Three young adults who serve with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Bolivia had the opportunity to attend the 500th anniversary celebration of Anabaptism, held recently in Cusco, Peru. Andrew Smucker, Vilma Pop, and Yuri De Araújo Silva shared their experiences through MCC Bolivia’s newsletter, discussing what this milestone meant to them and for future generations.
Andrew Smucker, originally from Goshen, Indiana, is participating as a SALT volunteer, serving at a children’s home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He appreciated the diversity at the festival, saying, “At the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism celebration, there were many churches represented from all over South America and the Caribbean. I enjoyed getting to know people from all over, learning more about their cultures, and making connections.” Andrew relished conversations with attendees from countries like Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
Vilma Pop, who is from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, is part of the YAMEN program and works at a daycare supporting under-resourced families also in Santa Cruz. For her, the event was particularly poignant. She expressed, “For me, personally, being in the celebration of the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism was very special... because behind those 500 years there is a difficult history, there were people who suffered because of the Gospel but did not prevent the word of God from filling the void.”
Yuri De Araújo Silva, hailing from Recife, Brazil, is also involved with YAMEN, aiding children and youth at community centers in Montero, Bolivia. He found the anniversary significant as it brought together diverse cultures. He stated, “For me, the most meaningful thing was to bring together people from different cultures to recognize the beginning of everything and learn about the changes over time, bringing to light problems, solutions, and reflections on important issues for our community life, always based on our Anabaptist principles.”
The young participants reflected on how their personal interpretations of Anabaptism evolved through attending this monumental gathering. Andrew, who had known the basic tenets of Anabaptism, remarked, “Going to this meeting, my belief of what Anabaptist is didn’t change much; rather, I got more information on how diverse Anabaptists can be. I also learned more about this through presentations about churches’ work in South America.”
Vilma described her connection to the movement saying, “Being Anabaptist is... a decision to follow Christ, finding purpose and meaning through serving others.” Yuri echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing how the gathering reinforced his belief in Anabaptist principles: “The reaffirmation of the principles of peace, sharing, and harmony among siblings is fundamental to our perspective on community and the kingdom of God.”
Looking toward the future, the trio shared hopes for Anabaptist youth. Andrew wished for more dialogue spaces for young Anabaptists, where diversity is embraced, allowing for discussions on faith and community projects. He noted, “I found this time to be meaningful... connected with others from many countries, and unique to learn more about cultures.”
Vilma highlighted the importance of adapting Anabaptist teachings to modern challenges, saying, “My hope is... they can find creative ways to express their faith and serve their community, without losing sight of the core values of Anabaptism.” She noted the importance of the youth actively taking the initiative for their future.
Yuri acknowledged the difficulties faced by younger generations, remarking, “We are going through complicated times... Some discussions focused on attracting more young people to the Mennonite conference and ensuring their participation.” He stressed the principles of knowledge, boldness, and fear of the Lord, advocating for discipleship as pivotal for fostering engagement among youth.
The 500th anniversary of Anabaptism served as not only a historical reflection but also as a springboard for discussions on future challenges and opportunities facing Anabaptist youth. This milestone is not merely about tradition but also about cultivating community, service, and the vitality of shared faith and heritage moving forward.