Brian Larsen

Paraguay Index
South America Index
World Index

Paraguay Report

by Esteban Arevalo and Maximiliano Noriega   SOC Field Workers

Here is the report from the School that we had in Asuncion, Paragauay last month. While I was in Japan Brother Esteban and Brother Maximiliano directed the school there. This is a short report that they gave me to pass on. I am sorry it has taken so long to get all of the reports and pictures together. After returning from Japan I immediately went to Rio de Janeiro for a mission's conference and the graduation of a night school.

God Bless,
Brian Larsen

Paraguay Report 2010

Lives have been marked by the Power of God as we have done the Schools throughout the years. I want to share with joy all that God has done during the month of August 2010 in Asuncion, Paraguay. Each student, brother, and pastor, can testify of God's moving in their life, for the pure message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can testify that the message of Pentecost is being restored here and the return to the foundation where the Church was born; prayer, the Word of God and the fullness of the Spirit.

But I especially want to highlight a group of six Indian brothers from the Paraguayan Chaco Region, which much was expressed by their conduct, disposition and dedication to God. Let me share with you about the living conditions in this part of Paraguay, especially in the indigenous communities. There are a great number of people who are victims of profiteers who submit themselves to almost slavery. To them, these Guarani Indians are cheap labor that they can take advantage of. There are approximately 108,308 natives who are attracted by promises by politicians that are never followed through. State resources are poorly distributed, especially in health and education. They must also meet the "good" intentions of Non-Governmental Organization(NGO) opposing the preaching of the gospel, because they say the preaching will change their customs and culture. To convey the message of salvation, it is necessary to speak the Guarani language because few speak Spanish. There are about fifteen dialects, and some twenty ethnic groups.

Pastor Higinio, a native Minister who attended the School of Christ in Asunción, is part of the Sanapana, whose church name is New Promise. He pastors a church of three hundred brothers and sisters. One Sunday morning, he testified that he had never received a Bible study as deep as the School of Christ has taught and that it is very necessary for them to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ more clearly to their community without interpretations of ancestral beliefs.

Many Indians have the belief that the pastor, as a person, is the solution to their basic needs, having a distorted vision of the Gospel. This is because the poverty in which many live makes the church to belooked upon to do only efforts of social work, when it should be allowed to focus primarily on satisfying the hunger in the people´s hearts with the love of Jesus Christ. Many have a social focus without spiritual consequences even being thought of. These brothers need a deep biblical knowledge and if this school can reach more pastors like pastor Higinio, they will find the person of the Lord Jesus Christ made real in their lives and in their communities. We pray that the beginning steps have been made through their participation in this School.

In Christ,
Brother Esteban Arevalo and Brother Maximiliano Noriega
Field Workers for the School of Christ in South America