Anabaptists in Brazil

[Disciple of Christ]

They're not organised into "colonies" like Old Colonists are with horse and buggy but they do tend to live in clusters throughout the country. I would gladly put you in touch with some people there if you wish.

There is a Mennonite colony in Brazil founded a few years ago by progressive Old Colony Mennonites.

[MennoSimons1998]

They're not organised into "colonies" like Old Colonists are with horse and buggy but they do tend to live in clusters throughout the country. I would gladly put you in touch with some people there if you wish.

There is a Mennonite colony in Brazil founded a few years ago by progressive Old Colony Mennonites.

Where is this colony located in? (you can tell me in PMs if you are more comfortable this way)

[Disciple of Christ]

The colony is called California and was started by progressive Old Colony Mennonites in 2015. Population: c. 45 residents. They are located at -14.5276, -45.88492.

[JohnH]

The colony is called California and was started by progressive Old Colony Mennonites in 2015. Population: c. 45 residents. They are located at -14.5276, -45.88492.

Could you describe the doctrines/beliefs, lifestyle & practices, and general level of spirituality amongst "progressive Old Colony Mennonites"? (These terms can have a wide range of meanings - for example, "progressive conservative Mennonites" in North America would mean people who practice the headcovering and would be okay with instruments in the home or and a piano in a church building.)

[Disciple of Christ]

Progressive just means they allow cars and rubber tires.

[Thomas_muntzer]

Hello!, Brazilian seeker here!, a question I always wondered is why are there no Mennonite colonies in Brazil?, there are many in Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, etc., but not here, is it because our laws make it an unpopular destination for Mennonites? (i.e. forced voting, private schools must conform to the state curriculum, obligatory military service, etc.)?

During the era of President Getúlio Vargas, there was a large population of German origin—descendants of immigrants who had arrived in the late 19th century and after World War I—settled primarily in Santa Catarina, Curitiba, and Rio Grande do Sul (an interesting fact: the largest Oktoberfest outside Germany takes place in Blumenau).

Getúlio Vargas banned the public use of any language other than Portuguese and also prohibited the circulation of newspapers and the broadcasting of radio programs in foreign languages.

Around that same time, the Paraguayan government granted significant benefits to Mennonites to settle in the Chaco region.

Morei um tempo no brasil em mato grosso do sul ali um amigo jardinheiro era neto de uns alemaos que emigraram ao brasil depois da primeira guerra mundial muito interesante para mim que a razao pela qual eles chegaram no brasil foi porque o barco deles teve uma tempestade iam para os estados unidos e terminaram no brasil que mundo diferente vc inicia uma vida num local que vc nem sabe qual é. O amigo era de RS e me fala que uns parientes de santa catarina moram num municipio que ainda tem pessoas que falam alemao na vida cotidiana

[Thomas_muntzer]

Greetings to anyone from Brazil.

My home congregation has quite a few people who moved to Brazil and consequently a number who have moved back, plus many visitors. If you visit, you may hear Portuguese spoken, find yourself eating beans and rice, see the a auriverde in someone’s house, or end up in a debate about the latest goings-on in local Brazilian politics.

The Mennonite group I am part of has a a few hundred members in Brazil and several congregations. These days it is about half people of ethnic Anabaptist origin (plus one white family from Ohio that isn’t European Anabaptist in background but wound up converting many years ago) and half “native” Brazilians, i.e., people whose families go back generations in Brazil.

A common surname is Lima. Nothing to do with Peru or beans.

A friend went to spend some time in the state of São Paulo with some brothers who grow lettuce—I don't know if they belong to your home congregation; they are a "plain church."