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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.
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 ministry workers and additional 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 and education efforts are taking place in Villa Nueva, near Pailón. A more recent economic development project has developed in Hacienda Verde, near San José de Chiquitos. In early 2024 a school and outreach ministry was established in Amanecer near Belice Colony in Tres Cruces. 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. The new Amanecer school has about 15 students and the enrolment is growing. In total over 350 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.
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?
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
the Mem Team
Anna Blatz
Teacher, Amanecer, Tres Cruces
Peace River Christian Fellowship
Anna is a teacher at Amanecer near Tres Cruces.
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).
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.
Darryl & Muffet Goertzen
Field Director, Casa de la Amistad in San Jose
La Crete Bergthaler Mennonite Church, AB
Darryl was appointed the Field Director of MEM in May 2026. Previously, he and his wife Muffet have been serving with MEM since September of 2024 in the roles of host and administation.
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
Berthaler Mennonite Church, AB; Mount Salem Community Church, ON
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.
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.
To explore MEM's ministry partners, click here