missions
Evangelicals Divided as Colombia Elects Right-Wing Outsider
By Angela Fulton at Christianity Today
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
When María Margarita Giraldo heard right-wing political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella was poised to win Colombia’s presidential election Sunday, she felt relieved. To Giraldo, a 76-year-old actress from Bogotá, Colombia, who gave her life to Jesus 35 years ago, De la Espriella’s victory represen
Key takeaway To Giraldo, a 76-year-old actress from Bogotá, Colombia, who gave her life to Jesus 35 years ago, De la Espriella’s victory represents a turning away from socialism, which she blamed as the Read more...
Why this matters
The election of right-wing outsider Abelardo de la Espriella as Colombia's president highlights the complexities of evangelical political engagement in the country. María Margarita Giraldo's relief at De la Espriella's victory reflects the concerns of some evangelicals about the perceived socialist leanings of previous governments. However, this development also underscores divisions within the evangelical community, with some members likely to be skeptical of De la Espriella's policies. As Colombia's evangelicals navigate this new political landscape, their responses will be shaped by their theological convictions, social concerns, and experiences with poverty, violence, and inequality. The country's evangelical missions and ministries may need to adapt their strategies to address the potential implications of De la Espriella's presidency on issues like social justice, poverty alleviation, and human rights. This shift in Colombia's political landscape will likely have significant implications for the country's faith-based organizations and their work.
About this story
Original reporting by Christianity Today . Jesus Give surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: missions ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: Christianity Today ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? When María Margarita Giraldo heard right-wing political outsider Abelardo de la Espriella was poised to win Colombia’s presidential election Sunday, she felt relieved. To Giraldo, a 76-year-old actress from Bogotá, Colombia, who gave her life to Jesus 35 years ago, De la Espriella’s victory represen
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by Christianity Today and curated for Jesus Give readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Angela Fulton at Christianity Today. To learn more about how Jesus Give selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more missions coverage from Jesus Give, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .