Mission History
Christian Reformed World Missions began working in Mexico in 1959 among migrant workers who had returned to their homes from the United States of America. The mission formed a partnership with the Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de Mexico (IPRM, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Mexico) in 1962 and supports the evangelism, church development and leadership development efforts of this church with missionaries and financial grants. Some of the missionaries also work with the Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico (INPM, National Presbyterian Church of Mexico). Working agreements with this church are on a project-by-project basis.
Culture
An advanced civilization existed in Mexico prior to the Spanish conquest in the 1500s. Major cultures included the Aztec, the Maya, the Olmec, and the Toltec. Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico in 1521 and founded a Spanish colony that lasted nearly 300 years. Mexico received its independence from Spain in 1810.
With 97.4 million people, Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. The country is about three times the size of Texas.
More than half of the population lives in the central highland part of the country. Seventy-five percent live in cities. Many Mexicans migrate from rural areas and other areas lacking in job opportunities to the industrialized urban centers and border communities. Mexico City, with about 20 million people, is one of the world’s largest cities. Mexico is the second largest trading partner of the United States.
Nearly 80 percent of Mexicans are mestizo, a mixture of Spanish and indigenous ancestry. Another 10 percent are Native Mexicans belonging to more than 50 ethnic groups.
Eighty-eight percent of Mexico’s people call themselves Roman Catholics. However, only 10 percent are regular church attendees. Protestants represent eight percent of the population.
Mission Vision
The IPRM now has 48 churches and an additional 101 worship centers and missions with an average Sunday attendance of about 16,000. The INPM has about 3,250 churches across Mexico. There are three other small Presbyterian denominations in Mexico. In total, there are about 1.8 million Presbyterians in Mexico, one-half of one percent of the population. We hope Presbyterians will increase to two percent of the population by 2025.
CRWM currently targets six areas of Mexico: Chiapas, Quintana Roo and the Yucatan in the southeast, Mexico City in the central highland, Tijuana on the California border and Ciudad Juarez on the Texas border. In every location missionaries are involved in evangelism, church development and leadership development with specific goals of increasing the number of churches and church leaders.
In its long-range plan CRWM hopes to begin a new church and leadership development ministry in major urban centers every five years. Guadalajara and Cancun are in the planning stage. CRWM’s major future focus is urban because Mexico is now 75 percent urban.
CRWM also encourages and supports the work of other CRCNA agencies in Mexico. The Back To God Hour is increasing its broadcasts, CRWRC provides some grants for community development and CRC Publications is expanding its distribution of Spanish literature.
Results
Protestants are increasing at a rate of about seven percent per year in Mexico. Presbyterian church growth in Mexico is currently strong. The rate of growth in the southeast is about seven percent per year. From 1986 to 2000 the number of Presbyterian churches in Mexico City grew from 88 to 308. The rate of growth is also increasing along the border as people move north for factory jobs. Resistance to Protestants remain strong in rural areas but is declining in the southeast, in urban centers and border cities.
Presbyterian seminaries are emphasizing classes by extension. Over the last 10 years the number of students attending extension classes of the Reformed Theological Seminary of Mexico, and the seminary of the IPRM in Mexico City, has grown from 20 to 200. San Pablo Seminary, seminary of the INPM in Merida, now has over 300 resident and extension students.
Some missionaries enhance evangelism by beginning new churches, distributing Christian literature, showing videos, and supporting cell groups and home Bible studies. Others focus on the development of leaders. Key components of all leadership development are evangelism and church starting skills.
The Christian Reformed World Missions Team in Mexico:
Wayne and Sandy De Young, Church Developers
Scott and Marcia Geurink (Melissa, Karissa), Church Developers
Dave and Blanca Gifford (Daniel, Alexandra), Leadership Training
Dan and Jeananne Kuiper (Paul, Jennifer), Church Developers
Abraham (Sung Soo) and Elaine Lee (Naomi, Nathan, Nahum), Leadership Training
James and Barbarita Lee (Joshua Jae-Min), Church Developers
Ben and Amy Meyer (Grace, John, Luke, Abraham), Church Developers
Alejandro Pimentel, Theological Educator
Jan and Darlene Van Ee, Church Developer/Leadership Training
John and Shirley Wind, Church Developers
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