In addition to violence and threats from criminal groups, Christians in Mexico face massive displacement as a result of pressure from gangs. Families are forced to abandon their homes and, often, their ministries in search of safety.
Juan* and Rebeca*, who have been involved in evangelistic ministry in Mexico for more than 15 years, live in an area controlled by drug traffickers. They focus on reaching people directly involved with gangs, such as drug users, dealers and moneylenders.
In February of this year, one of the young men the couple was discipling was tortured and forced to reveal who the pastor was who had introduced him to Jesus. For this reason, Juan began to be persecuted and threatened with death. Juan, Rebeca and more than 150 people had to leave their homes due to the increasing threats.
Half of the internally displaced Christians are new converts. Some of the areas that followers of Jesus have been forced to leave today are known as “ghost towns.” These have become increasingly common as organized crime advances in Mexico.
In the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico, more than three thousand people have had to leave their homes due to constant territorial fights between gangs. The same situation has led to the closure of 100 churches in the region. This state is known for the recurrent persecution of indigenous Christians.
For Jorge Jiménez*, researcher for Puertas Abiertas in Mexico, the current federal intervention measures against criminal groups have contributed to the strengthening of cartels and gangs. The certainty of impunity makes criminals bolder, and he believes that the situation could worsen in the coming months, during the presidential elections in Mexico.
Source: puertasabiertasal.org
