Dear Friend, We have had some painful news, which reminds us again we must depend solely on our God.
As a result of our visit to Mexico in March, we have received...
Felipe Ramos, the Totonac Indian pastor and leader, has asked me to tell you about a spiritual breakthrough that has occurred in the ministry based in the church in Nanacatlan, Mexico. A year ago, Felipe, the elders of the church and the young pastors he is training, laid out a plan of evangelization for all the villages of the Totonac Sierra.
In a Rancheria just outside the town of Ixtepec, they found a man, Señor Santiago, who had suffered severely from epilepsy for many years. The family spent all the money they had for medication, but to no avail. The elders gave them the plan of salvation and prayed with them–a gesture that was appreciated by the family, but there was no immediate response.
After a number of repeat visits–and prayers–with no results, Felipe and the elders came under conviction that they were not really serious in their prayers. They decided that, as a group, they would spend every Sunday totally dedicated to prayer and fasting, taking time only for the services of the day.
Six weeks later, they were back in Ixtepec. Señor Santiago reported that, for six weeks, he had felt relief from his suffering, and had sensed the love of God. "Now," he said, "I am ready to accept Jesus as my Savior."
Another six weeks, and he was still free of seizures. His family not only was ready to accept Christ, but they prepared a great meal and invited all their neighbors. Many were ready to begin a Bible study, and this is now a growing congregation.
Progress on Ticuna Water Project
There has been a surprising response to the need of the Ticuna Indians in
Brazil, both for a clean water supply and to help them get buildings ready for
the next session of their Bible Institute in January. They are getting help
from all over in the rebuilding program, particularly from churches in
Brazil and in Europe. so that the work is moving ahead quickly.
On the water problem, Lifewater International has moved in beside us, and will
be sending equipment and a crew from Ecuador to drill a well. To make the best
use of this cooperation, we are asking the Ticunas to have a group of young men
ready to learn all they can about well drilling. If this first test well gives a
positive result, and if Lifewater is persuaded of the seriousness of purpose of
the Ticuna team, they promise to locate a portable drilling rig all the way up
the Amazon in Ticuna territory, so that every village can have a clean water
supply.
Please pray for the trip planned for this month by the Ticuna missionaries, who
will be going up the Javari River to make contact with a "wild" tribe.
There is danger for them, but they are determined to have a part in completing
the Great Commission.
Shipibo Indians of Peru use the motorized canoe provided by LAIM. The
Shipibos had their Bible conference in November, with 500 Indian participants
from widely scattered villages. The large motorized canoe provided through LMM
was very active in transporting them.
By Dan Wooding
Evangelical Christian elected governor of Chiapas
Pablo Salazar, the man who once saved the life of an
Indian pastor who was sentenced to be hung ... , has been elected as governor of Chiapas and, along with new Mexican leader
Vicente Fox, will try to bring peace to this troubled province.
Dr. Dale Kietzman, founder and president of Latin American Indian Ministries (L.A.I.M.), who began his
ministry in Chiapas with Wycliffe Bible Translators
many years ago, said in an interview, "Pablo Salazar has a well deserved reputation with the Indians of
Chiapas. They trust him, and this will be very important as he now has the possibility of bringing some order out of the
chaos of that situation.
"Pablo is a dedicated believer, an active participant in the Nazarene church in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Many of his
friends were confused when he joined the PAN, because it has close ties to the Catholic Church. But
Pablo had already resigned from the PRI (he was the senator from Chiapas under the PRI at the
time) and many political groups came to him, asking him to run for governor,
including the PAN. He decided he would represent all of these groups, and the
coalition was headed by the PAN simply because it was the largest opposition
party."
Dr. Kietzman, who is also a founding board member of ASSIST Ministries, added, "Pablo is almost a politician
by accident. As an attorney, he had helped straighten out the affairs of an athletic club in Tuxtla. That
brought him to public attention and he was asked to take on other tasks, in and out
of government, usually for short periods of trouble or change. So he knows
how to tackle difficult situations."
THE PASTOR WHO WAS SAVED
The pastor whose life he saved, Manuel Arias, a Tzotzil Indian, had been arrested by a lynch mob of
supporters of the Zapatista National Liberation Army, known by the Spanish acronym EZLN, who have for
more than six years been conducting an armed struggle against the Mexican government. His
detention took place shortly after the massacre of 45 Indians on December 22,
1997 in the town of Acteal in the Chenalho area of Chiapas.
His life was spared only after the intervention of then Chiapas senator, Pablo Salazar, the first evangelical
ever to be voted into the Mexican Congress since the revolution took place against Spain more than 172
years ago.
I first met Pablo Salazar during an emotional reunion that took place at a special "unity" conference
organized and held in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of the southern Mexico state, by Latin
American Indian Ministries of Orange, California.
In an exclusive interview, Pastor Arias, whose evangelical church is located close to Acteal, said, "I
was arrested because I was falsely accused of
transporting weapons for the paramilitary groups who are opposing the Zapatistas. They had seen me
helping the [Christian Indian] brothers and many times I had asked the president of the municipality to
help me with transportation when I had food for the refugees.
"I think the real reason for my arrest was because they were angry with me as I had told my brethren not
to get involved in any of the conflicts or fights because that's not what the Bible says. But they said
that I had been involved in the conflicts, but I have not. Perhaps I was a barrier for the
Zapatistas [who wanted support from his congregation] and that is why they
arrested me.
"I SAW THE ROPES BEING PREPARED"
"When I was detained in a town in the municipality of Chenalho, I saw that they were preparing the ropes to
hang me because they thought if they killed me they would have the open space to bring all the other
Christians into the fight. My little brother was there and saw what was happening and he
discovered that brother Pablo Salazar was in the area. He ran to him and told him what was happening and thanks to him, I
was liberated and thanks to God I am here and free."
Salazar then took up the story, "When I heard what was happening to Manuel, I told the Zapatistas and
other groups there, 'I know Manuel. He is a pastor,
a man of peace. He is a good man, a preacher of the Word.' I also said that
I knew that he has never taken a weapon and he has never trained or helped
anyone to be involved in conflict. I then demanded they liberate Manuel because he was unfairly detained.
"I told the Zapatistas, 'Unless you liberate Manuel, I will denounce what is going on here in a national way
through the media.' I believe that it was not because I was a senator, that I should help him, but because I
knew Manuel, and because I am a believer in Jesus Christ. Thank God, they did free him
and he was not hung."
Fighting back the tears, Manuel Arias then said, "What can I say? When I was liberated, I said to God, 'Thank
you for this freedom and thank you for Brother Pablo Salazar, because it is because of him that I am a free
man and my life has been spared."
Then, turning to the then senator, he added, "I have known him for years and I know he has been chosen
by God for the position of senator so he can represent God and the church here in Chiapas and also so he
can help the Indian people."
Pablo Salazar was later to address the conference and standing at his side as his Indian interpreter was
none other than the pastor whose life he has helped to save!
CAN BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS IN CHIAPAS
Dr. Kietzman said, "We feel our role with L.A.I.M. in this situation in Chiapas is to offer support to believers
who are fearing for their lives in this region torn by political and religious strife.
"On the one hand you have the long-running military conflict between the Zapatista revolution and the
government. Add to that the struggle between the growing evangelical Christian populace, which some
say is now as high as 40 percent, and the traditionalists or Christo-pagan Catholics who mix
their old pagan practices with the Roman Catholic faith. They have run evangelical
Christians off their farmlands and from their tribal communities, burning houses and killing men, women and children because
of their refusal to continue in a pagan lifestyle. This has been going on for 32 years,
unchecked by the authorities.
"Then, of course, there is the fact that Chiapas is the poorest state in Mexico. When you mix all this together you truly see a hurting people. This
grieves the heart of God."
The Zapatistas launched an uprising in January 1994 that claimed at least 145 lives during two weeks of fighting. Their subsequent peace talks with the
government broke down in September 1996 and have been followed by a tense cease-fire.
POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGH
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that, in a possible breakthrough in one of Mexico's most
intractable political problems, the leader of the 1994 Zapatista rebellion has agreed to resume
peace talks stalled for four years -- but only if the government of new President Vicente Fox makes concessions
first.
Subcommander Marcos, leader of the mostly Maya rebels in Chiapas, demanded
that the government evacuate seven army bases in the southern state, pass an
Indian rights bill and release all Zapatista "political prisoners" as a sign
of goodwill.
"Mr. Fox, if you choose the way of respectful, serious and sincere dialogue, show your willingness with
deeds," Marcos, wearing his trademark black ski mask, said during his first public appearance in more
than a year.
"You can be sure you will have a positive response from the Zapatistas. And this way you can resume the
dialogue and soon begin to build a true peace," the rebel leader told about 250 journalists summoned to a
jungle clearing north of the Guatemalan border for a late-afternoon news conference.
Marcos' appearance was the most dramatic sign so far of the changes that could occur after Fox's Friday
inauguration, which ended the reign of the world's longest-ruling party, the Institutional Revolutionary
Party.
With the help of Pablo Salazar, Vicente Fox has the best hope for peace for many years in Chiapas. He
deserves and needs our prayers, as he becomes a peacemaker in his troubled province.
The Council of Evangelical Indian pastors and leaders of Brazil met August 24-26, 2000, to discuss the future of the Gospel in their tribes. They noted that they had always viewed the further evangelization of the Indian tribes of Brazil as dependent on the arrival of more missionaries, but that door was locked by government regulation, with the key held by FUNAI, the government agency of Indian affairs that has denied missionary access.
During their meeting, however, they began to realize that, because they had the Word of God translated into their various languages, they also had a key that could open that door to further evangelization from the inside. So they are now organizing themselves for training and sending of missionaries from among their tribes to all the remaining tribes of Brazil!
Let me translate for you the text of the document that set the tone of the meeting:
Brothers, Until now, we have prayed asking that the doors would open for the evangelization of the Indians of Brazil. Our vision, perhaps, was of a door which was locked on the outside, with the key in the hands of the FUNAI and other leaders who are not in the least interested in seeing it opened.
Meanwhile, the enemy is having fun seeing Indians, politicians, anthropologists and Brazilians who are watching all this, and pushed by the media (TV Fantastico), begin to hope that this door will never be opened. That is to say that the "poor Indian" should never hear the Gospel, so as not to "prejudice their culture," as they assert. All of them are ready to die with folded hands.
The Church knows that some of the people could unlock the lock on the door. Our God continues to be a creative God and I think He wants us to have a new vision of the door opening from the inside.
When the Lord Jesus said that "the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church", that included the indigenous Church also. That Church is moving ahead, after so many years of investment in the lives of missionaries who have worked on the study of the Indian languages, in understanding the culture, in translating the Word of God and in the presentation of the Gospel of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The door is now open from the inside, that is for Indians to evangelize their own people.
Felipe Ramos, the Totonac Indian pastor in Nanacatlan, Mexico, has just phoned
the U. S. office of LAIM. The town has just one telephone which, at the moment, is the only way by which they can communicate with the
outside world.
Once again, the area has had devastating rainfall, wiping out the roads in that
very mountainous region. The roads were still under repair from a number of
slides caused by heavy rains last November, so the new slides have not helped the situation. Felipe hasn’t been able to get to a bank in
about six weeks, so has run out of cash--but so has everyone else in town and they are working on a
barter system to keep going.
Felipe reports the very successful distribution of the newly revised New Testament in the Totonaco language. Felipe and his helpers have sold
hundreds of copies in eight different towns they can get to by walking. There are
prospects for starting three new congregations. More workers will be needed, so Felipe has started a second training class for young men
who want to be involved in Christian work. The first group of eight that Felipe had trained
over the last three years are all involved in the new churches they had planted as a part of their training. So a new group is
needed and will soon be involved in church planting in the new villages being reached in the
distribution of the New Testament.
So rejoice with Felipe. We can only pray for the problem of isolation he faces, but we do that with confidence, because we can tell God is doing a
great work there, as the churches continue to grow and multiply. David Tamez will be
making a trip out to Nanacatlan with more New Testaments just as soon as the roads are open again.
The Ticuna Indians of Brazil receive the gift of thousands of acres of land on which they will be operating an institute to train their young people for service outside the tribe.
The Persecution of Christians in Chiapas: The whole world, it seems, suddenly
became aware of the fact that there was a serious human rights situation in Chiapas,
with the massacre of 45 people in Acteal on December 22.
But the troubles for the Christians did not begin on December 22, nor on January 1,
1994, when the Zapatista insurrection began. It started back in the late 1960's,
when a pattern developed of believers being harassed and expelled from their villages by
traditional Indian religionists who controlled village life. Nominally, these traditionalists were Catholic, although actually animists, and
also members of PRI, the ruling party in Mexico for the last 70 years, although the "chiefs
(caciques)" insisted they be allowed to operate their villages as autonomous enclaves. Thus local
and state officials normally did not intervene when the chiefs killed or expelled
evangelicals, in order not to lose the votes of the village.
Prior to 1994, an estimated 20,000 Christian Indians had become refugees within the
state of Chiapas, in addition to an unknown number of people killed (probably in
the hundreds). Leaving a village always meant losing all possessions and right of
land use. The refugees almost invariably went to the city of San Cristobal de Las
Casas, the largest city in the highlands of Chiapas. They would be homeless for a year
or two, until someone would persuade the government to give them a piece of land
on which to build a new village for themselves.
The donated land, however, would be very restricted in size, so the refugee families
have never been able to recover their old way of life. As you visit the score of new
villages, usually close to the main roads, you see this has probably worked to their
advantage, because many families have become more prosperous as merchants of one
sort or another, than they might have been as traditional farmers.
The Zapatista insurrection, which still continues after four years, even though it has
had very inconclusive results, introduced politics into the situation. Many Indians
became pro- Zapatista, because the Zapatista spokesmen made all sorts of promises
about bettering their situation. It also brought the Catholic clergy of the region, who
had been relatively silent on the traditionalist versus evangelical conflict, into
the picture on the side of the Zapatistas, or at least favoring their goals. The clergy
have clearly adopted liberation theology, and openly support armed resistance.
Then it also brought into play the military, whose job is to stop all violence, but by
the force of arms. In some areas, the military has felt it necessary to move entire
villages in order to be in a better position to fight the war with the Zapatistas.
Where do the traditionalist Indian chiefs stand in relation to these new developments? They oppose the Zapatistas, and thus also the official church, because they prefer
and expect the backing of the government, controlled by the PRI, They are confused,
however, because the military has taken a relatively neutral stand, and will no longer routinely sanction their illegal acts.
In the case of the massacre at Acteal, the inhabitants were largely refugees created by
military action, and many of them were supposedly sympathizers with the Zapatistas. Thus the massacre ordered by the traditional chiefs, but
condemned by the national government. The news media reported that the people attacked were
coming out of a church where they had been praying for peace. That was a Catholic
church, but all the villagers had been invited to pray. The timing of the attack was
probably coincidental. About half of those killed were evangelicals. They could have
been Zapatista sympathizers, but the shooting was random, killing mostly women and children.
On our recent trip to Chiapas (the last week of January, 1998), we discovered that,
even with a heavy military presence and an ongoing investigation of the criminal
acts involved, the killings continue. In recent days, 10 more evangelical believers, all
heads of families, have been killed, and scores of homes, and a church, destroyed.
Attached are letters from the Indigenous Council of Chiapas
(CINSA), which includes 400
evangelical pastors responsible for over a thousand congregations, testifying to the situation of the evangelical Indian believers in
Chiapas.
The total number of recent refugees (last two months) is about 8,000, all of
whom are homeless, receiving minimal help primarily from the longer-term
refugees.