Mexico 1
March 18th

“Mexico is the planting of God for the display of his splendor!”
and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:3,NIV).

》 Country Profile

Continent｜America
Population ｜128 million
Area｜ 1,958,201㎢ The largest country in Central America after the United States.
Capital City |  Mexico City (22 million people)
People Groups | Total 343 groups, Mestizos 62%, Native Americans 21%, European Americans 10%, Detribalized indigenous peoples 7%
People Groups Unreached | 3 (0.1%)
Languages |  Spanish
Total Languages | 293
Bible Translations | Completed 35, New Testament 134, Partial 47
Religion | Christian 95.3% (Protestant 10%, Catholic 82.7%), Non-religious 2.7%, Ethnic religions 1.8% Evangelical 10.5% 17 million people

》 About Mexico

Mexico has a rich history of advanced civilizations, including the Maya, Toltec, and Aztec cultures, which thrived long before the Spanish arrived. The Aztec civilization, which flourished for 200 years, was conquered by Spain in 1521. For the next 300 years, Mexico was under Spanish colonial rule until gaining independence in 1821. Following independence, Mexico’s political scene was marked by constant struggles between liberal decentralists and conservative centralists. In the first half of the 19th century, Mexico lost half of its territory, including California and Texas, to the United States. From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Mexico suffered under the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, a period characterized by extensive foreign capital exploitation and severe social inequality. The Mexican Revolution began in 1910, led by figures like Madero, Carranza, Obregón, Zapata, and Pancho Villa. In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) united the various revolutionary factions and maintained a single-party rule for 70 years until 2000. Mexico remains a federal republic with a six-year presidential term, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador has served as president since 2018.

Mexico’s economy became the 11th largest in the world after the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994. The economy is driven primarily by manufacturing, oil, and related industries. However, the country faces significant challenges, including severe inequality, widespread corruption, and the fact that 40% of the population lives in poverty. The drug trade, controlled by powerful cartels, also remains a major issue. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted key industries such as automotive, construction, mining, and tourism. Given that 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the U.S., there are concerns about a long-term economic recession due to the U.S. economic downturn. Mexico’s GDP per capita is approximately $17,900.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Although about 82% of Mexico’s population identifies as Catholic, this number is declining, and less than 10% of Catholics regularly attend mass. Many of these Catholics mix their faith with indigenous beliefs, worshiping spirits and even male and female deities. Meanwhile, evangelicals have grown significantly in recent decades, now making up over 10% of the population. Evangelical Christians are mostly found in northern Mexico, close to the U.S. border, and in the large southern cities where there are higher numbers of indigenous people. The Evangelical Alliance of Mexico (COMIMEX) and Pentecostal groups are bringing together churches and denominations through events like “March for Jesus” and nationwide prayer movements. Let’s pray for God to fill the Mexican church with His Spirit, so they can resist the temptations of wealth and worldly success, and instead stand as true witnesses to the glory of the Gospel.

2. Evangelical Christians who reject the blend of Catholicism and indigenous tribal beliefs often face persecution. Local governments sometimes fine people for converting to Protestantism, and some are even expelled. Drug cartels also target churches with violence and attacks. In the southern states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, many churches are standing firm against prejudice, harassment, and threats to their property and lives. We should pray for the persecuted church in Mexico, trusting that they will overcome these challenges as promised in the Bible, where it says they will “rebuild the ruins and restore the places long devastated.” Many churches are struggling financially, especially those in rural areas and poor urban neighborhoods, where pastors often have to work outside the church to make a living. Let us pray that the Mexican church will boldly proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, bringing comfort to the brokenhearted and spreading the Gospel of the cross.

3. Many foreign missionaries in Mexico are from the U.S., focusing on Bible translation, ministry to children and youth, theological education, and leadership development. Through the Evangelical Alliance of Mexico (COMIMEX), churches work with both international and domestic mission organizations, organizing prayer movements, missionary training, and networking. Pray that Mexican churches will continue to embrace the vision of reaching unreached groups within the country and that many workers will be trained and sent out for missions abroad. In central Mexico’s Rosario Belt, states like Zacatecas, Jalisco, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Colima, Michoacán, and Querétaro have less than 2% evangelical Christians. Even in the capital, Mexico City, there are no churches in the wealthy, upper-class areas, and the number of atheists and agnostics is rising. Indigenous people and slum dwellers are mostly Catholic, but their faith is mixed with traditional tribal religions, leaving them isolated or trapped in hopeless situations. Let’s proclaim that only the Gospel can bring healing to the brokenhearted, freedom to captives, and release to prisoners. Pray for a spiritual revival in Mexico, so that God may plant “trees of righteousness” who rejoice in Him.

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