A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

udy, the La Cumbre congregation which had existed for some time was revived and strengthened. Later the church here grew when persecution in other regions forced many Christians to seek refuge in the mountains around La Cumbre. A primary school was started, and somewhat later also a high school. The latter was moved to Cali in 1966. However, in the early years the interest and concern of the board and of the missionaries centered primarily on the region known as the "Choco," the hot and humid coastal lowlands in the northwestern part of the country. In 1947 the John Dycks with several single ladies established themselves at Istmina, while the Jacob Loewens and the David Wirsches moved to Noanama, a point from which they could reach the Indians who were their particular concern. It was a difficult pioneer work among primitive, illiterate people. At both these places churches, schools, and dispensaries were built. Since the native Waunana language was as yet unwritten, the missionaries worked on the production of a grammar, a dictionary and the translation of Bible stories. By Christmas of 1952 Loewen was able to give the Noanama Indians the Christmas story in their own language.' 2 By 1955 storm clouds were gathering over the evangelical Christian churches of Colombia. The work of the Mennonite Brethren was also tested by severe persecution. In 1956 the work in the Choco was forbidden. For the time being, the Waunana were lost to M.B. missions. Persecution spread to all regions in Colombia, including La Cumbre. God, however, protected and preserved the missionaries as well as the young M.B. Church, and no members were killed. Before this storm had subsided, the mission experienced another severe blow: the death of John and Mary Dyck in an airplane crash on March 9, 1957." In 1958 a new day dawned for evangelical missions in Colombia when the Liberal party came into office in the national elections. The persecution had proved to be a blessing in disguise, purifying the Christian churches and changing the course of national politics. Since 1958 Mennonite Brethren have had a wide-open door for evangelism and church planting in Colombia. 430 HISTORY OF THE MENNON1TE BRETHREN CHURCH 55. Cali M B. Church in Colombia. A new missionary strategy, also begun in 1958, has been highly significant for Mennonite Brethren church extension in Colombia. On the last day of that year a vision was born to begin work in Cali, a metropolis with a population of over 700,000. The Ernest Friesens, John Savoias, Ebner Friesens, and others in the course of a few years established a cluster of six or seven congregations in the city and its suburbs. Cali has become the most important Mennonite Brethren center in Colombia. Meanwhile in the country around La Cumbre a number of outstations have been developing into congregations. The seven rural churches now have their own pastors as well as a supervisor over all