Mexico

Answer to Prayer

Increasing freedom for ministry continues, a contrast from the oppressive Catholic monopoly of decades past. Even the government – municipal, state and national levels – is more open to evangelical work as a counter to the seemingly unsolvable problems of gangs, drug trafficking, kidnappings and violence.

Challenge for Prayer

Many socio-economic challenges face Mexico. The state recognizes the difficulty of traditional solutions and increasingly invites Christians and churches to show initiative and partnership in meeting the many human needs. Pray for:

a) The poor, both the impoverished rural poor and the exploited slum-dwellers. While the president’s top-priority goal is to reduce poverty, the gap between rich and poor in Mexico is the widest of all OECD nations. Fully 60% of Mexico’s population struggle with poverty.

b) The marginalized native Amerindians. They officially number 9.4% of the population, but many more are partly or mostly Amerindian without such official status. They tend to face greater poverty, lack education and live in areas with the most upheaval. Radical political expression has also contributed to unrest. There is significant response to as well as opposition to evangelical ministry in those regions.

c) Corruption in politics and the police. The advent of multiparty politics unseated the increasingly corrupt PRI, but the problem remains in all levels of government. Corruption in government has seen millions embezzled, and corruption in the police forces allows for greater growth in organized crime.

d) The massive drug trade and gang violence that accompanies it. Drug trafficking is big business in Mexico – thanks to both the USA’s insatiable habit and Mexico’s own growing troubles. Sadly, this structure of sin brings huge amounts of money into Mexico’s economy, so the desire to halt it is less than the cost and effort to do so.

     i The 500,000-plus addicts, whose number has grown rapidly due to increasing availability of cheap drugs. Mexico is poorly positioned to cope with the number of addicts in terms of prevention, treatment and ministry to those afflicted.

     ii The wealthy, powerful cartels that control it are ruthless. Most of their violence is directed toward each other, but police, armed forces, journalists and helpless citizens also die at their hands. Pray for a way to reach out to the cartel leaders and members.

     iii The government and police face great difficulties in combating the drug trade and those who run it. Informers and corruption undermine the effort, and fear of the heavily armed gangs prevents decisive action. Pray for courage and wisdom in dealing with these great challenges.

     For an additional 10 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.