View source for Konferenz der Evangelischen Mennonitischen Bruderschaft von Südamerika

The Konferenz der Evangelischen Mennonitischen Bruderschaft von Südamerika (Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Conference of South America) was founded in 1963 by four congregations in [[Paraguay|Paraguay]] and [[Argentina|Argentina]]. The group's roots go back to [[Russia|Russia]] where the [[Allianz Gemeinden|Allianz Gemeinde]] was formed in 1889. Although not directly related when first established, since the mid-20th century the conference has worked in close cooperation with the similarly-named Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Conference (since 1987, [[Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches|Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches]]) in North America.

Following the migration from Russia to Paraguay, 1929-1930, 23 Allianz members gathered to form a congregation in the [[Fernheim Colony (Boquerón Department, Paraguay)|Fernheim Colony]] under the direction of Nikolai Wiebe, their first minister. They called themselves the Evangelische Mennonitische Bruderschaft. The church has experienced steady growth since its founding, numbering 380 members in 1986. In its mission outreach to Indians and Paraguayan nationals it works closely with the [[Mennonite Brethren Church|Mennonite Brethren]] and [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonites]]. It publishes the <em>Informations Blatt </em>(Information Paper).

During the migration to [[Paraguay|Paraguay]] following World War II, a number of Mennonites chose to remain in [[Buenos Aires (Argentina)|Buenos Aires]] in 1947. Others came to the city for employment. With [[Mennonite Central Committee (International)|Mennonite Central Committee]] encouragement [[Durksen, Martin (1919-1995)|Martin Durksen]] gathered these families for worship and gave spiritual leadership to their needs. A congregation soon formed in the city. The cultural and language transition from German to Spanish was more rapid in the Argentine congregation than in Paraguay. The mission outreach of the congregation into a suburb of Buenos Aires led to the founding of another congregation in 1986, the Iglesia Evangelical Menonita de Delviso ([[Alianza Evangélica Menonita de la Argentina (Buenos Aires, Argentina)|Alianze Evangélica Menonita de Argentina]]).
= Bibliography =
<em class="gameo_bibliography">Annual Report of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Conference </em>(1984): 55-56.

Kraybill, Paul N., ed. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite World Handbook</em>. Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1978: 247-248.

<em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite World Handbook Supplement</em>. Strasbourg, France, and Lombard, IL: Mennonite World Conference, 1984: 97.

Mennonite World Conference. "MWC - 2003 Caribbean, Central &amp; South America Mennonite &amp; Brethren in Christ Churches." Accessed 12 March 2006. &lt;[http://www.mwc-cmm.org/Directory/2006carcsam.pdf http://www.mwc-cmm.org/Directory/carcsam.html]&gt;.
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