The Mennonitisches Missionskomitee für Paraguay (MMKfP; Mennonite Missions Committee for Paraguay) committee, also known as the Comité Menonita de Acción Evangélica y Social en el Paraguay (Mennonite Committee for Social and Evangelical Action in Paraguay), was founded in 1963 by Mennonite congregations (General Conference Mennonite Church) of the following colonies, Volendam, Friesland, Neuland, Fernheim, and Menno and by the Asunción congregation. Also participating were the Evangelische Mennonitische Brüderschaft (EMB-related; Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches) of Fernhem and the Mennonite Church (MC) of North America.

The original committee consisted of the following members: Gerhard Schartner (Fernheim), Kornelius Dyck (Neuland), Bernhard Toews (Menno), and Bruno Epp as field secretary. The MMKfP assumed responsibility for the Indian mission in Menno Colony (Chaco mission) and missionary activity in Villa Hayes as well as in East Paraguay. It also related to the Centro de Salud Menonita, Kilometer 81, a hospital for victims of Hansen's disease (leprosy).

By 1987 14 congregations had been established, each with their own place of worship (Convención de las Iglesias Evangélicas Unidas). Membership was ca. 500. Four of these congregations had missionary leadership, the other ten were being served by national workers. Mission schools have been established by the MMKfP at two of these congregational centers.

See also Gemeindekomitee

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 578. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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