News from the Spradlins in South America

JULY 2013 / Vol. 5 No. 6

NEW CHURCH PLANT IN EMBY!

God was glorified once again in Paraguay this past month! This time with the announcement and beginning of a new congregation of the Lords church in the city of emby. A group of members from the Avenida Sacramento congregation, who all live in emby, held a special meeting on June 27 in the home of the Martinez family to make decisions regarding the idea of planting a church in that city. They decided that they all felt ready to begin holding services this month so they would ask the brethren at Avenida Sacramento for assitance. On July 7, 2013 there were 50 people from among the new congregation and their two sister congregations who met to worship together and encourage these brethren in their new effort. Praise our Lord! MEET THE NEW CONGREGATION! Those who have formed the new congregation are: (pictured at right, L to R): Salomn Martnez, Vicente Martnez, Vicente Jr Martnez, Zully Martnez, William Arzamendia, Bruno Arzamendia, Natalia Osorio, Eliezer Prez, Kevin Arzamendia, Ruthy Pacu, Guillermo Snchez, Araceli, and Mirian Snchez. Our brother Eliezer Perez will be serving as a missionary for Avenida Sacramento to work with the brethren in emby in these developing times. We ask you to please pray for them individually, as well as, for their spiritual and numerical growth. What exciting times these are!

Members of the new congregation of the Lords church in emby!

ASUNCION BIBLE ACADEMY UPDATE The students are currently in their second quarter of studies and it is becoming obvious this is a little more difficult task than they first imagined. The studies are now more focused and demanding, but the students are showing great improvement in their study skills and understanding of Gods word. This past month, the students participated in another evangelistic campaign, working alongside a short term mission team from Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ. Working in the city of emby, once again, they generated more than a dozen good contacts and held several Bible studies. Their enthusiasm and work ethic in evangelizing was rather impressive. It is really heart warming to see their zeal to spread Gods saving message to the lost. We ask that you please keep them in your prayers. BAPTISMS / RESTORATIONS / IDENTIFICATIONS Baptized! Mara Belen Noruega. She is the life-long friend of our sister in Christ, Natalia Mendoza. She had been studying with Natalia off and on for several years. She always noticed something different and good in Natty, so she finally asked her how to get that. After studying the need for baptism in order to be saved, she decided she needed to obey the Gospel call and she didnt want to wait any longer! She was SO happy when she came up out of the baptismal waters. We sang and prayed and simply rejoiced with her in her wonderful decision. Natalia is now going to be studying some new convert lessons with her.

Our new sister in Christ, Maria Belen!

Evangelistic Contacts / Bible Studies: We held an evangelistic campaign in the city of emby with the Academy students and Palm Beach Lakes mission team. The purpose was to gain new contacts for the upcoming church plant. The effort resulted in more than a half dozen Bible studies being held and about 20 new, promising contacts made. Since the campaign, we have had visitors come to services and more Bible studies conducted. I starting up the study of Revelation again with our sister Elvira Dominguez. She has brought her friend, Susana Paredes, to study with us, as well. So the study has resulted in a rather interesting and challenging evangelistic effort. Recent Developments: A mission group from Palm Beach Lakes (FL) came to Paraguay from June 28 thru July 7 to work with the church here. They assisted us with our evangelism campaign in emby, brought some lessons to share, and completed service projects. Those we had join us were, Marie Hackshaw, Gwen Lyons, Phil and Mary Porter, Adam Seal, and Giselle Smith. The mission team did a wonderful job and greatly encouraged our brethren here in Paraguay. One of their activities was a benevolence project at the house of our sister in Christ, Mirta Vera. We painted, cleaned, and made several repairs in order to help her. She cares for two adopted children and her 90 year old mother. She was so happy and thankful! Brother Eliezer Perez is doing a great job in his second month as a missionary to emby. He has produced a a detailed report of the work (in Spanish) which is available at: www.scribd.com/troy_spradlin Worship and Bible class attendance (Sacramento): Sun am 58 (7th), 52 (14th), 54 (21st), 59 (28th) Sunday Bible study average 46 Midweek study average - 36 Current members: 73 Baptized (39 Family Units) Worship and Bible class attendance (emby): th th st th Sun pm 50 (7 ), 19 (14 ), 23 (21 ), 30 (28 ) Midweek study average - 8 Current members: 10 Baptized (6 Family Units) Upcoming activities and news: A mission group from Leanna (TN) will be here July 24 through the 31st to bring lessons on leadership, church planting, and congregational development. We will report on their efforts in the next newsletter. Next report will also feature information about two of our Academy students traveling to Panama to work alongside Margaret Street during an evangelistic campaign in Meteti of the Darien jungle.

Palm Beach Lakes mission group with members of emby church of Christ and the Academy students.

PBL misin group helping out at Mirtas house

Our brother, Eliezer Perez, preaching at the first worship services held in emby.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES

HIGHLIGHT(s) of the Month: I dont think anything could top the excitement and joy that was felt from watching the brethren start holding worship services in emby. We never dreamed we would get to witness a church plant, but God has blessed us to be here for this wonderful occasion! Family in mourning Andrea received some terrible news on July 14th from her family back in Florida, that her 18-year-old nephew, Ruben Pacheco, had been in a deadly car accident. At the moment, he was on life support. Several very gracious brethren provided funds for Andrea to be able to return to the USA in order to be with her family. We cant say thank you enough for your care and concern. Sadly, Ruben passed away the following day and the family held a memorial service for him on Saturday the 20th. He was a registered organ donor and through this gift he was able to give life and relief to at least 8 other people. The family is still struggling with the loss and we ask you for your prayers.

Andrea passing out flyers in the plaza during the recent emby campaign.

Visitation / Other Activities: We spent the 4th of July with the Yegros family while the mission group from Palm Beach Lakes was here. There was BBQ, fireworks, Americans, and the US flag. What more could one ask for a US holiday on foreign soil? We took several brethren from Palm Beach Lakes over to visit our sister in Christ, Odila Uriola. She is the widow of one of the first missionaries to Paraguay back in the 1970s. One can still witness the fruit of their labor because several of our members that we have today are converts from that effort years ago. The congregation at Centro was also a result of their work. We are very thankful for her example! Personal study: I have spent a great deal of time preparing for this quarters classes: Exodus through Deuteronomy with Bible study and various materials in Spanish and English. I am currently reading / have read: Studies in Leviticus (2005 Shertz Lectures) Ed. by Devon Dean Guidelines to World Evangelism Ed. by George Gurganus Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzler Preaching/teaching opportunities: Recently preached at emby on Being Spiritually Fed and then earlier in the month at Ave. Sacramento on Exodus 12 Currently teaching a class on Numbers and Deuteronomy in the Academy and previously taught, Exodus and Leviticus. Currently teaching Romans during our midweek Bible study. Cultural or language discovery: Most Paraguayan bathrooms (that have running water) have electrical showerheads in them called a calefn, or ducha electrica. Cold water passes through the showerhead which is heated by an electrical element inside. To an American, it is a rather unnerving sight to step into a shower with water and visible (sometimes bare) electrical wires. We have these in our house and Andrea says, Sure its a little scary, but at least I never run out of hot water!

Ruben Pacheco Andreas 18 year nephew who was recently killed in a tragic auto accident.

A typical showerhead in Paraguay.

PARAGUAY MISSIO
Asuncion, Paraguay South America Troy and Andrea Spradlin
Casilla de Correo 13092 Shopping del Sol Asuncion, Paraguay (595) 0981-630-886 We are seeking to "equip the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12)

Our Mission Team Goals for 2013:

This year, the mission team will be making a major shift in its role here by focusing on aligning its goals with those of the church and submitting itself to the authority of the Paraguayan leadership. In the past, the team had to make many of the principle decisions for the church until sufficient leadership could be properly developed. In 2013, for the first time, the Avenida Sacramento congregation itself will be making all the principle decisions for the church. The team will simply support them by their direction. The church has chosen the following goals for themselves and have asked us to help them accomplish them. Evangelism: (1) Offer various specialized seminars to the public, (2) conduct evangelism campaigns, (3), use the book "Searching for Truth" in various other ways, (4) provide more English courses, (5) plant a church in the city of emby, and (6) have a radio program. In addition, the team will continue to generate new Bible study contacts through advertising, campaigns, personal contacts, and family relationships. We pray to generate at least 65 new contacts. Edification: (1) Develop and begin an intensive, full-time Bible study program (Academy) to train brethren, (2) conduct a new leadership class, (3) have a camp / congregational retreat, (4) have two planning retreats for the men, and (5) start reconstruction of the church building. The mission team will assist and coordinate these activities according to the direction of the congregation. Benevolence: (1) Offer the course "Comfort in Times of Grief" to the public, (2), keep a box of food for those in need, (3) provide a class on the topic of "Benevolence" (4) use donations to help some members, and (5) participate in various activities of benevolence. These are some wonderful goals and we are so excited to see their growth in leadership. Please pray for the successful completion of each of these and the continual development of leadership in Paraguay!

OUR SUPPORTERS
Margaret Street church of Christ (Sponsoring Congregation) 6745 Margaret Street, Milton, FL 32570 Central Avenue church of Christ Valdosta, GA Dripping Springs church of Christ Dripping Springs, TX Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ West Palm Beach, FL Poolville church of Christ Poolville, TX Families of: Clay Bond / Chet Brown / Virginia Guess / Joseph Markham

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