In the early hours of 7 April, armed assailants stormed the Shaddai Rehabilitation Center in Culiacán, Sinaloa, brutally killing nine people, including the facility’s director, Raúl Ponce. Later that day, the center’s founder, Guillermo Rodríguez Gaxiola, was abducted and found murdered the following night.
According to survivors, the attack occurred around 2am when masked gunmen broke into the Christian-based facility. The director attempted to plead for mercy, but his words failed to deter the killers.
One survivor recalls, “They told us to get up and go downstairs. As soon as they lined us up, the shooting started.”
Eight victims died at the scene and a ninth succumbed to injuries while receiving medical care. Several others, aged 21 to 53, were injured—some critically—and are recovering in local hospitals. A survivor noted that the toll could have been higher if one gunman’s rifle hadn’t jammed: “They were going to kill us all, but they fled when the rifle stopped working.”
Founder Killed
On Monday evening, 7 April, authorities discovered the body of Shaddai Rehabilitation founder, Guillermo Rodríguez Gaxiola, 55, who had been kidnapped just hours earlier. Rodríguez, a respected figure in Sinaloa’s Christian community, was known for his commitment to helping those battling addiction.
A former addict himself, he was outspoken against corruption and drug trafficking. In a 2015 interview he stated, “Many young people today are caught in the world of drugs because of corruption and a lost society.”
His transformation through faith inspired him to dedicate his life to the vulnerable. “I feel very grateful to God for giving me a second chance. The life of an addict is a life of suffering.”
Gripped by violence
According to the state’s Attorney General, ongoing cartel clashes have claimed over 1,000 lives since September 2024. Faith-driven social initiatives like Shaddai are often seen by cartels as threats—especially when they divert youth from drug use and crime.
Christians in the area live in fear. David Durán*, a local pastor and a volunteer with Open Doors, says, “Churches are losing members. People have stopped gathering. Some are too scared to leave their homes, others are fleeing altogether. Soon, services may only be held behind closed doors.”
Ana*, another Open Doors team member, offered a heartfelt plea: “We pray the Lord brings peace to this land and that authorities restore order. We lift the families of the 10 victims in prayer, asking God to comfort them and heal their wounds.”
*Names changed for security purposes.
Pray for Mexico
- For the families of those killed at the rehabilitation centre.
- That God protects His people in areas with drug cartels and criminal gangs.
- For God to strengthen Open Doors’ local partners to help build Jesus’ Kingdom.
Stay updated with the latest prayer requests from the persecuted church.
