There are six states in Mexico with less than 2% born-again believers. These six states share common borders. In the center of this Circle of Silence are the Jalisco Highlands, the least reached area in Spanish-speaking Mexico.

Around the Highlands: In the Jalisco Highlands, there is one evangelical church for every 26,000 people. At 0.3%, the number of Christians in this region is one third the number of believers in Saudi Arabia.

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law." Ps. 119:126
Holy Week is well under way as young people from a Catholic retreat parade down the street singing, "The Devils angry, because I 've trusted in the Queen of Heaven." Many of the youth wave to me as they march by, former students of mine at the High School.

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Silvia, an unsaved woman in one of our evangelistic studies, looks up from the Bible with tears in her eyes as she understands the significance of the Passover. Minutes later she tells me of an horrific nightmare she had, in which Satan seeks to pull her into Hell. "I woke up crying hysterically", she explains, just as her husband adds, "I had to sprinkle Holy Water on her to calm her down!" …for they have made void thy law."

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Josefina explains to the woman at her side in the study, "What you need to do is give your life to Christ. You need to ask Him to come into your life and take over. That's the only way you'll get forgiveness of sins. It's all right here in the Bible, like we've been studying. You just need to believe it. Don't be like me. I haven't accepted the Lord, but I know I need toÉ" Josefina's husband, Cayetano, is a leader in A.A. and enjoys hearing the Scripture, but believes that the pop psychology of A.A. is "the same thing" and believes he's already "O.K. with God."

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Working with several other Christians from the Highlands, we have started a Bible course in which about 17 people are participating. The group meets two Saturdays a month for four hours. The emphasis of the material is practical teaching for church reproduction.

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Elva's smiling face lights up the room as she receives us in her home. Her Grandmother is a believer who has put her in contact with us. Her mother, raised in Christian home, is not walking with the Lord but still finds the name of Christ like "ointment poured forth". Elva's dad, however, storms and rages about having these "hallelujahs" around his daughter. Only a nominal Catholic, he nonetheless refuses to allow his wife to study the Bible. Pray for this family, and specifically for Elva's father, Hugo.

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Lucia, a divorced woman with one child, has not yet believed the Good News, but is listening as both Peter and I have opportunity to speak to her. Hector has been witnessing to Freddy, a mechanic who enjoys hearing the Bible and asks many questions . He's aware of his need for Christ because his home life is a wreck. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that Lucia is his estranged wife! "It is time for thee, Lord, to work…"

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
In just a few weeks, leaders and pastors throughout the Highlands will be gathering for a night of prayer. Our hope is that we can do this every three months, interceding specifically for the light to go on in this dark place, because we believe that "it is time for thee, Lord,…"

"It is time for thee, Lord, to work…
Josh will be leaving in a few months for college and asks for guidance. We will be selling or closing down the caféwhen he leaves and need your prayer. We would like to sell it and use the money toward the downpayment to purchase a home here.

Stand with us in reminding the Lord that is is time for Him to work in Atotonilco and the Jalisco Highlands.

In Christ,
Steve, Linda and Josh