World Of Witness - Chile

Ministry

A Mennonite ministry presence at the Baptist seminary in Santiago has helped to articulate a vision of Anabaptism among Baptist churches in Chile and in shaping a ministry partnership to promote it. Established in 2007, this partnership, among Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Mission Network, and the Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Chile (UBACH), revolves around the development of CERCAPAZ–the Anabaptist Christian Resource Centre for Peace. In a nation where systemic conflict has fuelled societal and family violence, CERCAPAZ offers tools and training for church workers and others to help build healthy families, churches, and communities. In addition to CERCAPAZ, Mennonite Church Canada is developing a sister church relationship with UBACH, a historic and large denomination of 100,000 adherents, as they seek to recover their Anabaptist roots.

Chile is also home to a diverse, but growing number of Anabaptist and Mennonite congregations and fellowships including the Evangelical Mennonite Churches of Chile, Puerta del Rebaño (Concepción), new ministries in Puerto Montt and the island of Chiloé, and a congregation being planted by the Argentine Mennonite Church in Valdivia. At the 2007 Southern Cone meetings in Uruguay, representatives from several Anabaptist groups agreed to co-host the 2011 Southern Cone meeting in Chile.

Celebrations

• Establishment of CERCAPAZ as a church and country resource for Anabaptist and peace theology.
• Emerging connections with other South American Mennonite churches.
• Developing sister church relationship with Mennonite Church Canada.
• Doing Theology Through Kitchen Conversations
• Celebrating and Reclaiming Anabaptist Roots In January

Challenges

• Anabaptist leadership training and resources that are accessible.
• Encouraging cooperation among emerging Anabaptist churches in a country with a church history of splinter groups.
• High levels of family violence in all walks of society.

Partners

• Mennonite Mission Network (MMN)
• Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches (UBACH)
• Puerta del Rebaño Church

Workers

• Cortes-Gaibur, Omar

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