A difficult decison has been made. I suppose it was inevitable, but that doesn’t make it easy.
As you have probably read in the news, one of the most dangerous cities in the world (that’s right, the world) is where part of our team works….Juárez, Mexico. During 2009 the death toll from drug-related murders rose to more than 2,600. The killing is senseless and widespread. And it appears to be getting worse. Although 2009 was the worst year on record, January and February 2010 are outpacing it.
As a result, after much prayer and discussion, we’ve made the decision to evacuate our personnel from the city. We really don’t know what will happen to the work that our people have been a part of for many years. Hopefully, it will continue and it will grow stronger. Doubtless, we will lose some of our preaching points. Perhaps some others will be raised up. Only God knows.
In recent months several religious groups have received extortion threats. The demand for “protection money” is growing and a host of burned out businesses (who apparently weren’t paying) is the evidence. Ultimately, our leaders just did not feel they could continue to allow our personnel to live in such dangerous conditions.
May God bless our personnel who are relocating, and may God bless the local brethren who can’t leave. May this violent and sinful city one day be transformed by the power of Christ.
