Peru

Peru. World Factbook map, 2006

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Introduction

The Republic of Peru is located in western South America, bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of 1,285,216 km² (496,225 square miles).

Peru had an estimated population in 2010 of 29,496,000, with the following demographic breakdown: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, and other 3%.

In the 2007 census, 81.3% of the population over 12 years old described themselves as Roman Catholic, 12.5% as Evangelical, 3.3% as of other denominations, and 2.9% as non-religious.

1990 Article

As a result of the merger between Mennonite Brethren (MB) and Krimmer Mennonite Brethren (KMB) in 1960, the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Services (BOMAS) assumed responsibility for the work in the eastern jungles of Peru begun by Krimmer Mennonite Brethren missionaries some 10 years earlier. In 1987 this work continued in association with Wycliffe Bible Translators, Swiss Indian Mission, and the South America Mission.

Mennonite Brethren missionaries worked in the areas of Bible teaching, literature, agriculture, community development, and public health. They lived in Pucallpa, Mazamari, and Satipo. About 25-30 village congregations resulted from this ministry among the Campa Ashaninca people. In 1986 the independent Association of Ashaninca Evangelical Churches was organized.

In 1983, Mennonite Brethren Missions and Services responded to a flood disaster in northern Peru by sending food, medicines, and mission workers. This led to the formation of several Bible study groups and in 1986, the Mennonite Brethren Church of Peru was officially recognized by the government of Peru (Iglesia Evangélica de los Hermanos Menonitas del Perú). Two congregations with total membership of about 60 were organized in Sullana and Vichayal. More missionaries were preparing to join this work. In 2003 there were twelve congregations with 215 members.

In 1985 Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (Mennonite Church) sent an investigative team to Peru. As a result of their visit and support from new churches of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference (MC), a missionary couple was sent to Peru in January 1987 to study the Quechua language in Lima in anticipation of a church planting effort among the Quechua people. -- Harold Ens

2014 Update

In 2012 the following Anabaptist denominations were active in Peru:

Denomination	Congregations in 2006	Members in 2006	Congregations in 2009	Members in 2009	Congregations in 2012	Members in 2012
Conferencia Peruana Hermanos Menonitas	12	520	7	530	9	441
Nationwide Fellowship Churches					1	10
Iglesia Evangélica Menonita del Perú	25	417	20	456	20	456
Total	37	937	27	986	30	907

Bibliography

Central Intelligence Agency. "Peru." The World Factbook. Web. 8 November 2010. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pe.html#People.

Martens, Phyllis. The Mustard Tree. Fresno, CA: Mennonite Brethren Board of Christian Education, 1971: 198-203.

Mennonite Brethren in World Mission, 2, no. 4 (July/August 1986): 3.

Mennonite World Conference. "Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Churches Worldwide, 2009: Latin America & The Caribbean." 2010. Web. 28 October 2010. http://www.mwc-cmm.org/en15/files/Members 2009/Latin America & the Caribbean Summary.doc. [Broken Link].

Mennonite World Conference. "MWC - 2006 Caribbean, Central and South American Mennonite & Brethren in Christ Churches." Web. 20 October 2008. http://www.mwc-cmm.org/en/PDF-PPT/2006carcsam.pdf. [Broken Link].

Missionary Messenger, 62, no. 12 (April 1986): 1-3, and 63, no. 9 (January 1987): 21.

Toews, John A. History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, ed. A. J. Klassen. Fresno, CA: Mennonite Brethren Board of Literature and Education, 1975: 429-31.

Mennonite World Conference. World Directory = Directorio mundial = Répertoire mondial 2012: Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Related Churches = Iglesias Menonitas, de los Hermanos en Cristo y afines = Églises Mennonites, Frères en Christ et Apparentées. Kitchener, ON: Mennonite World Conference, 2012: 27.

Author(s)	Harold Ens
Date Published	May 2014

Cite This Article

MLA style

Ens, Harold. "Peru." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2014. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Peru&oldid=122816.

APA style

Ens, Harold. (May 2014). Peru. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Peru&oldid=122816.

---

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 698. All rights reserved.

©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.