Story number 3 for 7 Jun 2001

(Peru)–Alejandro Toledo’s election as Peru’s president signifies the rise of an urban class of people who are asserting themselves. As Latin America Mission’s Ken MacHarg reports, they’re not the only ones. Believers say this is also the time for the Gospel to change lives and for them to be involved in shaping the nation. “Alejandro Toledo was elected largely by the poor, Indian majority of Peru, and now he must live up to promises of dealing with a recession, creating jobs and higher wages and doing away with corruption. Evangelicals, who supported his predecessor, Alberto Fujimori, are hoping to play a role in the new government. LAM’s Paul Pretiz says that evangelicals are feeling their muscle throughout Latin America, forming political parties and running for office. But, he says, Christian politicians need to be concerned for all of society and not just their own church. For Mission Network News, I’m Ken MacHarg.”