ZOE Mexico Update: 2024 Global Vision Meeting
The below ZOE MEXICO update was presented at the 2024 ZOE Global Vision Meeting.
ZOE Mexico is thriving and gaining ground with their work on behalf of the gospel and protecting vulnerable children.
This year, thousands of people gathered to hear the gospel and celebrate the birth of Jesus through creative arts, music, and professional Christian artists at the Christmas Festival event in southern Mexico put on by ZOE Mexico.
“This year, the festival took place in two cities. With the participation of churches from all denominations and hundreds of volunteers, we reached people who have never heard of Jesus and who perhaps would not dare to approach a church, but would go to a public square,” shared Mariela Ambrosio, ZOE Mexico Director. “Children, youth, adults, and grandparents laughed, sang, danced, and celebrated Jesus with their families and friends as they listened attentively to the preaching of the gospel.”
Evangelism efforts through the Follow Me campaign reached more than 1,000 children and young people, including their parents, in Mexico in partnership with local churches.
“Mexico has the largest number of indigenous communities in Latin America and the highest rate of child sexual abuse in the world, making children more vulnerable to human trafficking,” continued Mariela. “We work to equip families with advice on how to care for and prevent child sexual abuse, child trafficking, how traffickers operate, and the dangers of the internet.”
Increased organized crime is taking advantage of people in need who have immigrated to Mexico by recruiting them to cartels and human trafficking. This has resulted in hundreds of children being on the streets of large cities selling candy, bracelets, or asking for money.
“Our new initiative, La Casa de Dios, a community dining room, is a dignified place providing love, mercy, and rest while giving food to the children who work on the streets,” shared Mariela. “One day, we encountered two brothers, ages 8 and 10. They migrated without their parents to meet their needs for food and clothing. We bought two bracelets, and they said very happily, ‘With this, we will be able to buy our breakfast. If we don’t sell, we don’t eat.’ We have encountered many similar stories. Children who do not eat. Children who do not go to school. Children without their parents. Many who have gone days without help, and they become completely lost. The community dining room is a place that shows mercy, a place for children to receive spiritual and physical food.”