Colombian Pastor Beaten to Death by Gang He Had Evangelized, CSW Says

CARTAGENA, Colombia —

A pastor in Cartagena, Colombia, was beaten to death on Oct. 7 by members of a criminal gang he had been evangelizing, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a U.K.-based advocacy group. The Christian Post reported CSW's account on Oct. 19.

CSW identified the pastor as Jesús Alberto Puerta Pérez of La Antorcha Encendida Church, an independent congregation. He earned his living as a motorcycle taxi driver. Sources told CSW that he refused to let the gang members use his motorcycle after being warned they meant to move illegal drugs on it, and that they had used it for crimes before. The sources said the men may have wanted to tie him to a crime through the motorcycle and beat him in anger when he refused.

Puerta Pérez and his wife had served as missionaries for eight years. They founded a church in María La Baja, about 43.5 miles south of Cartagena, and moved to Cartagena in December 2025 after threats over his preaching, CSW said. He leaves his wife, their three children, ages 5, 6 and 12, and his wife's elderly parents, whom she cares for.

Anna Lee Stangl, CSW's director of advocacy, urged Cartagena authorities to carry out a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the killing. No arrests have been reported. Watchman News has not independently confirmed the details.

CSW says at least 10 Protestant leaders were killed in Colombia from December 2024 through November 2025, and that the government removed religious leaders from its protection programs for at-risk groups in 2023.

What we don't know yet: This account comes from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a long-standing religious freedom group, as reported by The Christian Post. Watchman News could not find a Colombian news report or police statement confirming the death or the motive. We will update this story if one comes out.