Approaching one year...

We are approaching one year of having the squatters removed. Looking back we can see accomplishments as well as set backs. The most impressive for me is the renewed desire to see this property used for God in a powerful way. It will take many resources of people, time and money, but plans are evolving.

Please pray that God puts the right people into the right places at the right time.

Riot police remove intruders from downtown Mexico City ministry center

We were awakened Tuesday morning, September 26th, to a phone call from Donna Bustos, missionary in Mexico City. The first words Butch heard were, “The riot police have come and are removing the squatters from the property.” Approximately 400 riot police had arrived, just after 4:00 AM and by 4:30 had begun to usher some 300 people off the downtown Candelaria property, which houses several of our ministries. The “invasion” had taken place the first of March and after a nearly seven month judicial process, our prayers were being answered. As the day unfolded, we became aware of the magnitude of the miracle that the Lord had performed.

The violent takeover was engineered by a political faction that makes a business of invading both private and public properties. Once they have placed people on the property, they make promises of private ownership and housing. This, of course, comes with a price. Each person or business must pay a monthly “quota.” Evidently, some of the people who were “renting” spaces on the property were unable to pay, and the self-appointed overseer arrived Saturday and threatened that if they didn’t pay, he would send the police. Little did he know that the police would arrive the following Tuesday, and when they did, the people occupying the property supposed the policemen were coming on behalf of the “overseer/owner” so they left without resistance! Moreover, the same “overseer” showed up during the thick of the evacuation and, confused, he identified himself as the “owner” of the property and was arrested immediately, along with six of his accomplices. Did God confuse the enemy? Without a doubt.

The fact that this battle has been as much spiritual as judicial was made clear yesterday. As leaders of our national church walked throughout the property, assessing the damage, an altar was found, which had been erected for Satanic worship. Although it will take months to undue the damage done to the property and the financial loss is great, God has given us the victory, for which we’re thankful.

There are guilty parties involved in the invasion of the property. However, there are innocent victims as well.

Alarcon street is still closed and police are providing security, while the ousted squatters gather belongings.

 

 

All of the bodegas, as well as any enclosed area, were filled with squatter shacks...
 

 

The clean up process is just beginning. All of the trash and debris will have to be hauled out. Then, all of the ‘building’ that was done will have to be removed. There is a lot of repair work to be done...

 

 

 

There were shacks scattered all over the property...

 

 

 

The settlement had its own 'corner store'. 

Bathrooms, showers, and laundry sinks were built. 

There were food vendors inside the settlement. 

The squatters had built a city within the walls of the property. There were even rules/guidelines for the residents. We found a schedule for night watchmen posted to the wall inside the church. 

The squatters built residences inside the old historical San Lazaro church. 

The following three pictures show squatter shacks that they built in the old church....

 

 

 

The process of removing furniture and belongings lasted all day Tuesday. 

The street was filled with the belongings of the estimated 300 squatter families. 

The Federal Police stood guard while the personal property of the squatters was removed. Alarcon street was closed to automobile and pedestrian traffic during this process. 

Early Tuesday morning, September 26, 400 riot patrol guards, accompanied by various government officials, entered the property and removed all of the squatters.

Friday, May 26th. The Assemblies of God leadership met with city officials. The government gave them a written guarantee that they would be removing the squatters.

Friday, May 26. The group arrived at the city office building and petitioned an audience with officials.

Friday, May 26. They carried signs asking for restitution and justice.

Friday, May 26. The group demonstrated, blocked streets with the protection of the city police, and marched to the town square.

Friday evening, May 26th, aproximately 2000 A/G leaders and congregants demonstrated the illegal takeover of the property. They gathered at the monument to Benito Juarez for prayer before they began their march to the town square. 

The prosecuting attorney assured the new property adminsitrator that they would remove the invaders by last Wednesday, at the latest. To date, no action has been taken.

Although a denuncia was filed the morning after the property was invaded, the legal proceedings towards removing the property invaders are stalled. There are now two separate groups living illegally in this area.

Note the man on the right: he is a guard who has worked on the property for many years and is now part of the squatter group and working as their guard.

Another service was held on Sunday, March 12, 2006, in the chapel on the Institute property. 

This is an overview of the Candelaria property which shows the location of the several of the minsitries as well as the property that has been invaded by squatters. 

Early Sunday afternoon a prayer service was held on Anna Sanders Bible Institute property. This group grew to about 250 people.

The back wall of the institute is the adjacent wall to one of the warehouses that has been invaded.

Looking above the back wall, the top of the old San Lazaro church building can be seen. 

This is the view of the green gate that they are using for an entrance to the squatter area. This picture is taken from a small gate that is the only thing separating the illegally inhabited area from the playground of the school and church property. 

These photos show people entering the property and watchmen that are posted by the gate. It is understood that they are "pre-selling apartments" that are to be built on the property. 

Photo taken (through one of the gates that they soldered shut) of man working on property in front of one of the warehouses that they are occupying. 

This photo shows three men involved in the attempt to steal the property. The San Lazaro church is registered with the historical society and the group has installed two stores inside it to sell provisions. They have invaded this parking lot and three warehouses on the property.

Mexico City property update

Late last week, a group of 150 people forcibly entered a downtown property in Mexico City, which houses several of our Assembly of God ministries. The legal system in Mexico recognizes "squatters rights" so the battle that must be fought is ours. Most of these people are not homeless, but are rather, part of a larger strategy to steal this property and, consequently, prevent future ministry expansion.

View of the side of the property on Alarcon

which houses Anna Sanders Bible Institute and the entrance to the property which was overtaken by squatters.

View of the entrance to the Bible School property

and the historical building located on it which houses a chapel, newly renovated library and computer labs, classrooms and dormitories.

The ministries housed on the property include a liturature distribution center, district offices, Operation Serve (compassion ministry including medical and dental outreach programs), the Anna Sanders Bible Institue, Candelaria Christian Center, and a school originally started by Latin America Child Care.