Source:  www.csw.org.uk

Date:  October 9, 2022

 

'Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.' (Psalm 103:2 NLT)

Today we praise God for a breakthrough in our campaign to reinstate the water, electricity and sewerage services of Protestant Christian families in the village of El Encanto, Chiapas State, Mexico. 

Government officials have now recognised that a crime may have been committed, which gives us hope that justice may prevail. 

Your faith or your water supply

Thank you for raising your voice for Consepción Gómez Santiz (pictured) and other Protestant Christian families, who have been living without access to water in their homes since 2016.

Local authorities disconnected their water supply after they refused to take part in activities associated with the majority religion. The local authorities then blocked sewerage and electricity services from being installed in their homes.

Over 1,000 people like you have emailed the Mexican government officials as part of our campaign, and many of you have joined us in prayer. 

It’s hugely encouraging to see some fruit just six months after we launched this campaign. Your prayers are being answered!

Hope for a fair solution

Last month, the municipal Public Prosecutor’s Office received information regarding the ongoing human rights violations in El Encanto. The office then reached out to a representative of the religious minority group asking them to officially verify the information.

This essentially means that the Chiapas state government now recognises that a crime may have taken place. This gives us hope that they will conduct a proper investigation, that the local authorities will be held to account, and the rights of the religious minority will be restored and protected.

But this is just the beginning. Nobody knows how the village leaders will react to the investigation, so we must keep praying.

Please pray:

  • Giving thanks that the Chiapas state government may now recognise the human rights violations experienced by religious minority families in El Encanto.
  • For strength and protection over all the Protestant Christian families, and that their essential services will be swiftly reinstated.
  • That the local leaders in El Encanto will cooperate with the Public Prosecutor’s investigation and recognise that their actions are illegal.
  • That the proper handling of this case will serve as a positive example to other communities in Mexico where intolerance is rife.
  • For peace, reconciliation and respect for freedom of religion or belief for all in El Encanto, and across Mexico.

Will you help us keep up the pressure for Consepción’s family? Join the campaign today!