PRAY FOR MEXICO
– That God protects His people in areas with drug cartels and criminal gangs.
– For God to continue drawing indigenous communities to Himself.
– For God to strengthen Open Doors’ local partners to help build Jesus’ Kingdom.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Mexico
#31Christians face intimidation and abuse from gangs and drug cartels.
bottom“We’re being watched because the children we serve are considered a human resource for the cartels so they may see us as a threat to their interests.”
– Marcos Lara, persecuted believer
Country
Profile
- Region
- Latin America
- Sources of persecution
- Organised Corruption and Crime
- Population
- 129,388,000
- Christian population
- 123,265,000
- Religions
- Christianity
- Leader
- President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo
- Score
- 71
What’s Life Like For Christians?
Although the majority of Mexico’s population is Christian, many believers live in danger of persecution, particularly from criminal gangs, drug cartels, and indigenous groups. In many parts of the country, the presence of criminal groups is growing. Christians who bravely speak out against their activities, or who are involved in community work or evangelism (especially with youth, drug addicts, and migrants) are deemed a threat. That makes them a target. In some cases, Christian children or the children of church leaders are singled out.
In some Indigenous communities, those who decide to leave ancestral and traditional beliefs to follow Jesus face ostracism, fines, incarceration, and forced displacement. Given that Indigenous leaders are those who administer justice in such areas, believers have no one to support them in investigating wrongdoing and protecting their religious freedom. These families can also face harassment from the community, such as property damage, restriction of access to schools for their children, and threats.
Mexico is a strictly secular state, and hostility toward Christian faith and values has increased in general, while public expressions of Christianity face increasingly strong legal scrutiny.
Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?
There are believed to be around 150 active criminal groups throughout Mexico, with at least one operating in each state. The capital, Mexico City, is among the areas strongly influenced by cartels. Persecution is a real risk for any Christian living in these areas who is deemed a threat to cartel activity.
In the south of Mexico, Christians who leave traditional indigenous beliefs for Christianity are especially at risk of hostility and displacement.
What Does Open Doors Do To Help?
Open Doors strengthens persecuted believers in Mexico with biblical training, legal support, trauma care, and socio-economic aid.
