Misión Evangélica Menonita (MEM)

MEM

MEM, (Misión Evangélica Menonita), is an outreach ministry of the Evangelical Bergthaler Mennonite Conference (EBMC) out of La Crete, Alberta, and the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC)
with offices in Winnipeg.

Low German Bolivia Ministry

EMMC’s initial vision in the 1960s of offering help to the Low German Mennonite people of Bolivia had mixed results. Now several decades later, with a growing number of colonies and a larger population, work among these Mennonite people is progressing.

EMMC works together with the Evangelical Bergthaler Mennonite Conference of La Crete Alberta as MEM, Misión Evangélica Menonita.

The Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) provides staffing and other support, and help is also coming from Paraguay and Mexico. MEM has a goal to encourage those people who for one reason or another have disassociated themselves with the church system of the colonies. Primary efforts are in spiritual, academic and economic areas.

Ministry efforts are taking place in Villa Nueva, near Pailón, and in a more recent economic development project, Hacienda Verde, near San José de Chiquitos. The help offered comes in various forms. Pastoral leadership is vital to establishing healthy churches. Bible studies and singing evenings provide spiritual encouragement. Personal counselling and mentoring help with specific needs.

Education plays a big part in helping an academically impoverished group. MEM’s work with the national Ministry of Education has resulted in schools it administers being recognized by the government. Currently, the Unidad Educativa school in Villa Nueva has around 170 students and the Unidad Educativa Brillante school in Hacienda Verde has around 80 students. In total over 300 children and young people, mostly from Low German Mennonite backgrounds, are enrolled in government recognized schools. An adult learning program has resulted in several parents of students graduating with their high school equivalency. Already education is paying off as a number of formers students of the Villa Nueva school are on the teaching staff at these schools.

ongoing projects

San Jose Radio Fund

In their home in eastern Bolivia, a family gathers around a radio to listen to messages that encourage and uplift. Programs, especially those in Low German, provide some relief from the day-to-day struggles.

The Radio del Campo Boliviano station in the city of San Jose is operated by MEM ministry staff and broadcasts the message of God’s love and hope to a region that has an estimated 10,000 potential listeners in Mennonite colonies and additional thousands of mainly Spanish-speaking Bolivians in the area. Your gift to this fund will ensure Low German radio programming continues and lives will be changed, as the truth goes out.

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Tuition Support

Parents in the communities of Villa Nueva and Hacienda Verde in Bolivia are aware of the responsibility they have to provide their children with a good education. Yet, because of economic realities they struggle to pay the tuition. Leaders in both communities are putting in place long-term plans to assure that local funding is available. In the meantime, the MEM ministry is committed to supporting these parents with a portion of the costs to operate the schools. With that in mind, MEM has opened a project to allow you to share in the help we provide. May we ask you to consider helping with a financial gift as these projects take shape?

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Low German School Curriculum

Several hundred students from Low German Mennonite families attend government registered schools which operate under the direction of MEM educators. These students study in Spanish, English, and Low German. MEM is providing funding to pay the salaries
of two full-time linguists who are developing a Low German school curriculum. In time it is expected that this curriculum will be used not only in Bolivia, but in areas of Mexico, Belize and even Canada and the United States. Your donation will help cover the costs of salaries and supplies and printing of materials.

recent mission updates

Amanecer Dedication Service & Celebration

Lil Goertzen

Feb 7

Amanecer Dedication Service & Celebration

Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising Sun will come to us from heaven. (Luke 1:78) Sunday, January 21 was filled...

Lil Goertzen

Jul 19, 2023

Bolivia Missions Evening in Aylmer

Sunday evening July 16, the Aylmer EMMC in Ontario hosted an evening of reporting and sharing by individuals involved in Low German...

Blaine Dueck

Feb 10, 2023

Partnership Conversations in Bolivia

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and...

Mem Team

Mary
Bartsch

English Teacher,
Villa Nueva

Christian Faith Church, Winkler

Mary is an English teacher at the Villa Nueva School in Pailon, Bolivia. Her willing heart allows her to be flexible in ministries in both church and in school.

IRNA

DYCK

Teacher & Youth Leader, Unidad Educativa Brillante, Hacienda Verde

Blue Creek EMMC Church, BZ

Irna has been part of the teaching staff at the Unidad Educativa Brillante school in Hacienda Verde for the last 6 years. This year, she has taken a break from teaching and attended Bible School classes at SBS in Mexico. When she arrives back in Bolivia in April 2022, she plans to help with a new radio project for the Plautdietsch speaking Mennonites.

WILLIE & MARGARET ENNS

Pastoral Couple,
Hacienda Verde Church

EBMC in La Crete, AB

Willy and Margaret live in the new community of Hacienda Verde. Willy is pastor of the congregation that meets there and they contribute to community life with their enthusiasm and giftedness in hospitality and music.

Nancy

Friesen

English Teacher, MEM Administrator,
Villa Nueva

EMC Church in Picture Butte, AB

Nancy complements the MEM ministry team as a part-time English teacher, MEM team administrator, helps with the Plautdietsch Curriculum Project, and works on the school board. Nancy is also involved in the local church working with the Junior Youth.

Tabea
Froese

Teacher,
Hacienda Verde

MEC Kanas

Tabea serves as an English and Arts teacher, and has also taught music and physical education. She participates in youth activities and often helps out with music for church and special events.

Abe & Margaret

Harder

MEM Field Director,
Bolivia

Aylmer EMMC Church

Abe and Margaret serve as the MEM Field Director. Their gifts of leadership development and hospitality are an encouragement to the people in the community and surrounding area.

Ben & Bertha Kauenhofen

Pastoral Couple,
Bolivia

Aylmer EMMC Church, ON

Ben and Bertha have accepted the call to serve as EMMC missionaries among the Low German speaking people of Bolivia. They will be serving with the MEM team as a Missionary Pastor Couple.

Bill & Ester
Kehler

RCB Low German Radio/
(Radio del Campo Boliviano),
Hacienda Verde Pastoral & Colony Support

MEM

Bill Kehler and Ester Fehr were joined in marriage in Hacienda Verde, Bolivia on October 20, 2022. They will be on leave from ministry for three months.

Joela
Klassen

Plautdietsch Teacher,
Hacienda Verde

Paraguay

Joela Klassen, from Paraguay, is teaching Plautdietsch in Hacienda Verde.

STANLEY & HEIKE NEUFELD

Accountant & Teacher,
Hacienda Verde

EMG Church in Sommerfeld Colony, East Paraguay

Stanley and Heike live in Hacienda Verde with their young family. Stanley is in charge of the administrative aspects of land management in this new community and Heike teaches at the school and piano lessons on the side. They are also youth leaders in the church.

Daniel & Karen
Riveria

Spanish Teachers & School Director,
Hacienda Verde

Cochabamba

Daniel & Karen serve in Hacienda Verde developing and carrying out school education with Christian principles. Daniel is the Director and Karen is a teacher. They also help young Mennonites with alternate education at night, with the purpose of guiding and training young high school graduates who finish their academic training. They also serve in their church in San Jose with discipleship and Bible studies.

**Daniel & Karen are not officially a part of MEM, but work closely with the MEM team.

HERBERT & ALWEIRA TOEWS

Economic Developer,
Hacienda Verde

The Menno Colony in Paraguay's Chaco

Herbert and Alweira are encouragers and helpers to the new families making Hacienda Verde their home. In charge of economic development for the community, and with energy and gifts of music they provide stability for these newcomers.

JACOBO & AGANETHA WIEBE

Teacher & Communications Link,
Hacienda Verde

Mennoniten Gemeinde zu Blumenau, Chihuahua, MX

Jacobo and Aganetha Wiebe and their children joined the MEM Team in 2019. They have made their home in Hacienda Verde and Jacobo teaches at the school. They also serve in their church as youth leaders.

MEM Missionaries

To explore MEM's ministry partners, click here

MEM