Milestone anniversaries are meant to be celebrated in a big way. That's exactly what the staff of LHM—Paraguay did throughout last fall.
The ministry celebrated its 25th anniversary with more than 500 attendees at events in each of the four regions of the country into which the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay is divided. Celebrations were held in the Parish of Naranjal, the Parish of Hohenau, the Parish of Hernandarias - La Fortuna, and the Congregation "Cristo Rey" of Fernando de la Mora. Each event included local pastors leading worship followed by a communion lunch or dinner and a presentation about some of the important ministry work that has been accomplished during the past 25 years, from its beginning in Ciudad del Leste before moving to the capital city of Asunción.
At the event in October, LHM Global Chief Ministry Officer Karin Semler presented a plaque of gratitude for the 25-year presence of LHM in Paraguay and attendees also celebrated the 507th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation.
Since Paraguay is such a remote area, LHM—Paraguay has regularly used radio broadcasts and Bible Correspondence Courses throughout its history to reach out with the Gospel to as many people as possible. In various communities, small groups of 12 to 30 people often have gathered to study the Bible and discuss how it relates to their lives. The staff has also built relationships and shared the love of Christ the old-fashioned way—hands-on—which means they travel to the country's other cities and remote villages to respond to need; present film shows, vacation Bible schools, and values education; and provide microbusiness vocational training—along with the message of eternal hope in Jesus.
Today, a lot of effort is spent developing ministry programs for youth and children. As adolescents struggle with conflicting moral and social choices, Project JOEL is the main field program for children and youth offered through LHM-Paraguay to tackle tough topics—from relationships to sex to drugs—in an honest, relevant manner, rooted in God's love for them. The program is officially authorized by the Paraguayan government to be accepted in public and private schools. Ministry staff collaborate with participating schools to incorporate a variety of Project JOEL activities into classroom curriculum.
A trained psychologist and educator who serves on staff leads the Project JOEL program across 17 schools, ensuring students in both public and private settings can express their faith. Alongside her team, she integrates various field programs into the Paraguayan cultural calendar, leveraging national celebrations and special occasions to resonate the Gospel's message with youth.
Their exemplary focus on children and youth was a central reason why the ministry was chosen as one of four training hubs for LHM's International Internship Program. LHM—Paraguay has trained a team of three from Peru to start ministry in their home country focused on children and youth ministry, digital outreach through social media, and multimedia content creation. These areas of outreach reflect the core of LHM's work around the world.