In 2021, CSW had the privilege of meeting over 40 indigenous men and women across Mexico who are facing discrimination and/or violence because of their religious beliefs. They shared their daily struggles as well as their hopes for the future. We see hope arise from affliction in Lamentations 3:21-23 as the prophet Jeremiah proclaims: ‘I still dare to hope when I remember…the faithful love of the Lord never ends’. Throughout this week, please pray for God to strengthen religious minority communities in Mexico with daring hope.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/Mexico

Sunday 6 March

Many religious minorities in Mexico are verbally and physically harassed when they travel to places of worship on days like today. Please pray for God to fill the hearts of perpetrators with love and respect for those who do not share their religious beliefs.

Monday 7 March

We thank God for a recent shift towards dialogue between two Protestant families and the local authorities in La Mesa Limantitla, who have harassed and pressured these families to renounce their faith since 2019. Please pray for peace, reconciliation and lasting solutions for these families and the wider community.

Tuesday 8 March

Last year, CSW interviewed over 25 indigenous women from religious minority communities in Mexico. On International Women’s Day, today, please pray that God would strengthen these women, who often face unique challenges in terms of how religious freedom violations can negatively affect their health, income and their ability to carry out the household work that usually falls under their responsibility. Ask God to use CSW’s research to bring about lasting change in their communities.

Wednesday 9 March

Rafaela from Guerrero state told CSW: ‘We feel sad because we do not know if they will help us. The [local] authorities always refuse.’ Ask God to move the hearts of the local, state and federal government authorities to pursue justice for those being denied it because of their faith.

Thursday 10 March

Many indigenous communities in rural Mexico have limited access to healthcare, and religious minorities are often denied access to services that are available. Pray that God would move individuals to offer practical and financial support to religious minority families suffering from sickness, and for this discrimination ultimately to end.

Friday 11 March

Seven Protestant families in El Encanto have been living without water services since 2016, sewerage facilities since 2018, and electricity since 2020, because they refuse to cooperate with religious majority activities. Please pray for the local authorities to have a change of heart and reinstate these essential services.

Saturday 12 March

Lord God, we thank you for religious minority communities in Mexico who choose faith over fear each day. We join the apostle Paul in praying: ‘May the God of hope fill [them] with all joy and peace in believing, so…[they] may abound in hope.’ Romans 15:13.

Download a printable copy of this week’s Prayer Diary.