Missions in Mexico

The Roman Catholic Church has dominated the religious landscape of Mexico for 300 years. Upwards to ninety-five percent of a population of 103 million are Roman Catholic, making evangelical Christians in a huge minority. While there are many devoted adherents, there is also more and more indifference to the traditional church. Young people are beginning to look for answers outside the church and materialism is taking a greater and greater hold.

Mexico enjoys more freedom to evangelize and start evangelical churches than it ever has in its history. Until recently no foreign missionaries were permitted to officially work in Mexico but that changed in 1992 when constitutional changes brought a fairer treatment of “minority religions.” Thankfully the church of Jesus Christ is growing, and some say faster than it ever has in its history. Its greatest growth is taking place in the southern states among the Amerindian peoples and among the Spanish-speaking population of the lower classes.

Mexico currently has over 2000 missionaries with the largest percentage from the United States. There are many opportunities for evangelism and church planting, but the greatest need is in leadership training. Also needed are workers for children and youth because 50% of the population is under 20 years old.

Operation World highlights four areas or people groups that are less reached including: (1) Six of the central states that are less that 2% evangelical Christians. (2) Indian peoples practicing pagan religion. They have given their gods and spirits Catholic names. (3) Many Catholic and animistic locations have a limited Christian witness. (4) The wealthy elite are strongly atheist or agnostic.

Mexico City is one of if not the largest city in the world and has a tremendous need for the gospel. Less than 2% attend an evangelical congregation, and approximately 1000 neighborhoods have no church that proclaims the gospel. Over 7 million live in slums which are very difficult to reach. Also in Mexico City are a million Indians with nearly every language of Mexico spoken.

Mexico has a rich tradition of translation work dating back to Cameron Townsend who founded Wycliffe Bible Translators. Currently there are translation programs in 126 languages even though there is propaganda for their expulsion. The great need is to tie translation work to church planting.