Mexican Mission Trips Cancelled

Escalating drug violence in Mexico has forced many churches and mission organizations to cancel short-term mission trips to cities along the U.S.-Mexican border. In towns like Juarez, drug cartel wars have killed more than 1,800 since January 2008. Missions organization YouthWorks has announced that it will not offer summer trips to Mexico in 2009. Regional director Jason Atkinson said that the rising violence has impacted those doing mission work in the area. “Ministry partners have experienced threats of extortion,” Atkinson said. “Our own staff were victims of armed robbery and carjacking.”