INTRODUCTION FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

OF THE LATIN AMERICAN ANABAPTIST WOMEN

THEOLOGANS MOVEMENT   2013

Background

In July 2003 the Mennonite World Conference met in Zimbabwe, Africa. During that time the Latin American women who were at the meeting were able to get acquainted with the African women theologians whose strength and work is well known in the Mennonite Church throughout the world.  They listened to the African women theologians and asked them questions. 

It was in this setting that the Latin American women got the idea to initiate a movement to help strengthen networks of mutual support among the women who in their daily routine, with or without formal Biblical and theological training, contribute substantially to the church and are visible in the Kingdom of God along with many others.

The time designated for working out details to make this dream come true was from 2004 to 2009.  Meetings for Biblical-theological reflection were arranged in different regions of Latin America.  The main focus of the study centered on the ministry of women from the perspective of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Paraguay 2009

At the Mennonite World Conference in Paraguay we had the first meeting of Latin American Women Theologians.  There was a large group of women in attendance from almost all the areas.

Work groups were given the question: What do you want from the movement? Along with other suggested activities in answer to the question, the women proposed the observance of World Day of Prayer.  This would involve prayer for the different needs of Latin American countries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   World Day of Prayer Observance   

To take care of this request we have been observing World Day of Prayer since 2010 during the month of May (Each church can choose a day in the month of May to pray for the needs of the selected countries).

AÑO	ORACION POR:	EQUIPO DE TRABAJO
2010	Mexico, Colombia, Haiti and Japan (Japan was also included due to the earth quake and tsunami)	Ofelia Garcia (Mexico), Olga Piedrasanta (Guatemala) y Rebeca Gonzalez Torres (Mexico)
2011	Cuba, Argentina and Guatemala	Marta Julieta and Olga Piedrasanta (Guatemala), M. Estela Baez de Armoa  (Paraguay), Rebeca Gonzalez Torres (Mexico)
2012	Belize, Bolivia and women of Latin American origin who live in the United States	Olga Piedrasanta (Guatemala), Alix Lozano (Colombia), Milka Rindzinski (Uruguay), Ofelia Garcia (Mexico), Tania Melendez (Honduran living in the USA), Elizabeth Masavi (Bolivia), Ramon Castellanos (USA), Ana Mary Yoder (USA), Rebeca Gonzalez Torres (Mexico)
2013	El Salvador, Brasil and Puerto Rico	Nora Marleni Martínez and Samuel Martinez Leal (El Salvador),  Patricia Urueña (Colombian in Ecuador), Valeria Alvarenga (Brazil), Olga Piedrasanta (Guatemala), Rebeca Gonzalez Torres, Ofelia García and Ruhama Pedroza (Mexico), Nancy Morales (Puerto Rico)

Let us encourage all of our sister churches so that we may unite together in prayer for our needs!

LET’S SEEK COMUNION WITH ONE ANOTHER