MissionMission becomes a way of life when we reach out to people with the gospel, meeting needs in our own neighborhoods and cities and through global partnerships. Full Partnership-in-Mission shares for 2009 and 2010 are $6000.For more information email kbogerd@rca.org. To find out how to contact all Global Mission staff, click here. |
DonationsDonations to the RCA and its mission programs should be sent to: Reformed Church in America, PO Box 19381, Newark, NJ 07195-1938. Checks should be made out to "Reformed Church in America" and the fund to which the money is designated should be noted on the memo line.
Prisoners Set Free in Chiapas Twenty innocent men in Chiapas, Mexico, have been pardoned by the Mexican Supreme Court and were released from prison on August 12. Supporters of RCA mission work in Chiapas have long prayed for the release of these prisoners, who were arrested in 1998. They were implicated in the Acteal massacre, when an attack on Zapatista gunmen also killed 45 innocent people, including many women and children. Eighty-three men were convicted; during more than 11 years in prison, five of them have confessed and named four others. The remaining 78 men have pleaded innocence. RCA missionaries have visited the men in jail, advocated for their release, and helped to support their families in their absence. Al and Sue Schreuder, RCA missionaries in Chiapas, report that the men are now staying in a hotel and will likely be relocated instead of being allowed to return home. “The released prisoners met with government officials all day in Tuxtla. The result of the meeting is that they are to remain in the hotel for 15 days; they will be housed and fed at governm ent expense. During the intervening time, the government will try to find a place to resettle the released prisoners, so that they will not return to their home villages. This is to avoid confrontations, potential violence, and to assure that peace will be kept in Chenalho.” An additional 37 men were to have been released within the next week, but that release is now pending another review. “Naturally, those prisoners who had been informed of their impending release last week are extremely disappointed, as well wondering if they will ever be released,” say the Schreuders. “There have been release promises in the past, and now the men are concerned that this is yet another in a long line of false promises. “We need your prayers, that the Lord will work through these days, and that He will provide direction, discernment, and patience.”
Posted 08/14/09
Additional Mission Stories
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