Where do the Mennonites live in Bolivia?
In 2012, there were about 70.000 Mennonites living in Bolivia. Their colonies can be found in the department of Santa Cruz, in the lowlands of Eastern Bolivia. Currently there are more than 60 colonies in the Santa Cruz area and as each family has approx 8 children their numbers are expanding rapidly.
Are there Mennonites in Bolivia?
The Mennonites in Bolivia are mostly Russian Mennonites descended from Friesian, Flemish and North German people who came to South America from 1927 onwards. In 2019, there were about 60,000 Mennonites living in Bolivia….Colonies and population.
| Affiliation | Membership in 2009 | Membership in 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 18,848 | 24,988 |
Why are there Mennonites in Bolivia?
Mennonites have their roots in 16th-Century Germany and Holland. They are pacifists, practise adult baptism and believe they must live a simple life. They came to Bolivia seeking religious freedom, land and isolation, and arrived via Russia, Canada and Mexico – always moving on when their autonomy was threatened.
What is a Mennonite colony?
The name Old Colony Mennonites (German: Altkolonier-Mennoniten) is used to describe that part of the Russian Mennonite movement that is descended from colonists who migrated from the Chortitza Colony in Russia (itself originally of Prussian origins) to settlements in Canada.
What happened to the Mennonites?
Instead of withdrawal, Mennonites found in witness and service a new way of interacting with the world. At the same time, during the second half of the 20th and into the 21st century, Mennonite cultural distinctiveness steadily disappeared.
Where do most Mennonites live?
Mennonites can be found in communities in 87 countries on six continents. The largest populations of Mennonites are found in Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, and the United States.
What state has the highest Mennonite population?
Statistics of states
| State | 1992 | % of the total U.S. Amish population |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 32,710 | 23.6% |
| Ohio | 34,830 | 22.6% |
| Indiana | 23,405 | 17.1% |
| Wisconsin | 6,785 | 6.5% |