DAY FIFTEEN

Ecclesiastes 11:1 "Cast your bread upon the waters for you will find it after many days."

What began as a group of women meeting together on Sunday afternoons now is developing into a new church plant.  In August of 2019, the women organized a children’s event to celebrate Children’s Day in the community with games and balloons.  Since then, Bible school students assist with teaching Bible stories.  

The children are so enthused to hear Jesus’ miracles and healing power that they can’t wait to go home to tell their parents the stories.  Jesus walked on water!  Jesus healed the blind man! 

Romina relates, sometimes, we are afraid to start something.  She thought, "I can’t do that.  I am too young."  Romina is finishing her university degree and works at the national office of the Assemblies of God in Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay.  She continues, “Recently I heard a speaker say, the beginning may be small, but God will do the miraculous.  You have to start with what you have. You can’t wait until you have enough chairs or a building.  You just begin and see what God will do.”  She is so grateful for the team that works with her.

Romina reports that chairs have recently been purchased.  The women got together to make typical Paraguayan cornbread, sopa paraguaya.  They sold the bread to raise funds for the chairs.  She marvels to see parents and children involved and committed to raising funds. 

The families have taken ownership and are involved with the activities. They are proud of what they have accomplished.  This new work is one of six new church plants supported by Pastor Jorge Flores, and his church, Programa de Fortalecimiento Familiar (the Family Building Program) in Villa Elisa, a neighboring town near Asuncion, Paraguay.  New churches are being raised up by members willing to share their faith.  They are not waiting for a well-known evangelist to come and preach.  As a result, Jesus is using their lives to reach the lost.

Pastor Jorge exhorts his people to study and prepare for ministry.  The church is all about training workers.   Starting a new work requires effort, sacrifice, and commitment.  Romina states, “Nothing can compare with the satisfaction of seeing lives transformed for the glory of God.”

Diane Peters - Paraguay

Prayer: Lord Jesus we ask You to increase our faith to step out, to take what we have and place it in Your hands.  Take our willingness, our openness, our gifts, our skills, and our lives. Use them wherever You see fit. May those who have yet to find You may be touched and changed by Your love.  Amen.