Mexico: Tackling religious intolerance and persecution

Thanks to your prayers and support, Open Doors local partners in Mexico have been able to organise a special workshop for Christians in the state of Hidalgo to tackle the issue of religious intolerance and persecution.  

Thanks to your prayers and support, Open Doors local partners in Mexico have been able to organise a special workshop for Christians in the state of Hidalgo to tackle the issue of religious intolerance and persecution.  

The training, aimed at church leaders and their congregations, follows an incident suffered by a Christian couple in the small town of Coamila in Hidalgo State, in which a municipal agent denied them permission to bury their baby in the local cemetery because of their religious affiliation.   

The workshop, given over two consecutive days for a total of 11 hours, was imparted by four trainers who travelled especially from the states of Oaxaca and Tamaulipas. 

The participants, all belonging to Christian Protestant churches, were taught the principles contained in the manual “Strong in the Storm”, about how to stay faithful and resilient in the face of religious harassment.   

In Mexico´s indigenous communities, local customs and traditions prevail. Those who decide to step out of what are considered ‘traditional’ customs in order to follow Jesus denounce violations of basic rights, including access to medical services, schooling and even the use of the local cemeteries to bury their deceased relatives.  

Located one hour away from Mexico City, Hidalgo has now joined the ranks of states like Chiapas and Oaxaca, in the south of the country, where Protestant churches systematically suffer religious persecution.  

FREEDOM AND PEACE

Thanks to your prayers and support, Christians living in Jerusalén, Mexico are now free to grow as a community.

Forty-two-year-old Alonso Gómez lived for many months with the threat of expulsion from his community hanging over his head like a dark cloud. He was depressed, worried, and could not muster the strength and motivation to work as he used to. His Christian faith gained him many enemies among the leaders of the Jerusalén community where he lives, in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.   

The local authorities tried to convince Alonso and a group of Christians from two other churches to give up their faith, in order to avoid the threats of imprisonment and expulsion from the community from being carried out. But they refused to do that, arguing that they would rather risk eviction than deny their religious beliefs.     

But victory has been won after a visit from an Open Doors local partner, who was able to build up a legal case to support these believers, and now a new lease of life has been released in them. 

RENEWED HOPE

As well as providing negotiations and legal defence, Open Doors has also been able to support Alonso and other believers through spiritual encouragement and fellowship, which has given them renewed hope and a feeling of comfort they had never experienced before.

Alonso is also much better; he has left behind his depression and is now a joyful and grateful man. He says he now experiences an inner freedom which is a new feeling for him. 

The believers have asked Open Doors not to abandon them. “Thanks to Open Doors, we now live in freedom and in peace,” they say. 

ORGANISED CRIME AND DRUG CARTELS 

Organised crime is a huge problem in Mexico, and a leading factor in the persecution of Christians. Those who stand up to drug cartels can face intimidation and death threats which aim to silence their ministry. Just earlier this month, Mexican pastor Eduardo ‘Lalo’ Garcia was shot at least six times while running from assailants believed to be members of the drug trade, which is rife along the northern border towns. Those who convert from indigenous communities face expulsion from their homes and families as a punishment for leaving tribal customs. Mexico is number 39 on Open Doors 2018 World Watch List.

Open Doors supports persecuted Christians in Mexico through advocacy to address the root causes of persecution, and mobilising the Mexican church to support persecuted Christians.

Give a gift to strengthen our persecuted brothers and sisters in Latin America.

PLEASE PRAY:

•    For those in drug cartels who kidnap, terrorise and kill Christians – that they would discover the love of Jesus
•    For God’s provision and grace for Christians who are denied access to basic social services and resources
•    For physical protection for persecuted believers in one of the most violent countries in the world.