Spreading the Good News
A great number of evangelical groups, including Church of God, are coordinating efforts and working together. This “Good News” makes us want to dedicate ourselves even more to getting the Gospel out to those who have never heard!
In spite of an economic down-spiral and an environment of political uncertainty, our sovereign God is still on the throne and the world is evermore quickly being won to our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the most recent general assembly in San Antonio, Texas, it was reported that if we remain faithful to the calling of God, the Great Commission could be accomplished soon. It is now possible for all people groups to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make a decision for Him within the next 12 years! A great number of evangelical groups, including Church of God, are coordinating efforts and working together to accomplish this goal. This “Good News” makes us want to dedicate ourselves even more to getting the Gospel out to those who have never heard!
Work On Two Fronts
God is busy raising up a new army of missionary warriors called to carry His love and power into areas that have traditionally been closed to the church. In South America we see this happening on two fronts. The first involves countries that were once missions fields, and are now in the process of converting into missions forces. Here in Paraguay, we have had a couple of tremendous success stories. You may remember that in the past we have mentioned Pastor Daniel Leguizamon, a Paraguayan young man who felt called to go to Bolivia around 10 years ago. He has recently planted an urban church in the city of Sucre, Bolivia. Before that, he had won many of the Quechua Indians of the mountains to the Lord – baptizing over 1,500 (some of which I had to the privilege of helping baptize).
Another tremendous testimony comes from a Paraguayan Sister named Francisca Gonzalez. All of her adult life she has felt a call to go to India, a country which contains some of the largest groups of unreached peoples in the world. A little over a year ago, God made this life-long dream a reality when the Paraguayan Church of God sent her to Chennai, India. Francisca went to India for one year, where she learned to deal with the culture, languages, and food; and evangelized as well. Having successfully completed her intern year, she is now back in Paraguay raising funds and awaiting full-time deployment as a career missionary to India. God is raising up many like Daniel and Francisca to go into places that have normally been closed to the church.
Community Involvement
Another way in which we are reaching people that are normally “closed” to the local church is through ministry in the various institutions found in the community. These include hospitals, schools, law enforcement, fire fighters and others. A predominant need in Chile, for example, is for training Christians to give aid in times of natural disasters, because of the large amount of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes found there. In this ministry we are able to teach our members how to “live the Gospel”; demonstrating Christ’s love while talking about it.
Paul and Rhonda Stockard
Missionaries to Paraguay
Project Number 0600073
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(Source: 2009 Church of God World Missions)
