The Lord's church was planted in Paraguay during the 1970's and 80's by missionaries from South America and by a North American missionary family. That congregation, the Centro Iglesia de Cristo, has held strong and continues today. Then in 2003, a group of Freed-Hardeman graduates planted another congregation in the city, the Iglesia de Cristo - Avenida Sacramento. After seven years of building up the congregation and also working with Centro, all of the original team members have since returned to the USA. There are currently four other families now serving as missionaries to continue the work begun by the original team at Sacramento Avenue.
The seed is continually being planted and the congregation is growing in Paraguay. Evangelistic campaigns are held regularly by the church, the missionary team, and by visiting groups from the USA to generate new contacts on “fertile soil.” These include various advertising methods to offer free Bible studies, area door knocking campaigns, other media campaigns which distribute thousands of flyers in the neighborhoods, Vacation Bible School, and the offering of classes to “Learn English Using the Bible” (which incorporates the Searching for Truth material by WVBS), among several other methods. The members are also constantly being edified through class and home Bible studies, as well as the many various church activities. There are regular men's business meetings and ministry groups in which the entire congregation is involved. This is helping to develop leadership within the church and provide stability for the future of the Lord's kingdom in Paraguay. The church in Paraguay now owns its own property and facility for worship and study. They are currently saving money and making plans to remodel the building into more class space and an assembly hall.
Current missionary families serving in Paraguay (L to R): Perry and Alba Hardin, Troy and Andrea Spradlin, Josh and Cara Blackmer, with Vivian and Josiah (down front), and Ale and Brittnea Yegros.
