MEXICO – Evangelicals told to 'leave town or die'

A very interesting post from www.releaseinternational.org about discrimination in Mexico. This follows this post about Mexican Independence Day, during which you might hear the "Grito." This follows this article about  American energy independence and preventing money from going to hostile countries such as Iran and Venezuela. For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and read this very interesting book HERE!

MEXICO – Evangelicals told to 'leave town or die'




About 70 evangelical Christians have been forced to leave their homes in Puebla state after other townsfolk threatened to 'crucify or lynch' them if they stayed.



The evangelicals from San Rafael Tlanalapan were forced out last Monday, effectively expelled by the town's majority who follow a blend of indigenous and traditional Catholic rituals.



Compass Direct news agency reports that the traditionalist townsfolk cited a 20-year-old diktat that only Catholic places of worship were permitted in San Rafael Tlanalapan, which is about 60 miles from Mexico City. The evangelicals have never been allowed to build a church.



Animosity against the evangelicals has been building for years. In 2006, they appealed for government help after their water supply was cut off.



Things came to a head on September 4 when a local priest reportedly instructed his church to put pressure on the evangelicals to leave for good. Three days later, a town chief met with the evangelicals. About 200 traditionalists also attended the meeting and threatened to attack them and their property.



It was agreed that the evangelicals would leave on September 12. Most have sought refuge in nearby towns. Some have reportedly sought sanctuary in a church.



Religious rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that officials in San Jose de Axuxco, also in Puebla state, have recently cut off water supplies to members of a Baptist church after they refused to make financial contributions to a Catholic festival.



The Mexican constitution grants indigenous communities some autonomy to exercise traditional law – to protect indigenous customs. However, Compass Direct reports that some lawyers claim local authorities sometimes misuse this legislation to violate minorities' religious rights.



Conflict between traditionalists and other religious minorities such as evangelicals has occurred in other Mexican states, most noticeably Chiapas. ASSIST News Service points out that this most recent example differs in so far as it has occurred in central Mexico, not a remote rural area. Evangelicals account for more than 8 per cent of Mexico's population, according to Operation World.



NEWS UPDATE:

Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, who has been given the death sentence for 'apostasy', returns to court this Sunday (September 25) for a judicial review of his case (Prayer Alert, July 1, 2011). Pastor Yousef, a father-of-two from Rasht, was sentenced to death in September 2010 – but the Supreme Court recently referred his case back to the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan, specifically to verify whether he was previously a practising Muslim. Pastor Yousef claims that, although he was raised in a Muslim home, he was never a Muslim by choice – so he should not be regarded as an apostate.



For a country profile and news stories about Iran, go to: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/iran.php



(Sources: ASSIST News Service, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Compass Direct, Middle East Concern, Operation World)



• Ask God to comfort and provide for the evangelicals expelled from San Rafael Tlanalapan. Ask Him to guide and prosper them.

• Pray for a change of heart among traditionalists and their leaders. Pray that they will see God in all His glory and experience His love and grace.

• Pray for justice for Yousef Nadarkhani, that the death sentence will be revoked and that he will be released.