Mennonites in Ecuador Address Violence, Request Prayers

In April, Mennonite World Conference shared an urgent prayer appeal from three Ecuadorian Mennonite national conferences. They requested prayers for peace as their country faces everyday stories of gang-related “massacres and horror.” Since 2023, Ecuador has shifted from being the most peaceful to the most violent country in Latin America. Despite successive states of emergency, violence reached record levels this year, with incidents of gang violence 60 per cent higher in the first months of 2025 than in the same period last year. An estimated six of 10 members of criminal groups are under the age of 19.

Canadian Mennonite’s David Oliva Wiebe asked Ecuadorian Mennonite leaders about the current situation. The following is a translation of part of his conversation with José Giler of Iglesia Evangélica Misionera Ecuatoriana, Alexandra Meneses of the Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador as well as Silvia Guaman, Patricia Abarca and Peter Wigginton of the Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Ecuador.

20 June 2025|News, People|

David Oliva Wiebe, Canadian Mennonite

Leaders of the Camino de Salvación Kichwa Church worship with Ecuador partnership visitors. Photo: Linda Shelly

Tell us about the current situation in Ecuador.

José Giler: During the recent election, things quieted down a bit, but it’s flaring up again. The death toll is at about 2,300 victims since January. We are trying to equip churches in peace and mediation so the church can be a prophetic voice, engaging in the work of peace.

How are Mennonites responding to the violence?

JG: Our goal is to work across the Anabaptist churches in Ecuador with youth and schools, because the violent groups are recruiting and influencing young people. Most of the perpetrators and victims of violence are youth. We’re preparing a workshop in the centre of this crisis area at the church in Durán.

Peter Wigginton: We’re developing a church leaders course on biblical peace theology, offering tools and theological understanding to help communities understand that being a peace church isn’t optional—it’s essential to our identity as followers of Christ. Each community is praying and supporting those in mourning or fear, but we hope to expand with a more strategic and regional approach.

How can Anabaptists around the world pray for you?

PW: Pray that we in Ecuador can imagine God’s vision for our country—a country with shalom and peace. We need imagination to see where God wants to lead us. I often feel surrounded by darkness and lack the imagination to see God’s future of peace for us.

Alexandra Meneses: Sometimes we say, “God is in control,” but we need to realize we can be instruments of his peace. Pray for a spiritual awakening in the church—that we take responsibility and feel the pain of others as if it were our own. We build peace when we recognize others as our neighbours.

Silvia Guamán: My church and pastors often feel alone. It would be good to receive a letter saying, “We are praying for Ecuador, for each church and member.”

AM: It’s important to make this intercession an ongoing one, praying like the persistent widow in the parable in Luke 18. This involves knowing what’s happening, the real needs. We are doing our small part, but we need strong support from brothers and sisters internationally.

What is important to know about Anabaptist churches in Ecuador?

AM: We are diverse churches, churches that, depending on where they are, have assumed their Anabaptist identity differently. Each church retains those local identities, but we want to unite and strengthen our Anabaptist identity.

JG: We recently held a workshop at my church. I wanted a particular pastor to come because he had once been part of a powerful gang. He couldn’t attend, but he told me it’s complicated for people who want to reform after being involved in such activities. They have to leave the country to safeguard their lives and their family’s safety.

If we had the budget to reach certain places or people—especially those with such experiences—that would help the youth, the community. My struggle is that the problems are right around the corner, but we still want to stay locked inside the four walls.

AM: That’s why prayer is essential; prayer helps us to see, and when we see, we act. We don’t want to pass on our responsibilities to Canadian churches, but to say, let’s all pray to see what God wants to do through us.

Our group is united with one goal: to proclaim peace, to bring reconciliation, to teach conflict resolution. And not just to Mennonite churches—we’ve given workshops in the Amazon region, where there are no Anabaptist churches, on the coast and in the highlands. We see God moving.

It hasn’t been easy—we’ve had to set aside many activities to fulfill this purpose. We’re grateful to those who’ve supported, prayed and joined us in this challenge. A real challenge is to reach people so they can know Christ, and know the peace God gives, which is not like the world’s peace.

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