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The evangelical church is steadily becoming a visible presence in Mexican society. An interdenominational Christian choir called Amen has sung in important concert halls, often accompanied by symphony orchestras. Most news media have evangelicals on staff. There are three Protestant universities in the country. An interdenominational group is in the process of starting the first evangelical university in Mexico City. Christian camps show a strong presence. And after long years when Christian radio was forbidden, the airwaves today broadcast numerous gospel programs—though Christian stations as such are not yet allowed.

At the political level, almost all the parties have evangelicals among their leaders. In Mexico City, Maria de los Angeles Moreno, of Baptist background, has been a senator, president of the Congress, member of the presidential cabinet, and national president of her political party. Pablo Salazar Mendicuchea, a member of the Church of the Nazarene, was secretary of state in Chiapas and is now a senator and member of the Commission of Good Will and Pacification, the group attempting to mediate an end to the religious conflict in that important state. Another evangelical Christian is Pablo Monzalvo, a former director of some 20,000 auxiliary police, who teaches in the national university and leads a charismatic congregation. For better or worse, most political parties now seek a better relationship with evangelicals through contacts with their leaders and through organizations such as the Mexican Evangelical Fellowship (CONEMEX), which played an important part in the reformation of the Constitution.

While everything is not rose colored here, Mexico is changing for the better. I am encouraged. We have more liberty for evangelism and the practice of our faith than ever before.

Juan M. Isais, 72, is directory of Latin American Mission of Mexico and publisher of Prisma, an evangelical Mexican magazine. He has served as a missionary in Mexico, Central America, and New York City and was president of the Mexican Evangelical Fellowship. E-mail: milamex@compuserve.com

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November 16 1998, Vol. 42, No. 13