Counter City Violence with Prayer

[Reimagine Curator]

At the U.S.-Mexico border, much of the influx of traffic from Juarez visible via Google Earth is a daily reminder of violence among warring drug cartels that has hiked the murder rate tenfold in the Mexican border city over the past several years. About 20 El Paso congregations participated in a 40-day, multi-denominational prayer initiative for Juarez earlier this year. On Mexico border, churches counter violence with prayer EL PASO, Texas (BP) -- Testimonies from churches along the Mexican border highlight the need for ongoing prayer that God would curb Mexico's drug violence. A 40-day, multi-denominational prayer effort in El Paso, Texas, for the neighboring Mexican city of Juarez was followed by a reduction in murders. But increased violence in July reminded participants to persist in their intercession. "We continue to pray for Juarez," said Larry Wilkins, missions pastor at Cielo Vista Church, a Southern Baptist congregation that participated in the effort. "When we were going through the 40 days, there was much discussion from the pulpit and encouragement. We still have a prayer time in our services and will often lift up Juarez in our prayers." Meanwhile, believers in Texas' Del Rio Uvalde Baptist Association, two hours west of San Antonio, have seen decreases in violence across the border in Acuña during three years of praying for the region. EL PASO Du ring the 40 days leading up to Easter, approximately 20 El Paso congregations participated in a prayer campaign for Juarez, where warring drug cartels have increased the murder rate tenfold over the past several years, topping 3,000 homicides last year and 8,600 since 2008. Read More