In the third week of Lent, were turning our focus to Latin America: Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru. Next month will hopefully see a peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC, a leftist guerilla group, after decades of violent civil war. This is hugely encouraging news for Colombian Christians, who are often violently attacked by the FARC. The FARC have been responsible for atrociously violating the right of religious freedom in Colombia, regularly targeting churches and their leaders, and restricting people’s right to worship freely. Government forces are also guilty of human rights violations and continue to forcibly recruit conscientious objectors, based on their religious convictions.

In Mexico, Christians are still being driven from their homes. For example, this year in Oaxaca State, a Protestant and and his family have been banned from their village and the children have been stopped from going to school.

This week, please pray:

• For Protestant Christians in Mexico – that God would be their strength, as they live in communities who are often hostile towards them;
• That Christians who have been forced to leave their homes would find safe places to stay;
• For peace and harmony to reign in multi-religious communities in Mexico;
• Thanking God for the peace agreement in Colombia;
• That the peace agreement would pave the way for true peace in Colombia;
• For safety for the young men in Colombia who are forced to fight despite their religious objections;
• For God to protect Christians in Colombia who are often targeted by guerrilla groups.