Passion for Paraguay

Over the weekend of September 6th and 7th hundreds came to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Church of God in Obligado Paraguay .  Who would have taught or imagined a growing church established in four states and in the move against all odds.  Several schools have been established, one radio station and one cable tv station.  Missionaries have come and gone. Missionaries are even sent out of Paraguay. So much good is happening.  The next and final event will be in Encarnacion on the weekend of October 31st and November 1st . A lot has been planned for the last celebration of the year. 

  🌿 50 Years of God’s Faithfulness: Celebrating the Church of God (Anderson) in Paraguay Fifty years ago, in Paraguay, the Church of God (Anderson) was planted, not as a fleeting movement but as a persistent testament to God’s enduring faithfulness. What began with courageous pioneers trusting in the Lord has grown into a vibrant community of believers, grounded in sacrifice and steadfast devotion. Waldemar and Emi Oberman were sent by the Argentinean Church of God to officially celebrate and pioneer this beginning. Two years later, Martin and Tabita Kurrle (my parents) followed. What began as a mission outpost with no promises of succeeding, is now a testament of Gods goodness. ' From left to right. Marcos (my brother) my parents, Nilah and Priscila (sisters) A Foundation of Sacrifice and Vision The early years demanded costly sacrifice. Founders and early members endured long journeys, linguistic barriers, and cultural adjustment—all sustained by a singular vision: to preach ...

I got to fly back to the US this month for a short visit to be present at my dear aunt Charlene at the memorial service in Anderson IN. She was very close to me and my family in Paraguay. Over the years Charlene thought me a bunch about being a servant. She did not preach much, but she practiced her faith in action.  Charlene Frances (Roberts) Meier, 86, of Anderson, died Saturday, May 31, 2025 after a lengthy illness while visiting her son and grandson in North Carolina. She was born on April 7, 1939 in Charleston, WV to the late Charles Roberts and Mildred (Shanklin) Roberts Hensley. She played collegiate basketball for Anderson University in Anderson, IN and was also an avid softball and tennis player. She was a science teacher at East Side Middle School in Anderson, IN for decades where she coached basketball and volleyball. She met Paul David Meier at Anderson University and married in 1964 in South Charleston, WV.  She is survived by her son, David Timothy (wife Lisa) Me...

Bella Vista means, beautiful view. Town entrance pin the pic. Community of 14,500 inhabitants. Today the capital of Yerba Mate, our national tea which many of you know how it works. If you have not seen this unique tea and a traditional cup It is in this community that a few families from Brazil and Germans began establishing in 1918 when the region was a dense rainforest. During those days, things were getting rough in Europe with WW1 looming.   We were invited by local pastors Omar and Mariel Borque to come and visit the congregation. The Borques immigrated from Argentina and are now leading this congregation which has great potential.  Honoring mothers with a gift, words and prayer. Our sermon was directed to women of God who had an influence in history and today. It's always a joy to visit a new place and share with people we have never met and with leaders (which is our calling). We want to encourage and support those who are in active ministry. O...

Katuete  a word in the guarani language that means “for sure” - “for certain”. The name is attributes to Dr. Alejandro Marin. He said  this is the ideal place for the establishment of a city in the language of Guarani. ( « katueté  voi, ko ape oî porâta») For years our church has been present in Katuete. The church began in the mid 80s when brazilian farmers migrated into Paraguay. A number of the initial families came from Rondon and Mercedes Brazil. During those years, Wilson Wild, a pastor and great man of God, along with his wife began crossing from Brazil into Paraguay and doing house services with the farmers. Pastor Wilson continues serving in Rondon and leading a strong congregation in that region. He is not thinking about retirement any time soon.  As I have observed, Churches in rural settings often struggle to grow and expand. Its also hard to find leadership willing to move to remote area. The reasons are obvious - school for their children, lack of instr...

Pedro Juan Caballero , town, northeastern  Paraguay , founded in 1899. It lies in the Amambay Mountains at 2,296 feet (700 m) above  sea level , opposite Ponta Pora, Braz. Pedro Juan Caballero is the region’s largest town and principal trade centre. The  hinterland  is utilized primarily for cattle ranching and coffee growing. (Britannica) It was a first for us to visit this bustling community. There is much talked about this city and its drug trade and its violence, but we found the city to be really peaceful and the people were very welcoming.  There are a number of churches located in this city. Some are small, some are larger. We were invited by Esdras and Yolanda Gomez to be a part of a women's retreat and a general service. The church has been established four years ago by this couple who left their professional job in well paying company to embrace the task of starting a church with a focus on restoring the families in their community.  There are man...