Protestantism in Bolivia

Bolivia has an active Protestant minority of various groups, especially Evangelical Methodists.[1] Other denominations represented in Bolivia included Mennonites. Since the 1970s, various Pentecostal, Baptist and Seventh-day Adventist denominations gained increasing adherents.[2]

In 2015 there were 1,4 million Protestants in Bolivia, representing 13.7% of the population.[3] The largest denominations within Protestantism were Pentecostals (7.9%), other evangelical communities (approx. 3%), and Seventh-day Adventists (2.2%).

In 2018 there were 17.2% Protestants in Bolivia, according to Latinobarometro.[4] According to estimates, around the year 2025 Protestant groups in Bolivia account for somewhere between 16-19% of the population, with most of the demographic concentration being within the poorer Native population, whereas Mennonites are overwhelmingly German speaking ethnic Mennonites, see also Mennonites in Bolivia.

History

  • In 1895 (significantly later than in other Latin American countries), the Plymouth Brethrenarrieved as the first Protestant missionaries.
  • In 1898, Canadian Baptists began their missionary work, followed by Methodists in 1901, and Seventh-day Adventists in 1907.
  • In 1902, George Allan arrived and began a mission among the Quechua Indians and in 1907, he founded the Bolivian Indian Mission (BIM).
  • In 1920, the first Pentecostal missionaries arrived (the Swedish Free Mission).
  • In 1929, the American mission of the Fourfold Gospel Church arrived, followed by the Evangelical Pentecostal Church (from Chile) in 1938, and in 1946, the American Assemblies of God began their work.
  • In 1923, with the help of Bolivians, George Allan translated and published the New Testament into Quechua. During this period, he also founded Bible schools.
  • In 1959, two Protestant missions merged to form the Christian Evangelical Union (UCE), which is currently the third largest Protestant church in Bolivia.[4]

References

  1. ^ Canessa, Andrew (April 1998). "Evangelical Protestantism in the Northern Highlands of Bolivia". Studies in World Christianity. 4 (1): 21–40. doi:10.3366/swc.1998.4.1.21. ISSN 1354-9901.
  2. ^ Calestani, Melania (2012-11-06). An Anthropological Journey into Well-Being: Insights from Bolivia. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 42–43. ISBN 978-94-007-5669-4.
  3. ^ Christian Population as Percentages of Total Population by Country, The Pew Research Center, June 13, 2015
  4. ^ Religion affiliation in Bolivia as of 2018, based on Latinobarómetro. Survey period June 15 to August 2, 2018, 1,200 respondents.
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