One of our colleagues in Mexico reports some answers to prayers for Mexico. In the last months, these events have occurred:

1.    The leader of Familia Michoacana, one who has threatened us of kidnapping, fell down in a special operation by the military in Michoacan. He regarded himself as the apostle of the cartel and had 12 “disciples” under him.
2.    The leader of the “Santa Muerte” cult was captured because he was laundering funds from kidnappers.
3.    The son of a pastor was released within 10 hours after the military conducted a huge operation never seen before in the area where the young man had been kidnapped.
4.    A pastor from Chiapas and who defends native people being rejected by their communities for professing Christ as their Lord, had been threatened by local authorities. He and others met with the Governor and close staff in the capital city of Chiapas. The Governor committed to resolving each issue presented, meeting the first Friday of each month to review progress, and to establish preventative measures against religious discrimination.
5.    A meeting occurred with the Apostolic Council in Guatemala and a Mexican team to explain what has happened with the November national prayer initiative. Some 80% of Christian evangelical churches were represented. A Forgiveness and Reconciliation Act for violence Mexicans had done against Guatemalan and Central America immigrants trying to get to the USA was conducted and accepted by the Guatemalans.
6.    A meeting of some 250 brothers in a metropolitan area occurred. A woman pastor from Jalisco state gave testimony that in the last night of meetings in November that the Lord healed her foot which was in a cast. She felt strength return, took her cast off, and walked immediately. It was supposed to be on for 3 months. The devil was notified that his power over Mexico had come to an end and that he could not touch the lives of the pastors and leaders of the National Prayer Network.
7.    One of the kidnappers of another pastor’s son was captured.

All praises to God!

Also, Bridge Builders, Inc., (http://bridgebuilders.org) reports:
1.    Flavio Mendez Santiago, a founding member of the Zetas drug cartel, was captured in mid January. He controlled the main overland drug smuggling routes from Central America. Nancy Davis, an American missionary working in Mexico, was shot and in January, 2010, more than likely for the pick-up truck she drove rather than the fact that she was a missionary. The Los Zetas cartel is suspected to be the attackers. Pray for Sam, her husband.
2.    Joaquin “El Chappo” Guzman, listed by Forbes to be one of the world’s most powerful people, worth over $1 billion, and considered the most power drug trafficker in the world, has escaped a Mexican high security federal prison. Beheadings with handwritten notes are signed “El Chappo People”. He has not been found in 10 years.

Please pray:

1.    Giving thanks for His moving in Mexico to expose darkness (crime, evil plans) and bring justice and for sparing the life of pastors’ sons who were kidnapped.
2.    For the relationship between pastoral leaders and the Chiapas government to continue to be positive, and that the Governor will keep his word and work for religious freedom and protection. Pray that God would work through the Governor and in him to bring about inward change as well.
3.    For God’s Spirit to bring about personal change, growth, and revelation of what He is doing or about to do in Mexico during this 40 days of fasting and prayer and for renewed vision for Christian Mexicans in faithful prayer support and outreach to their country.
4.    For other drug cartel leaders to be captured and brought to justice and for confusion and dissolution of the networking and drug trafficking efforts. That they and others in crime would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Pray that all their evil plans be foiled and people’s lives spared.