Prayer Diary: Mexico

All across Mexico, religious freedom violations are on the rise. Although its a secular state, in many parts of Mexico traditional law takes precedence over the constitution. This happens especially where there are large indigenous populations, and Protestant Christians in particular are often targeted. Many have now waited years for justice, only to see their cases ignored or even archived by the officials responsible for helping them.

In other parts of the country, Christians come under threat from criminal groups who demand total support and cooperation from the communities where they are present. Churches are regularly targeted for extortion and attempts at money laundering. Church leaders who refuse to work with these groups because of the conflict with their faith are threatened and sometimes killed.

This week, please:

• Pray for government officials to proactively uphold religious freedom in areas where violations are a common occurrence, and for an end to impunity and corruption;
• Ask God to change the hearts of local leaders who seek to impose one religion on their community and persecute those of other faiths;
• Ask God to encourage and provide for victims of religious freedom violations, especially those who have been forcibly displaced because of their beliefs and have lost everything;
• Thank God for organisations like Impulso 18, our partners, which are working to raise awareness of the religious freedom violations in Mexico;
• Ask God to protect Christians living under threat of violence because of their beliefs;
• Pray for church leaders working in areas where powerful criminal groups are present, that they would have wisdom when they are forced to make difficult decisions;
• Pray for the leaders of criminal groups in Mexico, and ask God to work in their hearts to bring them to repentance.