Deutsche Indianer Pionier Mission

The Deutsche Indianer Pionier Mission (DIPM) is a German evangelical mission agency founded in 1962 by James Rathlef. Its origins lie in Rathlef's 1959 journey to Brazil, where he encountered the spiritual and social hardship of South American indigenous peoples. The organisation was established in Gerlingen near Stuttgart, with Rathlef as its first mission director. From the outset, DIPM's work was twofold: missionary activity among indigenous groups in South America and evangelistic work in Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg, following its absorption of the tasks of the Zeltmissionsvereinigung Süd. DIPM's missionary work began among the Guaraní, Caiuá and Kadiweu peoples, with pioneer phases in Brazil from 1964 and in Paraguay from 1972. Over the decades it expanded into northern Brazil, Costa Rica and northeastern Germany. The mission describes its approach as holistic, combining health assistance, education and biblical teaching in partnership with indigenous settlements and local and international partners. In Germany, DIPM supports churches through youth programmes, camps, children's Bible weeks (KiBiWo), tent missions and other activities, with a focus on Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the Uckermark. The organisation is headquartered on the Kirchberg in St. Johann-Lonsingen. It is a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelikaler Missionen (AEM) and works with partner organisations including ATE (Associação Transcultural Evangélica) in Brazil, CAPI in Costa Rica and Cruz Azul no Brasil. As of 2017, DIPM reported 53 missionaries in Paraguay and Brazil and 38 staff in Germany. The mission has announced plans to change its name to Pioniermission on 17 January 2027.

The Deutsche Indianer Pionier Mission (DIPM) was founded in 1962 by James Rathlef, following a journey to South America in 1959 during which he witnessed the distressing living conditions of the indigenous population. Rathlef, at the time leader of the Zeltmissionsvereinigung Süd e.V., established the mission in Gerlingen near Stuttgart on 27 December 1959, with the aim of addressing the plight of indigenous peoples in South America. He became the first mission director. The personnel connection between the Zeltmissionsvereinigung Süd and DIPM meant that the tasks of tent mission were soon taken over by DIPM, giving the organisation a dual focus from the start: mission work abroad and evangelistic work in Germany, especially in Baden-Württemberg. Missionary work began among the Guaraní, Caiuá and Kadiweu peoples, with contacts established and mission stations built. From 1964, a pioneer phase in Brazil began, and the mission expanded into eastern Paraguay. In Brazil, lively indigenous congregations emerged. In Germany, the mission headquarters moved from Gerlingen to Lonsingen. In 1972, the pioneer phase in Paraguay began. On 7 October 1975, a Cessna aircraft of the mission crashed, killing all seven occupants — a shock for the entire mission. At the same time, new stations were established. From 1983, mission and evangelisation expanded with missions, expeditions and evangelism among unreached tribes in Brazil, and a revival in Panambi, Paraguay. In 1991, the first Brazilian missionaries joined with the founding of the daughter mission ATE (Associação Transcultural Evangélica). In 1992, tent mission restarted in Germany. The work was extended to northern Brazil, with Porto Velho as a base, and contact was made with the Paumari people. In 1995, a pioneer phase in northern Brazil began. In 2007, a pioneer phase in northeastern Germany began, expanding the work to Wolgast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In 2009, a partnership with the "Gutes Haus" in Neumeichow was established, and a training centre was founded in Paraguay near Santaní as a base for Bible and other training. As of 2017, DIPM reported 53 missionaries in Paraguay and Brazil and 38 staff in Germany. The mission also maintains church contacts with Tanzania. Its work focuses on proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, medical care, literacy, and practical survival assistance such as agriculture. In Germany, a team of volunteer and full-time staff shares responsibility for areas including tent evangelism, church services, house and prayer circles, camps, Bible weeks, mission presentations, and children's and youth work with children's Bible weeks and other offerings. Since 2007 there has been work in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and since 2008 also in the Uckermark. The entire missionary activity is supported by a voluntary circle of pray-ers and donors from the Evangelical State Church in Württemberg, evangelical free churches and fellowship circles. The DIPM headquarters is located on the Kirchberg in St. Johann-Lonsingen. The mission has announced its intention to change its name to Pioniermission on 17 January 2027.

• 2017

  DIPM reports 53 missionaries in Paraguay and Brazil and 38 staff in Germany.

• 2009

  Partnership with the "Gutes Haus" in Neumeichow; founding of a training centre in Paraguay near Santaní.

• 2008

  Work begins in the Uckermark.

• 2007

  Pioneer phase in northeastern Germany begins, expanding to Wolgast in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

• 1995

  Pioneer phase in northern Brazil begins.

• 1992

  Tent mission restarts in Germany; work extends to northern Brazil with Porto Velho as base; contact with the Paumari people.

• 1991

  First Brazilian missionaries join with the founding of the daughter mission ATE (Associação Transcultural Evangélica).

• 1983

  Mission and evangelisation expand with missions, expeditions and evangelism among unreached tribes in Brazil; revival in Panambi, Paraguay.

• 1975

  On 7 October, a mission Cessna crashes, killing all seven occupants; new stations are nevertheless established.

• 1972

  Pioneer phase in Paraguay begins.

• 1964

  Pioneer phase in Brazil; expansion of missionary work to eastern Paraguay; mission headquarters moves from Gerlingen to Lonsingen.

• 1962

  Founding of DIPM; beginning of missionary work among the Guaraní, Caiuá and Kadiweu peoples.

• 1959

  James Rathlef reports on the distressing living conditions of the indigenous population after a South American journey; on 27 December he founds the mission in Gerlingen near Stuttgart.

• Planned name change to Pioniermission on 17 January.

Evangelical mission agency focused on holistic mission among indigenous peoples in South America and evangelism in Germany.

1. 1Home - DIPMdipm.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichte - DIPMdipm.de
3. 3Über uns - DIPMdipm.de
4. 4Netzwerk - DIPMdipm.de
5. 5Deutsche Indianer Pionier Missionwikidata.org
6. 6Deutsche Indianer Pionier Missionde.wikipedia.org