Missions Report: Bruce Olson's and Colombia's Motilone Indians
By Jay Rogers
Published October 1992
Since 1961, missionary Bruce Olson has labored for the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Motilone Indians deep in the jungles of Colombia’s high Catatumbo region. But today Olson’s most exciting missionary work still lies ahead.
In the past thirty years, Olson has founded bilingual schools, medical clinics and agricultural centers among the Motilones. His Christ-like humility and work of service to the Motilones has earned him the status of a tribal member. Indian chiefs throughout the region representing 50 tribes and half a million tribe members look to Olson with great awe and respect. He has become a friend of five Colombian presidents; has spoken before the United Nations; and has received educational awards from the Colombian government. Although he completed college only through correspondence schools, his work on translating the Scriptures into the native Indian dialects has earned him honor among linguistics scholars.
Nineteen-year-old Olson first travelled to South America with only a one-way plane ticket and $70 in his pocket. A young person with a deep burden for Colombia’s hidden people, Olson set out in in search of the Motilones: a fierce, primitive tribe that no white man had ever encountered and lived. Olson’s adventures in Colombia brought him face to face with the Motilones when he was shot through the leg with a three foot arrow. He was brought as a prisoner to their camp to recover. “Bruchko” – the name the Indians gave him (the Motilones were not able to pronounce Bruce Olson) – eventually won over the hearts of these tribal people. Today the Motilones are almost universally converted to Christ.
Three years ago, Bruce Olson was kidnapped in the mountain jungles of Colombia and detained for nine months as a political prisoner by communist guerillas. Hoping to win him as a valuable communist leader, the communists attempted to indoctrinate him through daily political dialogues. “Papa Bruchko” – as they called him – became a source of fascination among the young recruits in training. Many of them began to join Olson in prayer and Bible study. As many as 60 communist guerillas eventually gave their lives to Christ. His refusal to join ranks with the communists earned him death threats and he narrowly escaped execution by a firing squad.
Fearing the reprisal of a united war effort of 50 jungle tribes, the guerilla leaders released Olson in the summer of 1989. The Indian tribes of Colombia had united against the guerillas in a war-pledge to defend Olson’s cause if he was executed. The unity of the Indian tribes behind one white man was unprecedented in Colombia’s history.
After his release, Olson found that he had become a national hero in Colombia. In the major cities, articles demanding Olson’s release had appeared almost daily in the newspapers. Olson’s courageous stance against the guerillas was one of the key factors which inspired the common citizens of Colombia to take a bolder, tougher stance against the drug cartels.
Since this time, the openness of the Indian tribes of Colombia to the gospel has become phenomenal. Many tribal leaders have requested that Olson begin to set up clinics, schools and agricultural centers. Some tribes have asked specifically to be taught about Jesus Christ. Olson reported recently: “In August, I was among the Cogi Indians in the mountains adjacent to Santa Marta. I baptized more than 40 adult believers. Several Motilone pastors accompanied me.”
In America, the story of Bruce Olson’s captivity brought unprecedented financial support for the work of Christ among the Motilones. For 28 years, Olson had operated with no official sponsorship, relying on only the contributions of friends, but when Charisma magazine ran a two part series: “Bruce Olson’s Nine Month Colombian Captivity” (November & December 1989), donors gave $100,000 to help “Bruchko” continue his humanitarian efforts and evangelism among the tribes of Colombia.
In addition to providing clinical supplies, scholarships and agricultural development, Olson has built several centers for the Motilones. In a recent letter, Olson explained the uses for one of the structures he is building: “Our Tibú Community House of Twelve Cultures, which we have named in Motilone: ‘Axdobaringcayra,’ is well on the way to completion. … The house will provide lodging for visiting Motilones. Tibú is the principal port of commerce for the growing tribal economy and it is the seat of government. Here we will organize Colombia’s first native language regional newspaper and house staff personnel for the northeast Colombian indigenous cultural publications.”
The cultural center he is now building will be a base from which to reach many of the tribal groups of Colombia. Olson reports that he still needs about $60,000 to complete this center.
Bruce Olson and the Motilone believers are the key to fulfilling the Great Commission in this area of the world. Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). Many of the nations – referred to by missiologists as the ETHNE, or “peoples groups” – in this area of Colombia are completely unreached with the gospel. We have an exciting opportunity to reach half a million people who have become miraculously open to the gospel in the past three years.
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Your comments are welcome!
My sunday school teacher is reading us the story about Bruce and the Motilone tribe. We are at the part where sadly Bobby gets murdered. So far this is all very interesting, and I thank you Bruce for following God’s word and for helping the Motilone tribe understand God’s word. You are a true hero.
Posted by Bree on 10/29/2008 09:08 PM #
My fith grade teacher loaned me Bruchko and I loved it so very much. I think that it is amazing how one persons life can affect many others especially if he is following the word of God. Keep on following and keep on beleiving, Bruce.
Posted by Anna on 01/26/2009 09:33 PM #
We have been reading Mr. Olson’s books and are so thankful for them. We appreciate how much he was willing to suffer in being obedient to the Lord. It’s caused ask ourselves how much we would be willing to suffer for Christ. We are curious to know if Mr. Olson is still serving in So. America today.
Posted by Chris and Rhonda Madzey on 03/12/2009 09:49 PM #
I love this book! I have read it 4 times! I first learned about it on a mission trip with Teen Mania Ministries. I feel like I was there in Columbia. I will be glad to meet Bruce and Bobby and all the people one day.
Posted by Nora on 03/18/2009 11:18 PM #
I read Brusko when I was a yougn christian, and it has stimulate my faith so much trough all thees tears. Today I’m reading it again to my kids so they might be touch by God’s grace and work in the world and so they can stand up for the unreached of this world…the most beautyfull thing would be to be able to do a short term…if anything possible write back please. God bless you all
Posted by Denis Côté on 05/11/2009 11:37 PM #
My husband is a youth pastor and he had Bruchko in his library. I just wanted something to read and this book looked very interesting. From start to finish it had my attention. The book of Mr.Olson’s life for Christ was truly a blessing to me. When I finished the book today,I thought of the area I live in and what could be done for Christ right here.
Posted by Amber on 05/20/2009 10:32 PM #
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I just finished reading Bruce Olson’s book. Where does he live today? Where may I donate to the ministry he has?
Posted by MVB on 07/29/2008 03:08 PM #