Protestantism in Mexico

The introduction of Protestantism in Mexico began in the early 19th century, marked by the arrival of Diego Thompson, an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1827.

By 1869, Westrup and the Uranga brothers had successfully organized six additional churches, significantly expanding the Baptist presence in Mexico.

El Evangelista Mexicano (26/6/1890) further reported that sixty-five Protestants had been killed by Romanists in the many riots that the Roman Church has incited against the gospel in Mexico.

[4] By the final decade of the century, the number of Evangelical victims had surged to well over a hundred, underscoring the escalating tensions and violence faced by the Protestant community.

For instance, in the Zapotec villages of Northern Oaxaca, the rise of Protestantism has led to tensions with traditional customs, known as "costumbre," highlighting the complex interplay between religious beliefs and local cultural practices.

[6] This expansion was particularly notable among low-income groups and in indigenous areas, where Protestant denominations engaged in educational, medical, and social work.

[8] The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported that the number of evangelicals or Protestants rose from 4.9% in 1990 to 5.2% in 2000, reaching 7.6% in 2010.

Because of historical reasons (the laic character of Mexico which, in theory, does not intend to favor any religion) and unlike many other countries, Mexican Protestants do not have many institutions such as day care centers, schools, universities, labor unions, political parties and hospitals.

Subsequently, they tend to share their new spiritual experiences with their Catholic relatives and neighbors, inciting curiosity because their life-changing testimony often ushers a new stage in their lives (frequently asceticism) which changes their worldview and their personal behavior.

Places where Protestantism has not become such a big minority are the West and the central parts (known as the Bajío), which is known as a very Catholic region.