John Driver’s transformational impact in Latin America was remembered and celebrated by more than 70 people from many countries in a Spanish Zoom event Sunday, April 3. The recording is available in Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation to English (see video above).
Mauricio Chenlo, Mennonite Mission Network’s Church Planting Specialist, moderated the event, beginning with his personal reflections on the impact of Driver’s life and teaching for him in Argentina as a young adult.
The four primary presenters included two who knew John Driver personally, Alix Lozano of Colombia and Jaime Prieto of Costa Rica, and two who hadn’t met him personally, yet were profoundly influenced by his writings, Julián Guamán and Alexandra Meneses of Ecuador.
Alix Lozano focused on Driver’s book Comunidad y Compromiso (Community and Commitment) that was foundational in the formation of Mennonite churches in Venezuela. Lozano also expressed appreciation on behalf of the Movement of Anabaptist Women Doing Theology from Latin America (MTAL) for Driver’s book Mujer y Hombre: Imagen de Dios (Woman and Man: Image of God).
Jaime Prieto gave an overview of Driver’s life of ministry in Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Spain, as well as shorter periods in Costa Rica, Colombia and other countries. Prieto noted that Driver’s book El Evangelio de Paz (The Gospel of Peace) connects Holy Communion with the community of Jesus’ disciples in a simple economy that shares food, thus demonstrating the work of the community in "sharing with those in need."
Julián Guamán focused on Driver’s Book, La Fe en la Periferia de la Historia (Faith on the margins of history) that led him to value teaching church history from the perspective of the people who have received the gospel message, recognizing especially the voices of women and other people on the margins.
Alexandra Meneses shared that in reading Driver’s book Contracorriente (Against the current), she was greatly influenced by the vision of a community "whose strength will be invincible, because its strength is sustained in love, not in the dominant power, not in force, but through unlimited forgiveness and the sense of belonging that invites us to be a family where we can give and receive support and accompaniment."
Gratitude was expressed for John Driver’s life, his humble way of relating with people, and the legacy of his books that communicate deep theological truths in an accessible manner that will continue to inspire and challenge the present and future generations.
