A Nation in Turmoil Turns to Prayer
The Evangelical Council of Venezuela has issued a nationwide appeal for a dedicated week of prayer and fasting, urging congregations to seek peace, justice, and healing in the wake of the removal and transfer of Nicolás Maduro to the United States. Church leaders describe the current moment as one of profound uncertainty, marked by both relief and anxiety, as Venezuelans confront the implications of sudden political change on an already fragile society.
In their statement, evangelical leaders emphasize the Church’s responsibility to serve as a refuge of hope and encouragement. Pastors across the country are being asked to open their churches for extended periods of worship, intercession, and pastoral care, with the aim of accompanying communities who fear further instability, social unrest, or reprisals amid the power vacuum.
Evangelical Council’s Call for Peace and Justice
The Evangelical Council’s message underscores a theological response to the crisis, stressing that Christian communities are to embody reconciliation and mercy while also seeking justice for victims of political repression, economic collapse, and mass migration. The call highlights themes of national repentance, forgiveness, and restoration, inviting Christians to pray not only for immediate calm but for deep structural change that prioritizes human dignity and the common good.
Churches are encouraged to organize daily gatherings focused on lament for the suffering of recent years, intercessory prayer for political leaders and institutions, and practical service to the poor and displaced. The Council’s leaders insist that Christian engagement must avoid partisan alignment, presenting the Church instead as a moral voice advocating nonviolence, rule of law, and protection of the vulnerable.
Exiled Christian Leader Hails “Divine Intervention”
From exile, Aristóteles López, a prominent Christian figure and founder of March for Jesus in Venezuela, has publicly characterized Maduro’s capture as an act of divine justice. López, who left the country amid previous crackdowns, described the event as a turning point for a population he says has endured profound hardship, including chronic shortages, hyperinflation, and widespread insecurity.
His comments reflect a segment of Venezuelan Christians who interpret the sudden political shift through a biblical lens, viewing it as a providential opening for repentance, institutional reform, and moral renewal. At the same time, other pastors caution against triumphalism, warning that the Church must resist framing any political development as a simple victory, and instead focus on long-term spiritual and social reconstruction.