Quito Mennonite Church was begun in 2001 through the calling that César Moya and Patricia Urueña experienced as they lived in Quito and worked through the Ecuador Partnership (Central Plains Mennonite Conference, Colombia Mennonite Church, and Mennonite Mission Network).

The church is organized with a leadership team. A program for Colombian refugees began in 2002 due to the arrival of some Colombian families that were forcefully displaced by violence. In 2007, the Ecuador Episcopal Church (Anglican) joined the project. In 2009, Mennonite Central Committee, from their Colombia office, began to contribute significant economic aid. Some of the refugees become an integral part of the congregation during the period of time they are in Quito.

In 2003, the congregation began a peace education program with neighborhood children. The project carries out peace education and nonviolence workshops once a month for boys and girls of the sector who are from about 5 to 12 years old. The team has recently decided to expand their work to include a program called “Mennonite Services” to accompany schoolchildren in the development of their academic abilities through tutoring, English, library and Internet services.

Riobamba
After several years of relating to Mennonites, in February 2009, several Riobamba families decided to begin Sunday services.

Beatriz and Daniel Escobar are serving as associate co-pastors of the congregation. The church has formed a church council, including a coordinator and treasurer. They are encouraging each other to develop their gifts, and are visualizing plans for working according to the needs in Riobamba. They are growing in faith and practice with an Anabaptist identity. In 2010, International Partnership Associate Rosembert Ipuz was sent by the Colombia Mennonite Church to Riobamba to support the ministries of the Mennonite Church in a one-year assignment.

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