7 Questions - Mexico City

7 Questions - Mexico City

Mexico City – Augustin

What is right?

Churches that have started orphanages, street children ministries, cleaning parks etc. 300 Prayer Groups. Prayer has become evangelistic because people ask for prayer.

What is wrong?

Most churches have no connection with each other. They are not willing to work together. Churches are working only to add numbers to the church. They don’t see the needs of the community.

Doing good deeds is only to bring people to church. There is a lack of unithy among churches. The pastors of the mega-churches don’t feel that they need to be involved.

What is confused?

The role of the church in society. Most think about the soul only and not the physical needs of people. IN the seventies Liberation Theology developed in Latin America. When City Reaching is brought up it is rejected as Liberation Theology. World Vision seems to prefer to work by themselves. The pastors don’t trust World Vision so there is no long term relationship.

What is missing?

We are missing the real needs of society. No connection with the community. There are some small efforts. In two weeks there will be a gathering of 20 key leaders to write a document to present to the government. Hopefully this will establish a permanent relationship. We need a theology of city transformation. There is almost no relationship with the Catholic Church. There is great distrust and suspicion between the two.

Where are we failing?

We want to control and do our own thing. They have their own schools and orphanages. They want control. This breeds competition instead of unity.

Where are we succeeding?

Evangelism to the poor. 80% are followers; 15% are local leaders (middle class); and 5% are leaders (upper class). The church has been successful in reaching the 80% of followers. IN these communities there are lots of churches.

Where is our leverage?

Campus Crusade is helping to reach Mexico City. Also help is coming from Manila and other major cities.