Mexico Celebrates Festival of Religious Freedom

		I never thought we would have a Festival of Religious Freedom Tour.  Max Oviedo Calles, Religious Liberty Leader for the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, was the first to come up with the idea, and he planned a successful tour.  During the week we visited three cities and the program began at 4:00 p.m. each day—just in the middle of the afternoon.  Churches were full and officials from the state and city came.  Religious leaders came too.  This shows that in some parts of the world meetings can be held during the week. On Sabbath we had Festivals in two cities.  The morning meeting was attended by 1,000 pastors, elders, and their families. In the afternoon we went to another city.  The room was full again with attendance of more than 600.  Max built the same kind of program—speakers alternated with musicians and singers.  As guest speaker, I was given 35 minutes.
Dr. John Graz, creator of the festivals of religious freedom, with local church leaders in Cardenas, Mexico.

Roberto Herrera, the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director for the Inter-American Division, was given 20-25 minutes.  Other speakers were given five minutes.  After the Religious Affairs Director spoke, questions were asked.  This was very useful for all.  The program lasted three hours and participants were not tired.  In the city of Cuautla we had a fabulous group of professional musicians. All the meetings began with a flag ceremony.  Five or six Pathfinder girls brought the Mexican flag to the platform.  Participants saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem.  It was in keeping with the spirit of the Festival which is to say “Thank God and the country for religious freedom!” The presence of government Religious Affairs Directors provided a great opportunity for the church leaders to become acquainted with them.  Other religious leaders were impressed by this initiative in favor of religious freedom. Max Oviedo Calles proved that a Religious Freedom Festival Tour is not only possible, but it can be very successful when it is well planned. Dr. John Graz Director of the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists   Assembly enjoys the band at the festival of religious freedom in Cardenas.