All images © Kevin Moloney


Shouting into the evening sun, a Bolivian radio evangelist chides paceños on their way to the central cemetery in La Paz to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Evangelical preachers campaign against many of the traditional cultural events with origins in Catholicism or indigenous religions, proclaiming them demonic.



An Aymara Indian woman in the La Paz suburb of El Alto is overcome by alleged demonic spirits as the pastor of a roadside Pentecostal church performs a mass exorcism on his congregation. The dramatic, often frenzied services at some churches prove attractive to many who feel disconnected from the pomp and tradition of Catholicism.



Children watch as their mothers and sisters collapse under the spell of the Holy Spirit in a street-side service of the Jesus has Power Ministry in La Paz. The new church rents a small garage along a major highway. The space inside is inadequate for the service, but the outdoor show attracts passers-by to the flock.



"Out of her!" shouts the minister of Jesus Has Power Ministry church in El Alto as he throws a shawl at an allegedly demon-afflicted congregation member. Throughout Latin America, Pentecostalism battles the 'evil' spirits of native religions.



Forming a line around the block, paceños wait outside two movie theaters in the central banking district of La Paz for evangelical church services. Many of the larger denominations fill former movie theaters with hundreds of worshippers each Sunday morning.


All images © Kevin Moloney

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