The fragile peace between the government and guerrilla groups has had limited impact. Although violence has receded, guerrilla groups, often linked to drug gangs, have grown more powerful and control more territory. These groups often target Christians, especially if they perceive that believers are opposing the cartels’ or gangs’ business. Church leaders are particularly at risk because they are seen as competing for influence over the young people who compose much of the guerrilla groups’ ranks.   

In some communities, Christian preachers and indigenous converts can face hostility because they are seen as traitors who have betrayed their tribe or community. These believers live at risk of expulsion from the community, imprisonment, ostracism and other punishments.   

There are signs that Colombia’s public sector is less committed to true pluralism. Christians speaking in public about their beliefs are sometimes targeted for supposedly being discriminatory or promoters of hate-speech. For this reason, some choose to self-censor.