Photo by Reuters/Carlos Hugo Vaca
Bolivia (MNN) ― Efforts by Bolivia's president Evo Morales to reform the country are meeting with staunch opposition. The country erupted with riots and strikes following a national referendum over changes in the government that would empower the indigenous majority.
Mark Lennox with Bright Hope International says Morales is demanding another vote in December. "He's put a hold on the Congress and is taking more and more control of the country. And so some people are scared that it's going to go more of a dictator, and they're talking about re-writing the Constitution."
The new vote is scheduled for December 7 of this year, just a year after the controversial drafting of the proposed Constitution.
Morales is the first Indian president and has taken steps to nationalize many of the companies dealing with the country's resources. He has also become a friend to Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez.
The referendum outcome and this alliance are issues of great concern for ministries because "he's a little more of a socialist government, and he's actually threatened to kick all of the missionaries out of the country. Some of the missionaries I met that were from the U.S. have been there for 30 years, and now they're looking at having to leave."
Keep praying as Bright Hope continues to grow in uncertain times. "We just started to get back into Bolivia because Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the Americas, and it's got a lot of abject poverty. So there were some great projects that I was able to visit, and as Bright Hope, that we're really excited to get behind."
Bright Hope works with indigenous local Christian leaders and churches who understand their community. Together, they work to change lives in a holistic manner--spiritual, practical, physical, educational and financial.
