Colombian Peacemakers to Speak at Ashland University

10/16/12 ASHLAND, Ohio – Three Colombian peacemakers who are on tour throughout the United States speaking out against human rights violations will speak at Ashland University on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Ridenour Room of the Dauch College of Business and Economics.

The three Christian peacemakers -- Diego Higuita, synod executive of the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC); Jesus Vargas, moderator of the IPC; and Fernando Sanmiguel, IPC pastor from Colombia -- will speak on “Christian Peacemaking in Colombia.”

The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Ashland University Religion Department.

For more than 50 years, Colombians have suffered from a violent internal conflict exacerbated by an illicit drug trade. At great personal risk, leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Colombia (IPC) have spoken out in faith against human rights violations and supported families who have been displaced by decades of war. The IPC has much to teach those in America about being part of the church in a time of conflict.

Ashland University, ranked in the top 200 colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category for 2013, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.