Profile : Mexico

Description

Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 plunged Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over 50 years. The nation continues to recover. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution and marginalised Indigenous people. Forty per cent of the population live below the poverty line. In vast Mexico City there are 18 million poor and 7 million who live in desperate economic conditions.

Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000 as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections. This has raised hopes for economic, political and social reforms.

Mexico is a secular state that allows for freedom of religion. The number of Evangelicals has grown from 2.5% in 1960 to 7% in 2000. Evangelicals have suffered persecution, particularly in the poor southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca where there have been instances of mob violence, destruction of crops, homes and churches, and arrests of believers on trumped up charges.

Leadership training is important for the church. There are well over 100 Bible schools training thousands of leaders as well as Theological Education by Extension programs.

Missionaries

• Peter and Sarah Sholl

Prayer Points

• Pray that the government will address the economic and social difficulties of Mexico to bring changes that benefit all sections of society.

• Pray that persecuted believers will demonstrate the meekness and love of Jesus.

• Pray that God will continue to raise up leaders for the church.

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Opportunities