Evangelical Pastor Assassinated

Mariano Díaz Méndez, 38, a minister of the Tzotzil Evangelical Church, was assassinated on October 24 near the town of San Juan Chamula in Mexico's troubled southern state of Chiapas.According to an October 28 report from Compass Direct, Méndez was near the village of Botatulán, on his way to a prayer service, when heavily armed men stopped his automobile around 3:00 p.m.

According to witnesses, Méndez left his vehicle, attempting to evade his attackers, when they shot him to death with an AK-47 assault rifle. Mariano Díaz Méndez is survived by his wife, the former María Pérez Gómez, and a daughter, Rosa.

Chiapas, Mexico

Méndez is the second evangelical pastor to die in the past two weeks. On October 17, Jairo Solís López was killed in the municipality of Mapastepec. The circumstances surrounding Solís's death are unclear, but sources fear that this is a resurgence of persecution against evangelicals by local caciques, or powerful community chieftains. Caciques practice "traditionalist" religion, a semi-pagan mix of Roman Catholic beliefs and ancient Mayan religion. Over the past thirty years, scores of evangelicals have died and hundreds injured. About 35,000 live in ghettos around the district capital of San Cristóbal de las Casas, having been forced to leave their homes by caciques. Recently cacaques had issued threats in San Juan Chamula, saying that the evangelical leaders would fall one by one.

Pray for divine protection for Christians living in this troubled area of Mexico. Pray that the authorities will provide protection and will be willing to prosecute those responsible for these crimes. Pray for Méndez's wife and daughter, as they grieve this terrible loss.


 

  • Country Information

    Population
    129,875,529 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) (62), Predominantly Amerindian (21), Amerindian (7), other (10)

    Religion (%)
    Roman Catholic/Syncretism (78) Evangelical (11.2) unaffiliated (10.6)

    Leader
    President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (2024)

    Government type
    Federal presidential republic

    Legal system
    Civil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Mexico

    Pray that the Christians residing within these regions will exemplify the grace of God toward those who oppose them. May these believers be further strengthened and encouraged to continue faithfully sharing the Gospel and demonstrating the love of Jesus. Ask the Lord to abundantly bless and multiply their efforts, resulting in a great harvest of lasting spiritual fruit in the lives of those within their communities and beyond – impacting the nation of Mexico as a whole.

Mexico News

  • New Beginnings for Exiled Christians
    A white church is surrounded by trees. A mountain is in the background.
    A church building in Hidalgo.
    Photo: Wikimedia / Frankms (cc)
     

    Members of the Great Commission Baptist Church in the Mexican villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo have frequently encountered opposition from hostile community leaders. About a year ago, more than a hundred church members were forced to flee their homes and villages. (Click here to read more details regarding the displacement of these believers.)

  • Christians Displaced Again After Negotiating Agreement
    People are walking uphill, surrounded by trees.
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    Members of the Great Commission Baptist Church in the Mexican villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo have frequently encountered opposition from community leaders for refusing to participate in festivals that go against their Christian beliefs. In March 2024, these difficulties came to a head when Pastor Rogelio Hernández Baltazar was arbitrarily detained, along with other church leaders, for 48 hours. Eventually, 151 believers were forced to leave their homes and find refuge in the nearby city of Huejutla de los Reyes.

  • Displaced Christians Allowed to Return Home
    A congregation in Mexico is standing together.
    A church service in Mexico.
    Photo: VOMC

    On April 26th, 151 members of the Great Commission Baptist Church from two villages in Hidalgo State were forced from their homes because of their belief in Christianity. These believers have experienced years of tension because of their refusal to participate in local religious festivals involving their villages' ancient tribal rituals, drunkenness and debauchery. Prior to the forced displacement, hostile community members physically attacked several of the believers, turned off the power to their homes, banned their Christian children from attending school, and committed many other incidents of intimidation and harassment. (Learn more.)

  • Christians Face Expulsion and Extensive Property Loss
    People are holding a sign at a protest. The sign when translated reads,
    Evangelicals protesting in Oaxaca.
    Photo: CSW
     

    In November 2023, community leaders of San Isidro Arenal, a town located within Oaxaca State, mandated that Roman Catholicism will be the only religion permitted in their community. Following this decision, 13 evangelical families began to experience threats and violence from those opposing them. A month later, three of the families were forcibly expelled and took refuge in the Playa Vicente Municipality of Veracruz State.