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 260 students and the Unidad Educativa Brillante school in Hacienda Verde has around 110 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

Lil Goertzen

2 days ago

Changing Name in Bolivia (MEM)

Projects move along quite quickly in Bolivia. Our MEM team are visionaries and are excited about moving forward with the opportunities...

Irna Klassen

Sep 9

Celebrating a marriage

Hacienda Verde – God’s plans are sometimes hard to understand and other times way beyond what we could imagine! I met Peter Klassen for...

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...

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.

Theo & Liliana

Dyck

School Board,
Haciende Verde School

Paraguay

Theo works on the Haciende Verde School Board and is involved in musical outreach (teaching music).

WILLIE & MARGARET ENNS

Teaching, Bookkeeping, & Outreach
Hacienda Verde

EBMC in La Crete, AB

Willy and Margaret are half time workers with MEM. They are involved in the Hacienda Verde community teaching classes, bookkeeping, and outreach into the colonies.

Nancy

Friesen

MEM Administrator, Children's Ministry
Amanecer, Tres Cruces

EMC Church in Picture Butte, AB

Nancy complements the MEM ministry team as the MEM team administrator, Plautdietsch Project, serving in children's ministry in Amanecer, Tres Cruces where she is now living.

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.

Thorsten & Joana
Hiebert

Youth Leaders,
Villa Nueva Church

Shalom Mennoniten Gemeinde, Paraguay

Thorsten & Joana are Youth Leaders in the Villa Nueva Church.

Ben & Bertha Kauenhofen

Pastoral Couple,
Amanecer, Tres Cruces

Aylmer EMMC Church, ON

Ben and Bertha are living and ministering in Amanecer, Tres Cruces as Pastor couple and church planting.

Bill & Ester
Kehler

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

MEM

Bill & Ester are a Pastoral couple in Hacienda Verde. They keep
busy with many speaking engagements at their local church and surrounding areas. They also do a lot of Radio Outreach and
Colony Ministry.

Irna & Peter Klassen

Translation & Radio,
Hacienda Verde

Blue Creek EMMC Church, BZ

Irna recently married Peter in August 2024. They are living in Hacienda Verde. Their home church remains the same. Irna does Plautdietsch translation work with children's literature & radio work. Peter does
full-time radio work.

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.

Gabriela
Toews

Teacher,
Hacienda Verde

Manoah, Paraguay

Gabriela is a new teacher this year in the Haciende Verde school.

JACOBO & AGANETHA WIEBE

Pastor Couple,
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 are a Pastor couple at the Hacienda Verde Church.

MEM Missionaries

To explore MEM's ministry partners, click here

MEM