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Winnipeg, Man.
Mexican Mennonites hungering for hope


“More than 100 Mennonites are in prison for drug dealing, and that is only the tip of the iceberg,” reported Jacob Funk, Low German radio producer with Family Life Network in Winnipeg. Funk was in Mexico in March and June, where he preached in Blumenau, Burwalde and Durango, then at the annual convention of the Conference of Mennonites in Mexico and a June national youth retreat.

“The churches are in crisis,” he said. Known drug dealers are recruiting members from within the Mennonite churches. Weak ethics result in widespread immorality and spiritual confusion.

“Families are in crisis; marriage problems are huge. The most common problems are drugs, alcohol and marital infidelity. There’s a widespread, deep-rooted inferiority complex, mostly among women. There’s a real hunger for a message of hope.”

Churches were filled to capacity each evening for evangelistic services. Many people responded with first-time decisions for Christ, and a number of young people decided for baptism.

Renewal

At the June national youth retreat in Campamento Huapoca on the desert slopes of the Sierra Madre, about 120 young people from various Mennonite denominations attended, many making commitments to Christ.

“There’s a praise and worship movement among the youth,” said Funk. “I encouraged the youth to go ahead but not to offend the older people. I’m so glad the church is open to this renewal in worship.”

Another renewal effort that will impact Mexican Mennonites is the revision of the Low German New Testament, first translated by J.J. Neufeld, former German radio producer, and printed in 1987. Funk has been working on this project for a number of years as part of a committee headed by the Friends of the Plautdietsche and by the United Bible Society.

Marilyn Hudson, manager of Kindred Productions in Winnipeg, is publisher of the Low German New Testament. She said, “Low German has become recognized as a written language. There are many regional dialects ranging from Mexico to Russia which call for different spellings and pronunciations – so it’s tough to agree.”

The translation team agreed on an orthography, and Ed Peters of the Canadian Bible Society created a computer program for it. By the year 2002, the group also hopes to complete a translation of the Old Testament. Missionary Ed Zacharias in Mexico and Isaak Derksen in Paraguay are working on this project. Previously, only the Psalms and Proverbs have been available in the Low German Language.

 – Family Life Network

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Last modified August 12, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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