MexicoAG.org

On October 9th, incoming Area director Dave Greco met with Mexico’s A/G leaders regarding partnership in ministry to the indigenous and ethnic groups in Mexico.

The meeting in Chihuahua City with Salvador Salazar- National Missions Director, César Casillas – National Missions Treasurer, and Cruz Velázquez – Home Missions Director and pioneer missionary to the Tarahumara Indians, is expected to be a profitable one.

Let’s pray for our leaders and also over this partnership as it grows and develops:

• wisdom – “But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. James 3:17 NIV
• workers – “For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God” I Cor. 3:9 AMP; “He said to them, “There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.” Luke 10:2 NCV
• unity – “And that’s about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure.” 2 Cor. 13:11 MSG

Federal law in Mexico gives each individual a right to worship freely. So why are indigenous people in Mexico who come to faith persecuted, thrown out of their villages, or even martyred without any justice?

Because federal law stops outside the borders of the indigenous culture. Each indian village operates according to their own law. Earlier this month in Oaxaca State, catholic Indians in a Zapotec village burned the pentecostal church to the ground. The thirteen families that make up the congregation were either detained from leaving the village or forbidden to reenter. They were also threatened with lynching.

The pastor filed a lawsuit, but the local prosecutor’s reply was that evangelicals can’t be trusted and the pastor was fabricating stories, even though evidence was concrete: a heap of ashes where the church stood only days before. Neither could the congregants depend on help from their local authority, since he himself had been one of the perpetrators.

This story is repeated with varying circumstances throughout the indigenous pueblos of Mexico. It rarely makes the news however, since it is considered a private village matter.

Let’s pray for the indigenous believers throughout Mexico:

• comfort in suffering – “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” Psalm 119:49,50 NIV
• encouragement – “From the ends of the earth I call you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.” Psalm 61:2,3 NIV
• endurance – “God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God bless you you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about…be happy…for a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.” Matthew 5:1012 NLT
• defense – “Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” Psalm 60:11,12 NIV

In Mexico today there remain fifty-six ethnic groups, with more than 298 subgroups and dialects. The name of some may sound familiar to you, such as the Zapotecs, the Mayans, and the Tarahumaras. Yet there are others you may never have heard of and perhaps can’t even pronounce, such as the Ixcatecos, the Matlazincas, and the Cuicatecos.

The good news is that the Gospel has been taken to a number of them – some churches and preaching points have been established, with limited materials available in various languages. There remains, however, a two-fold challenge: first, to aid those churches and their pastors, as their need for co-laborers is great, and second, to reach the remaining groups with the Truth.

At last year’s Concilio Nacional, the Mexico Assemblies of God motioned for each district to appoint a promoter of ethnic groups as part of their vision for the indigenous harvest. Some districts have already done this.

We, as the Mexico Missionary Fellowship, have the privilege to partner with the national church in this through prayer and awareness. Gabriel Borbolla, director CAMAD, the Missionary Training Center in Oaxaca, says, “Without information, there is no passion”.

In order for us to pray with knowledge and passion, information about these unique groups will be posted to this site on a regular basis.

Let’s begin today by praying for:

• God to birth a passion in each of us for one of these groups
• All laborers involved in ministry to the ethnic groups of Mexico
• The districts and their appointed promoters
• More laborers sent into this specific harvest
• Necessary resources
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Concern in Mexico changed overnight from its dangerous drug cartels to a deadly virus. The nation has been put on hold.

Fear in eyes, masks on faces. Schools, government offices, and museums have been closed. Public meetings, including church services, cancelled. Businesses and tourism are losing billions of pesos nationwide.

Mexico’s people are asked to suspend part of their identity (no Cinco de Mayo festivities) as well as part of their Latin culture (stop greeting one another with kisses and handshakes).

What more can this country take? Prayer – and a lot of it.

Please join us as we intercede:

• Pray for the sick; for an end to the suffering.
• Pray for families who have lost a loved one to the virus.
• Intercede for believers as they boldly pray for the sick and proclaim the Good News of eternal life.
• Ask for the peace of God to be felt across the land, and for many to commit their lives to the Prince of Peace.
• Pray for pastors, Christian leaders, and missionaries to remain healthy with a steadfast trust in the Lord.

May we see God’s hand at work in response to our prayers!

Photo provided by sarihuella on flickr.com

Again the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has had no rain or showers in the day of wrath.’ There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’-when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.
“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
–Ezekiel 22:23-31

You’ll notice in this passage that God points out five levels of society to Ezekiel and reveals the corruption, violence and sin that is destroying each area:

1. The Princes – these are the highest rulers in the land. God reveals that they are devouring the people, destroying families and taking the wealth of the land.
2. The Priests – the religious leaders. They do not expose sin and they profane God’s Name, actually turning people away from true righteousness.
3. The Public Officials – the local leaders. They destroy lives for money.
4. The Prophets – the spiritual influencers of the land. They give false visions and revelations, helping to hide the true state of sinfulness in the nation.
5. The People – the masses. They also practice sin, stealing from and mistreating one another.

When I read this passage I immediately think of Mexico. For centuries corruption, greed and violence have destroyed every level of society in this country, from Presidents down to the local store shop owners on every corner. Idolatry, theft, bribery and murder have ravaged this nation. Even now we are seeing another wave of violence and corruption that is destroying lives.

But just as in Ezekiel’s time, God is looking for those who would see what He sees and stand in the gap in intercession so that He can pour out mercy and grace instead of judgment and wrath. Unfortunately for the case with Ezekiel, God “found none”. That has to be one of the most tragic verses in the whole Bible! There was not one person that God could share His heart with, reveal the true situation of the nation to, and who would respond in selfless love to intercede for mercy.

I pray that God would find in you and I people who are willing to receive His burden and His love to stand in the gap on behalf of Mexico. Allow the Holy Spirit to break you and cause you to cry out to God for mercy for every one of these five levels of society.

Pray for:

1. The President of Mexico – Felipe Calderón. Pray that God would touch him, his family and those in his inner circle of leadership that they would bow their knees to Jesus Christ and rule with righteousness.
2. The Religious leaders of Mexico. Pray for Catholic Priests to have a revelation of the Risen Lord! Pray for Pastors of all denominations to rise up and preach truth.
3. The Local leaders in Mexico. Pray for Senators, Mayors and Municipal Leaders to come to Christ, to govern with righteousness, to turn from bribery and extortion.
4. The Spiritual Influencers of Mexico. Pray that God would break the back of idolatry and witchcraft in Mexico, that He would shut the mouths of false prophets and raise up true preachers of righteousness in the land.
5. Pray for the people of Mexico. Pray that God would grant repentance to the people of Mexico, that they would come to a true knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The fate of Mexico is not in the hands of the President, or the Federal Police, or any other organization… it’s in the hands of the Church. May we feel God’s pain and God’s love and be moved to our knees.

Guanajuato is a state in the central highlands of Mexico whose name means “Hill of Frogs”. The first battle in Mexico’s war for independence resulted in a march from Dolores to the capital city of Guanajuato, which has since been declared a World Heritage site. Guanajuato also is home to Mexico’s Mummy Museum and is the state from which hails Vicente Fox, Mexico’s former president.

Guanajuato is one of the states that comprise the Heart of Darkness, aka the 10/40 window of Latin America, since its percentage of evangelicals is less than 2%.

Guerrero, located on the pacific coast and named after Mexican president Vicente Guerrero, is known for its three main areas of tourism of which Acapulco is most famous. There remain today more than 300,000 Nahuatl-speaking people, even though the Spanish conquest brought a sharp decline to the native population during that time.

Guerrero is not included in the Heart of Darkness, yet its percentage of evangelicals censused was less than 6%.

Let’s Pray:

• For the believers in these two states- “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” Eph 6:18 ESV
• For pastors and ministry workers – “My friends, by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the love that comes from the Holy Spirit, I beg you to pray sincerely with me and for me.” Rom 15:30 CEV
• For conviction of sin by the Spirit – “But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you. The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God’s justice and the judgment.” John 16:7,8 CEV
• For the power and conviction as the Word is preached – “Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction”. I Thess 1:5 NIV

The state of Colima, tucked between Jalisco and Michoacan along the Pacific coast, carries a spiritual history. It’s capital city is believed to be the third one established in Nueva España by Hernán Cortés for the purpose of helping guide departed souls safely to heaven’s door. Previously, its ancient people believed that dogs served as a pathway from earth to paradise.

The state of Durango, known foremost as the land of scorpions and secondly as the land of movies, is located in the arid northern region of Mexico. Indigenous people, including the Tepehuanos, make up 10% of its population. In the mysterious Zona Del Silencio (Silent Zone), many visitors have testified to having paranormal experiences or sensing other strange phenomena.

According to a national census, less than 4% of both Colima and Durango’s population claims to be evangelical.

Let’s Pray:

• Spiritual strongholds to be broken. “The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds” II Cor. 10: 4
• Light and life to come to the 96%. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” John 1: 4
• Workers of light to be raised up and/or sent. “There came a man sent from God…to testify of the light so that all men might believe.” John 1:6,7
• For the body of Christ present in this area, to be encouraged and strengthened in faith and power. “May Jesus Christ…encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

Here they come! Youth missions teams from across the U.S. are arriving in Mexico for one and two week trips throughout the summer. A flurry of activity for both the teams and the missionaries hosting them is in progress, some in preparation while others have already arrived and are in the thick of ministry.

Although many reasons abound for such trips, let us never forget the bottom line: the Great Commission. Houses or churches will be built, mimes and puppet shows will have their audiences, medical teams will minister healing, and crusades will be preached to the masses- all to fulfill the simple command to ‘go, share the Good News, and make disciples’.

Excitement is in the air – and the nitty gritty on the ground.

Unique personalities, unfavorable conditions, various levels of maturity (spiritual, emotional, and physical), changing circumstances, and often rigid or culturally irrelevant expectations all converge to influence the outcome of the effort made by teams. Let’s do our part and add prayer to the mix. God hears and answers and even now waits to receive our petitions:

For both missionary and the team, let’s pray:

• John 3:30 – that Jesus will increase as all others decrease
• I Peter 4:8 – that above all, fervent love will be kept for one another
• Zech 4:6 – ministry accomplished through the Spirit rather than by power or might
• Psalm 91 – for safety, peace, and protection
• Mark 16:20 – that the Word preached would be confirmed by signs and wonders

Unrest has been brewing for some time along the border as a result of the government crackdown against narcotrafficking and corruption. This week the U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert due to the increase of violence by heavily armed cartels, kidnappings and homicides. Also, reportedly unconnected to narcotics-related violence, armed robberies, public shootouts and carjackings have been on the rise.

Cities mentioned in the alert include Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua City, Matamoros, and Nuevo Laredo.

• Pray for God’s intervention
• Pray for believers and churches of these cities
• Pray for the protection of missionaries living/working in these areas:
• Art and Joyce Stoneking – Tijuana
• Nickie and Janie Rider – Chihuahua City
• Mike and Peggy McDonald - Ciudad Juarez
• Mark and Sandy Smith family – Reynosa/Matamoros
• Mike and Becky McGee family – Reynosa/Matamoros
• Bruce and Bonita Thomas – Nuevo Laredo

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License

Chihuahua, known for it’s beef, ranchero music, and Pancho Villa, is home to the Tarahumara Indians and also hosts the largest of eight settlements of Old Colony Germans in Mexico (similar to the Amish). Its largest border city, Ciudad Juarez, has been dubbed ‘the killing fields of Mexico’ for its number of murdered women over the past decade.

Coahuila, birthplace to nachos and cheese, shares the Chihuahua desert, the largest in North America, with its neighbor to the west. Due to the diversity of featured springs, mountains, lagoons, forests and white-sand oasis, it is evolving into a leisure hotspot.

Although both states have a strong established church, we must pray for growth and new converts as the percentage of evangelicals still averages around 8%.

Let’s Pray:

• for the people groups found within these states – to be delivered from paganistic or empty religious traditions
• for the church leadership to have continued vision and wisdom in evangelism and church planting strategies
• for pastors to be encouraged in their faith through a fresh anointing
  for revival among God’s people
• for salvation of the lost
• for a diminishing of drug trafficking and murder in the border cities

Missionaries’ Needs:

• Dave Cave – healing from cancer
• Nick Pino – healing from cancer
• Ruth Pino – continued strength and recovery from hip surgery
• Carolyn Huneycutt – healing of infection that resulted from dental procedure
• Bonita Thomas – broken leg is not healing properly