With its rich cultural heritage and traditions that hold influence far beyond its own borders, Mexico is a country with a varied spiritual history. Despite steady growth in the Christian community, better discipleship, theological education, and more churches are needed, particularly in the ‘Circle of Silence’.
With a population of over 28 million people, the Circle of Silence is an area in Central Mexico where many people live and die without hearing God’s good news. In fact, it’s the largest population of least-reached people in Spanish-speaking Latin America, where less than one percent of people have heard the gospel.
Since 2022, David, Maribel and their family have served in the Circle of Silence, where they’re seeking to proclaim and share the gospel faithfully within their community, disciple people and serve the local church.
They’re currently living near a city, which has a high percentage of Catholic believers, alongside tribal worship of the spirits and witchcraft. Drug and gang crime are both troubling problems, especially with the unstable political system. In the three areas of the city David and Maribel reach out to, gambling, alcoholism and prostitution also prevail.
“But in an area where darkness seems to reign, there is light,” shares David.
“The church mission that I oversee reaches out and tries to shine the hope of Christ in a dark area of the city. Once a month, we run a children’s outreach, a prayer meeting and Bible study, and Sunday services. We are currently praying for mission workers to come and join us in this work, and hope that God will send the right people.”
David and Maribel also work with Predica Vida, which exists to equip the local churches to be faithful Bible handlers and to be able to preach and teach with excellence. The course has close links with SIM – mission worker Donald is the Principle, and Becky helps to teach the women’s ministry. It’s currently based online, although there’s hope they’ll be able to create a training centre in the city.
“Predica Vida sees the great need for faithful Bible handling because many churches aren’t preaching the gospel – instead they preach the prosperity gospel, which robs people of the salvation they could have in Jesus Christ,” says David.
This year, 15 students have joined the course and every Saturday, they meet online to read through a book of the Bible together, discussing the passages and looking at what the Bible actually says – not what doctrines it teaches.
“We want the students to see that the Bible can speak for itself, and not what others say it teaches us,” explains David.
In the Saturday sessions, the students are also given the opportunity to practise preaching and teaching in their God-given roles.
Earlier this year, another part of Predica Vida began: Predica Vida Damas (Women’s Life Ministry) which Maribel runs. Predica Vida Damas is a specific time for the women on the course to meet online, to look at scripture and pray with one another.
“The purpose is to support women in ministry and give them a space where they can pour out their concerns or worries, find encouragement and build each other up in the faith,” David shares.
Recently, David and Maribel, along with Donald, went to Oaxaca (a city in southern Mexico) where they visited a church seeking Christ-centered training, to teach on the book of Jonah. During a conversation with one of the students, the lady told Maribel how her brother’s house had been burnt down, because he was a Christian Pastor.
“Maribel asked me to come and speak to the lady. I shared scriptures encouraging her and prayed with her. It was a highlight of the time for me – helping students in their circumstances is always a privilege and an honour that God has bestowed on us,” shares David.
“Life in Mexico brings many trials, but the Lord is worth it.”
‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’
James 1:2-4
Please pray
- For more mission workers to go and live and serve in the Circle of Silence, to reach out to people currently living and dying without hearing God’s good news;
- that the students on the Predica Vida course would be encouraged in their faith and grow into their God-given gifts;
- That Christians in Mexico will be well-equipped to discern between true and false teaching well, and share the true life found in Jesus with those around them.
Get involved
Find out how you could serve in Mexico – start a conversation with us today: [email protected]
