Mennonites in Peru facts for kids

Mennonites in Peru are people who follow the Mennonite faith. There are two main groups of Mennonites in Peru. One group includes Peruvians who have chosen to become Mennonites. These people speak Spanish or indigenous languages like Asháninka. They are similar to other Protestant Christians in Peru.

The second group is made up of very traditional Mennonites. They speak a special language called Plautdietsch. These Mennonites are often called Old Colony Mennonites or "Russian Mennonites." They started moving to Peru in 2015 from countries like Bolivia and Belize. These traditional Mennonites live in their own communities, called colonies. They prefer quiet, faraway places where they can live according to their old customs. They usually do not try to convert others to their faith.

The History of Mennonites

Mennonites are a Christian group with a long history. Their story began during the Protestant Reformation in Europe. This was a time when many people wanted to change the Christian church. Mennonites were part of a group called the Radical Reformation. They believed that people should live strictly by the rules in the Bible.

In the late 1600s, Mennonites started moving from Europe to North America. Many more came in the 1700s and 1800s. Over time, Mennonites in North America divided into different groups. Some became very traditional, while others became more modern.

Mennonite Mission Work in Peru

Around 1950, some Mennonite groups from North America began missionary work in Peru. This work started in the eastern part of Peru, in the Amazon rainforest. One group, the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren, led this effort.

Later, in 1960, the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren joined another group called the Mennonite Brethren Church. This new, larger group continued the missionary work in Peru. They worked with other organizations, like the Wycliffe Bible Translators.

In 1986, the Mennonite Brethren Church of Peru was officially recognized by the Peruvian government. Its Spanish name is Iglesia Evangélica de los Hermanos Menonitas del Perú.

Old Colony Mennonites Arrive in Peru

In 2015, two new Mennonite colonies were started in Peru. These were founded by traditional German-speaking Mennonites from Bolivia. One colony was named Wanderland (Vanderland) and was located near Pucallpa in Ucayali Province. The other was called Österreich (Usterreich) in the Huánuco Region. The Österreich colony had about 25 families, which is around 150 to 200 people.

In 2017 and 2018, another group of traditional Mennonites arrived. These 45 families, about 300 people in total, came from Belize. They started a new colony near Tierra Blanca in the Loreto Region. By 2020, there were more than 200 Mennonite colonies in nine Latin American countries, with four of them in Peru.

Mennonite Communities in Peru

In 2012, there were different Mennonite groups in Peru. The Conferencia Peruana Hermanos Menonitas had 441 members in 9 churches. The Nationwide Fellowship Churches had 10 members in 1 church. The Iglesia Evangélica Menonita del Perú had 456 members in 20 churches.

By 2018, there were also three colonies of the very traditional Old Colony Mennonites. These colonies had a total population of several hundred people.

See also

In Spanish: Menonitas en Perú para niños