opportunities to share Christ with his government captors—just like he has countless times with the FARC guerillas.