Adventists throughout Colombia and the rest of the Inter-America region rejoiced as Gonzalo Cardona was released Feb. 6 after being kidnapped nearly six months earlier by guerrillas in Colombia.

Pastor Cardona, who pastored an 800-member church in Uraba, an area in northwest Colombia, was abducted Aug. 19 while traveling in his car with his family.

“I have been reborn, thank the Lord,” Cardona declared after his release.

Church members, pastors, leaders and friends welcomed Pastor Cardona with signs and cheers as he and his family arrived in the city of Medellin Feb. 9. His release followed a special day of fasting and prayer held Dec. 14, 2002, by church members in Colombia and around the world.

“He has undergone some stress tests, and has a mild case of malaria due to the unhealthy conditions while being exposed to the elements of the jungle in captivity,” said Jose Rojano, communication director for the church in Colombia. 

“We hope that he will be fully recovered soon. However, his spirits and psychological state are stable,” added Rojano.

According to Rojano, Pastor Cardona and his family are presently in the southwest of the country to visit family and friends, and will soon be transferred to the Oasis district in Medellin to pastor a church.

During 2002, six church members were kidnapped and all were released with the exception of church auditor Dionisio Galindo, who disappeared earlier in the year.

There are more than 200,000 Seventh-day Adventists in Colombia.