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Mexico

• Displaced Christians Pressured to Accept Agreement

  

  More than 100 members of the Great Commission Baptist Church in Hidalgo State were recently forced from their homes because they refused to participate in their villages' religious festivals. The Christians took refuge in a government building in Huejutla de los Reyes, where they called upon municipal and state authorities to intervene. For more details on this situation, see this page.

• Over 100 Christians Forced from Their Homes

  

  For several years, community leaders in the villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo, which are both located within the state of Hidalgo, have been inciting trouble for members of the Great Commission Baptist Church – pressuring them to participate in festivals that go against their beliefs. In December 2022, one of the non-compliant members was admitted to hospital after being tied to a tree and beaten. Additionally, since 2018, the children of church members in these villages have been banned from attending school.

• Christian Woman Severely Beaten

  

  Since 2015, members of the Great Commission Baptist Church in the community of Rancho Nuevo, Hidalgo State, have been prohibited from accessing their land to cultivate crops. On December 21st, Maria Concepcion Hernández-Hernández was physically assaulted for merely viewing her plot of land after being asked by a neighbour to remove two trees from the property. When local leaders were informed that the Christian woman had gone to her land, she was ambushed and brutally beaten.

• Christians Penalized for Not Participating in Festival

  

  For the fourth consecutive year, Christians from the Alpha and Omega Presbyterian Church in Nueva las Tacitas, Chiapas State, are being forced to participate in a religious festival or face fines from village leaders. Every year, the people of the area celebrate the Santa Cruz Festival on May 3rd. This festival is part of syncretistic religious beliefs, involving a combination of Roman Catholicism and traditional tribal religions.

• Christians Jailed by Village Mayor

  

  Three Christians in San Pedro Chimaltepec, a Mexican town located in eastern Oaxaca state, were jailed by the local mayor after refusing to contribute monetarily to an annual religious festival. Many residents of Oaxaca state practise a "traditionalist" mix of Catholic and indigenous religions involving rituals in which all villagers are expected to participate. The three Christian men, who are all members of the Emmanuel Mission Center Church, believed that it would be wrong for them to contribute to a festival that honours idols.

• Christians Expelled and Homes Destroyed

  

  Evangelical Christians in the San Cristóbal municipality of Chiapas State have faced opposition from other villagers for several years. In May 2016, 84 homes in the area were looted and partially destroyed, forcibly displacing 350 evangelicals. A year ago, these believers were prevented from constructing a church building and again forced to leave. In the latest incident, the homes of five Christian families in the community of Mitzitón were destroyed on January 10th, and 30 people were expelled.

• Pastor Shot and Killed

  

  Pastor Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco was waiting in his car following a church service on August 18th when he was shot without warning at point-blank range. The attacker attempted to escape, but members of the congregation were able to capture the gunman and hand him over to authorities. Unfortunately, Pastor Alfrery died while being transported to the local hospital.

• Two Missionaries Expelled

  

  Two missionaries with Christian Aid Mission went to serve amongst the Triqui people of Oaxaca, Mexico, several years ago. Because the village had restrictions on expressing religious beliefs, the women knew they would need to be accepted by the community before sharing their faith in Christ. Therefore, they set up a bakery and, through this business, had opportunities to build relationships and present the Gospel.

• Forcible Displacements of Families
  

  Multiple expulsions of religious minorities from Tuxpan de Bolaños, located in Mexico's Jalisco State, have led to the forcible displacement of 64 men, women and children from the Huichol indigenous group on December 4th because of their religious beliefs. The outcasts were violently removed from their town of residence and taken by truck into the mountains where they were left abandoned.

• Tribal Christians Building Bridges of Peace

  
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  Today, in a community dominated by members of the Wixárika tribe, many of whom still partake in pagan rituals (involving the use of a hallucinogenic drug) and sacrifices offered to their gods, remains a group of about 25 evangelical Christian converts. Many other converted followers of Christ have faced alienation, eviction from their communities, and separation from their families for refusing to take part in the ancient tribal rituals.

  Omar Rodriguez, who presides over a church in the Jalisco state capital of Guadalajara, supports persecuted Christians residing in the Tuxpan and Bolaño communities. "We are convicted that God gave us the Great Commission," he explains. "When He said to go out to the whole world, that includes our indigenous friends and compatriots who also have a need to fill the emptiness in their hearts."

  The Christians are already taking proactive steps in order to build bridges. Newly elected tribal officials were recently invited to a believer's home where food was graciously provided. They are hoping this kind gesture was received well and will help to build good relations with the new officials. Following this, another meeting had taken place on April 8th, giving the Christians an opportunity to discuss ways to ensure a more harmonious existence.

  Mr. Rodriguez says the meeting was a "very important" step and "could be the start of something." There are signs of hope that, in time, Christian Wixárikas will be able to live peacefully amongst their fellow tribal people, especially those who are in desperate need of deliverance from spiritual bondage through the power of Jesus who is risen indeed!