Being on Mission on Cinco de Mayo
by Ruth Mendoza on May 5, 2023 in WMU of Texas Blog
In the late 1800s, Mexico lost the French-Mexican War. Throughout this war, there were many other battles that were lost and a few that were won. One battle, insignificant to the war was The Battle of Puebla which occurred on May 5, 1862. This day is now known as Cinco de Mayo.
While this battle didn’t have a significant effect on the outcome, it was a small victory that boosted the morale of the Mexican Army. This win meant that they could take down a greater power. This one small victory pushed them to persevere, “bolstering a resistance movement, and in 1867 the French withdrew.1”
There’s a lesson to learn from this event: while we face a greater force and while it may seem as though the end to unfortunate circumstances is nowhere in sight, there are small victories that we can recall and rejoice in to help us push through as we sojourn this earth. Let’s praise our Holy Father who is a shield around us, our glory, and the one who lifts our head and answers to our cry2 in times of distress.
As we rejoice in those small victories, 1 Peter 5:8-9 reminds us that we face a devil who prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour us, and the apostle Peter also encourages us to resist the devil, standing firm in our faith. The best way to defeat this enemy is by growing God’s kingdom.
Outreach Opportunities on Cinco de Mayo
While Cinco de Mayo isn’t a federal holiday in Mexico, it is widely celebrated in the United States. This gives the Christian community an opportunity to build a greater resistance of believers who will stand against the enemy and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Luke 15:10 tells us that there’s joy in heaven when a sinner repents. Every soul surrendered to Christ is victory over the enemy. Have you considered leading an outreach activity on Cinco de Mayo in your community?
Below you will find three ideas to reach out to the community on this festive day:
Hold a “fiesta” in the parking lot of your church. Bring piñatas, candy, Mexican street corn, tacos, Christian mariachi music, and soccer activities, but don’t forget to evangelize. Many Hispanics hear about Christ for the first time in the US and choose to surrender their lives to Him holding on to a renewed hope. Many are without their family and feel like strangers, this activity could provide them with a familiar feeling and a sense of belonging.
Many US cities will hold Cinco de Mayo festivities, your church can set up a booth to pray for people and share the gospel.
Learn about missionaries in Mexico, pray for them, and if possible reach out to them. On this note, your church could also partner up with Texas Baptists River Ministries and go on a mission trip to help with the crisis at the border.
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1 Information gleaned from https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo#cinco-de-mayo-in-mexico
2 2 Psalm 3:3-4, CSB