CHIAPAS, Mexico – Five Christian families recently lost their homes and fields in southern Mexico for not participating in traditional religious festivals. Requests for government intervention were ignored, and nearby churches are providing the displaced believers with emergency supplies and lodging.

Evangelical Christians from indigenous communities in southern mexico, are often persecuted simply because they don’t participate in the traditional religious celebrations of their villages. this happened again just weeks ago, leaving thirty three people homeless, including women and children.

Here’s the story from Chiaphas, Mexico:

Five families were driven out and forced to become internal refugees because they profess a faith that is not the traditional one. on the 19th of October, thirty three evangelical Christians were forced to leave the Napite’ neighborhood of San Cristobal de las Casas. Maria, daughter of pastor Octavio, is directing the logistics of caring and providing for these brothers and sisters who are now refugees.

Maria, Manages assistance:

“We are looking at all the needs they have, but we have also talked to the government authorities about a quick solution, and the solution we want is for them to go home soon, that they will be able to return to their community and have religious freedom. The authorities have not yet given us any information, and we are asking God to work out their return and above all that they might have freedom to worship.”

Pastor Alberto Garcia of the King Jesus House of Prayer Baptist Church, together with Pastor Ramon Hernandez, has distributed more than six hundred pounds of basic supplies which were collected in the municipality of Las Margaritas and the city of Monterrey. this was necessary because those displaced from Napite’ left with just the clothes on their backs. they had to leave behind all of their belongings. Esdras Alonso, director of Eagles’ Wings, is the one managing the legal process.

Dolores Hernandez, 21 Grams Mission:

“We are caring for and encouraging our brothers and sisters who suffer from religious intolerance in their communities and are sometimes driven out, while others are harassed and pressured to abandon their faith in order to stay in their communities. So our association is committed to vulnerable groups, not only because of religious persecution but sometimes for other issues that the government ignores or says don’t exist. We’re with the group from Napite’ now but there are other groups who for 10 years have been displaced and the government still has not given them a solution.”

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