Pedro Espinosa

Pedro Espinosa was one of the earliest Bahá’ís of Mexico and helped establish communities across the country.

Biography

Espinosa was the leader of a discussion group in Mexico City which met weekly to discuss spiritual questions and he visited the United States to investigate new religious movements for a time in the 1930s traveling from New York City to California. In approximately 1936 Frances Stewart visited Mexico City and was invited to speak at Espinosa's group which resulted in Espinosa and eight other members declaring. The group became a Bahá’í study group under Stewart and Espinosa lead the class after she departed in 1937. He was appointed an associate member of the newly formed Inter-America Committee the same year.

In 1938 the Local Spiritual Assembly of Mexico City was established with Espinosa elected as its first Chairman, and in 1939 he was a guest at the National Convention for the United States and Canada. Shoghi Effendi noted his attendance in his message to the Convention:

"Firm anchorage of the institutions of the Administrative Order permanently established in every State and Province of North American continent. Mexico, lying in the forefront of the southward marching army, recently enlisted. Pedro Espinosa’s auspicious attendance at the Convention is welcome evidence."

As of September 1939 Espinosa was working with friends to produce translations of Prayers and Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Spanish. He began visiting Puebla to teach the Faith and his efforts resulted in a Local Spiritual Assembly being established in the city in 1942. In 1945 he was carrying out teaching work in Vera Cruz.