Courier: Perspectives
Latin America: Paraguay
Anabaptist church beginnings: A snapshot
At no time did we hear the word leaders, but instead we spoke of the missionaries. The first leaders of the church were Mennonite Brethren: Jakob Franz in the 1930s and later Gerhard Hein.
The people left, but they sowed the Word in the community. First it was in Filadelphia that a church was planted, then in Cayin ô Clim (today it is Neuland).
In the early days, the leaders’ priorities were to proclaim the Word to other communities. They did so through worship services, Bible studies and translating songs into the language of the people.
In 1960, a group was baptized by the missionaries.
The organization Luz a Los Indígenas (Light to the Indigenous peoples) gave the opportunity for us as Indigenous people to be part of the church, people of faith in God. Since 2006, it has been called ACoMeM (Asociación Civil Obra Misionera Evangélica Menonita).
The church joined the Mennonite church as we became more aware of the Mennonites in our community.
Today, the church’s strengths are our love for the Bible and our school to help members to study the Word. The important thing is to have faith, and that faith is not lost.
Our challenge is to help other people to trust in God.
Around 2018, the church reported 2 600 baptized members in 12 congregations.
Elsa Pérez is a member of Iglesia Evangélica Hermanos Menonitas Malaquías located in the Comunidad Campo Alegre, Paraguay. She is from the Nivaclé Indigenous tribe.