by Jon Konnerup
No doubt you have heard how terrible the situation in Mexico is becoming. The drug cartels’ violent struggle for regional control coupled with the government forces seeking to stop the fighting and trafficking threaten the safety of our missionaries and believers.
These cartels have existed for decades, but with the demise of the Colombian cartels, those in Mexico have gained momentum. The U.S. State Department has issued numerous travel warnings for those visiting and living in Mexico.
It is imperative we understand the danger and risk our missionaries and their national churches are under. While they take all the necessary precautions, they still depend upon our daily prayers. We have already heard of one missionary wife (with another organization) being killed by the bullets of drug lords. Some missionaries have received threats. National pastors and some of their family have been kidnapped by cartels asking for ransom money.
The cartels seek people in communities to support them and even threaten churches if they don’t take their side. National pastors have been threatened and church finances are demanded to support the cartels’ cause.
In spite of all this danger, our missionaries continue with their evangelism efforts, church planting, and leadership training. They make the necessary travel adjustments, change meeting places often, and do not post church financial information or pastor names and phone numbers. We must persist in lifting them up in prayer.
2012 London Summer Olympics
While government and Olympic officials, organizers, and athletes are busy with their preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, so are we. We met in London in September with a group of missionaries interested in maximizing the impact of this event by using it for the proclamation of the gospel.
We have a list of missionaries who are making preparations to evangelize their own communities through these Olympic events. Others are focused on personally presenting the gospel to visitors from around the world. There will be opportunities to assist local churches with organized community events, youth camps, and other evangelism opportunities using a variety of methods.
Accommodations during the Olympics will be an issue, so many members of the UK churches are opening their homes to make it possible for teams from the U.S. to partner with them during the games.
Time is of the essence and space will be limited. Airline tickets will be secured as soon as they become available (usually six months prior to departure). The Mission Office will maintain a list of missionaries participating and the different events they will be coordinating. In January we will provide resources for training the groups who would like to be involved in this outreach effort. Contact Jim Smith at the Mission Office for a list of the missionaries and opportunities.