A former missionary to Bolivia who now lives in Niverville says the Catholic and evangelical churches have come together in Bolivia to peacefully protest a proposed law that would have made evangelism illegal.

The Bolivian president Evo Morales recently introduced a law that would give the government the right to punish witnessing and proselytizing with up to 12 years in prison. Both the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC) and the Evangelical Mennonite Conference (EMC) have been quite involved in Bolivian mission work over the years.

Niverville Resident Darrell Kehler was a longtime missionary in Bolivia with the EMMC. He says over the past few years the Bolivian government has been putting increasing pressure on people of the Christian faith.

"The government has traditionally had a close relationship with the Catholic Church but even that has been tested in these last few years. The evangelical church is very concerned about losing its rights as far as being able to carry out its ministries and the work that it does in the Bolivian society."

Abe Giesbrecht is the Missions Coordinator for the EMMC. He says in the past the Catholic church in Bolivia has not always had a friendly relationship with evangelical churches but the two have come together to oppose this proposed law.

"Along with petitioning the government and having a peaceful non-violent protest or mass gatherings, they also declared a day of fasting that happened on Sunday, January 21st and even that same day, after that day of prayer and fasting, the president revoked that law."

Giesbrecht notes Christian schools and medical clinics have also come under increasing scrutiny.

Kehler says they expect this type of pressure to continue from the current government but notes it is also strengthening the Bolivian church.