Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: September 28, 2024
Praise God for some good news! An agreement has been reached in Hidalgo, Mexico.
This means that over 150 Christians who have been displaced since April should now be able to return home.
You may remember that these Protestant Christians (a religious minority in their community) had been forced from the villages of Rancho Nuevo and Coamila in Hidalgo State, Mexico.
This came after the village leaders (all Roman Catholic) cut off the families’ electricity, vandalised their church, and blocked access to some of their homes – an escalation of the discrimination and violence that we’ve been meticulously documenting for nearly a decade.
Thanks to your support and prayers, we were able to continue and step up our advocacy over these past five months, which we’d love to share more details about in future.
For now, please join us in giving thanks for the agreement and praying that these families will indeed be allowed home. We will be watching to ensure that its promises are upheld.
Under the agreement, electricity and water services have been reconnected to the homes of those who were displaced. They’ve been given a set time period to review the conditions of their homes and land, compared to when they left them in April, and have the right to access state programmes for aid, if needed.
Members of the religious minority group committed to contribute financially to community funds, which they had been blocked from paying since 2015.
For its part, the government agreed to close a criminal investigation filed with the state prosecutor’s office into those responsible for the forced displacement.
Let’s pray together:
- Give thanks for this breakthrough; that the displaced people can return home; that their electricity was restored.
- Pray that the agreement is upheld, and that local authorities follow through with their promise to respect freedom of religion or belief for everyone.
- Pray for the health of those who were displaced. Many experienced illness and infection after drinking and bathing in river water, especially children and the elderly.
Give thanks for the government’s prioritisation of this case. Pray that it represents the turning of a new page – not just in this area, but in Mexico as a whole.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.
…
To him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
(Psalm 136:1,16)