News from the Spradlins in South America

Missions within Missions

This month we had a some rather fun and interesting twists thrown into our regular work schedule. For example,
we made a special mission trip to Panama, had a special workday at the building, and participated in a special
benevolence project. Makes you kind of feel like something special might be happening. We hope you are
encouraged by this latest edition of our Paraguay Mission report! God bless.

SPECIAL MISSION TRIP
Meteti, Panama. Our sponsoring congregation, the
Margaret Street church of Christ (MSCOC) in Milton,
Florida has been involved in numerous mission works
over the past several years to help various congregations
who are growing and/or struggling. One of these, of
course, is supporting us here in Paraguay. One of the
others is in Meteti, Panama. The brethren at MSCOC
asked if Andrea and myself would come to Panama this
year to help translate, teach, and encourage the
congregation in Meteti. I have made this trip before, but
this would be Andreas first time to go on such a trip and
to serve as a translator. While there, the congregation
asked us to go and visit the brethren and to teach about
what is the church with hopes to encourage the members
about what their responsibility is toward the church.
In addition to this, we also purchased a laptop computer, a
mobile internet modem, a projector, and a case for all of it to go in and then gave it as a gift to the church
there. We also brought Spanish, Biblical instruction videos from World Video Bible School and set up the
laptop with Skype in order to establish regular video communication. The plan is to use the laptop to teach
the leaders of the congregation through frequent classes being offered via Skype. We hope they can even,
perhaps, connect with us here in Paraguay during the time that some of the courses are being offered at
the Asuncion Bible Academy.
Along with the many exciting developments that took place during the mission trip, we were also able to
witness another soul being added to the Lords kingdom! Mrs. Valeria de Gracia was baptized during our
visit there. She is 74 years old and confined to a wheelchair because of a stroke. We rejoice that not even
agedness nor being crippled can prevent one from obeying the Gospel. A funny aspect to this story was
that she was concerned about how we were going to baptize her because she explained that there wasnt
enough water in the creek and she begged us to NOT take her to the pond because it was full of
alligators! We alleviated her fears when we explained that we would just take her to the building where we
had a sufficient baptistery.

DEVELOPMENTS AT AVE. SACRAMENTO
Special Benevolence Project. The church at
Avenida Sacramento received a special
donation from some individuals in the USA and
from a congregation in Brazil to go towards
relief for the flood victims in Paraguay. With this
donation and that of our own, we purchased
enough rice and beans to distribute 2 kilo
packages to about 200 families.
Special Workday. Several of the brethren
came to the building one Saturday to paint,
clean, and repair the dormitories in order to
prepare them for an upcoming Open House at
the Bible Academy. It looks great!
Valeria de Gracia, a 74 year old Panamanian woman who is
confined to a wheelchair, was baptized into Christ during our
visit to the Darien Providence
AUGUST 2014
Vol. 6 No. 8
Our Panama 2014 Mission Team consisted of (L-R):
Troy and Andrea Spradlin; Preston, Curry, and Tanya
Silcox; and Emma Lasure
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CHURCH IN EMBY
Our sister in Christ, Zully Martinez, hosted this months Ladies Tea in
her home in emby. There were several ladies from Ave Sacramento
and emby that attended and, as always, the fellowship was great.
Brother Eliezer Perez returned to Paraguay Aug 3 and reports that his
mother, who was recently hospitalized, is doing much better.

Evangelistic Contacts / Bible Studies / Activities:
I was able to connect a couple of times with our brother Ruben Castro
in Meteti, Panama, via Skype this past month in order to study
Fundamentals with him. Not only is he learning the material for
himself, but he is using it to prepare lessons to teach the congregation
on Sunday mornings.
We have some new ABA Leadership Training by Extension
students that have started courses! Javier Zarate is taking the
Hermeneutics class with me and Luis Yegros is taking it with Eliezer
Perez. Enrique Albera is also taking a course in Biblical Greek with
me. We are hoping to extend these courses to even more students in
the near future. Perhaps, a Saturday school that several could attend.
Andrea has started her Bible studies in English again with Adriana,
Martin, and Oscar. Another student, Sergia, will be starting again
with Andrea real soon. Please pray for these contacts.
I am continuing to study the Bible with Beatriz Ortiz in English, as well
as, with Sebastian Garcia.

Worship and Bible class attendance (Ave Sacramento):
Sun am 74 (3rd), 69 (10th), 67 (17th), 62 (24th), 75 (31st)
Sunday Bible study average 58
Current members: 74 Baptized (45 Family Units)

Worship and Bible class attendance (emby):
Sun pm 24 (3rd), 19 (10th), 27 (17th), 32 (24th), 25 (31st)
Current members: 14 Baptized (11 Family Units)

Additional Developments:
We want to say congratulations to Perry and Alba Hardin on the birth of their
baby girl, Abigail! She was born on July 15, just before Perrys parents and
family were to be arriving in Paraguay! We are excited for them!
The Blackmer Family has completed their five year commitment to the
work here in Paraguay. Cara returned home with the children this past June to
prepare them to enter American school and Josh finished up several activities
here in Paraguay. He returned to the States August 27. The Blackmers were
active in the work here and headed up a successful ministry which focused on
marriage, family development, and spirituality. They will certainly be missed
by all here in Paraguay! It seems like such a short time ago we were all
meeting together at home after Wednesday night services in Florida to
discuss plans of moving to Paraguay. Time flies! We wish them God speed,
much success, and many blessings in this new chapter of life for their family.

Coming Up:
We will be having an Open House at the Asuncion Bible Academy for the
potential students of the next class. It will be a form of orientation in order to
help many make a final decision to attend.
We will be hosting the Directors of AME next month here in Paraguay to
coordinate the possibility of having interns for 2015. AME (Adventures in
Evangelistic Missions) is a Brazilian training program which prepares
and sends Christian youth out to work as interns with various congregations in
Brazil and Latin America. Their website is www.ameprograma.org
Enrique Albera studying Biblical Greek
through the ABA Extension Courses program.
Josh, Cara, Josiah, and Vivian
Blackmer, missionaries to Paraguay
Connecting with brother Ruben Castro in
Panama via Skype video call.
Perry and Alba Hardin with Abigail!
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACTIVITIES

Personal Activities:
Please allow me just a moment to brag on Andrea. I want
you to know how proud I am of her. My girlie-girl from
the city braved a week of being out in the jungle
environment of Panama in order to translate and teach
during a recent mission trip. This was her first mission trip
(even though she lives in the mission field, she had never
been on a short term trip like this before). Those who know
about her health and food issues might also recognize the
sacrifice that she was making to do this. Not only did
Andrea survive, she thrived in the jungle! The locals fell in
love with her (like everyone always does), she translated
like a pro, and brought smiles to many, many faces!
Andrea inspires me because she is a true missionary and I
can clearly see Jesus in her.
We went to visit our dear sister in Christ, Mechy Smith, and
her sweet mother, Estella, in Caacupe. Mechy was in town
from the USA for a little while so we spent a nice afternoon
with them and several brethren having a Paraguayan BBQ!
We also had a nice dinner with the Jose Yegros Family.
They prepared it especially as a Farewell Dinner for Josh
Blackmer. It was really nice evening of great fellowship.

Personal study:
I have been reading:
Job, Ezekiel, and Daniel
The Book of Ezekiel by Jim McGiuggan
The Major Prophets by James E. Smith
Contextualization and Syncretism by Gailyn Van Rheenen.
I finished up another class, Missions Leadership, towards my Master
Degree in Missions with Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver.
I am also currently taking classes in Guarani.

Preaching/teaching opportunities:
I preached one Sunday at Avenida Sacramento about The Two Doors.
A sermon about those who fall away, that is, who go out the back door.
I taught Biblical Greek in the Asuncion Bible Academy this month.
Andrea (aka Mary Poppins) making visits to the
brethrens homes in Meteti, Panama


The late, pioneering missionary, Eldred Echols, wrote, "People often argue that a nice building will attract lots of
people, but church growth is more related to an evangelistic fervor than it is to a physical structure." The context of
that quote was taken from his memoirs regarding some poor African congregations meeting under shade trees or
rudely constructed pavilions. Some Americans were complaining about the facilities and even offered to finance
the building of a structure. Echols went on to add to the story, Do not do for people what they can do for
themselves. His point was that throwing money at the situation would essentially handicap our African brethren.
He also recognized that, All circumstances are not identical all factors have to be considered before an
intelligent choice can be exercised. He is right! There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong or sinful with regard
to church buildings. They can be a very useful expedient. Echols argument, however, comes from the poignant
fact that we often focus entirely too much energy on buildings and their maintenance to the point that they begin to
dominate every decision we make, ultimately affecting the true mission of the church. When this happens, we
essentially become keepers of aquariums instead of fishers of men. Yet, the work of the church is to seek
and save the lost, as commanded (Matt 28:19-20). We need to be careful when helping our poorer brethren with
church buildings because we could potentially rob them of the proper focus they should have, that of evangelism.
Think about this: When Jesus delivers His glorious church to God, will He be more concerned about the number of
souls entering in, or, the number of buildings we have built and how well we have maintained them?
I pray you find what is written here to be helpful and enlightening, thought provoking and challenging, yet
always Biblically sound. be ye nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine! (1 Tim 4:6).
Look at this handsome young fella!
Hes got great taste in clothes!
Our Mission Goals for 2014:

The brethren at the Avenida Sacramento congregation have set the following goals for themselves for 2014 and have
asked the mission team to help them accomplish these goals. The team will actively support them under their direction.
The goals are:
Evangelism: (1) Hold a Personal Evangelism Seminar, (2) Evangelism campaigns in various plazas, cities, (3)
Plan, investigate, and pursue areas for a new church plant, (4) Offer Learn English using the Bible campaign, (5) Use
"Searching for Truth" book, (6) Post banners that get peoples attention for Bible studies. Long term: (1) Evangelize
each Department/Capital of Paraguay, (2) have a Radio Program.
Edification: (1) Promote the Asuncion Bible Academy for the next class, and/or start a Saturday School, (2)
Host a special Homecoming event involving all congregations, (3) Improve ministries organization, (4) Special Mens
Retreat, (5) Install glass doors at the main entrance, (6) Have a Camp/Retreat with all three congregations, (7) New
convert classes, (8) Skype studies offered by brethren from USA, (9) Conduct new extension courses in leadership,
(10) Develop or obtain materials/courses for brethren with family problems, (11) Develop communication in Guarani for
the brethren. Long term: (1) Finish the building faade. 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), Visit the sick / prisoners, (3)
Provide a class on the topic of "Benevolence," (4) Use donations to help some members, (5) Prepare meals for the
needy, and (6) 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!
PARAGUAY MISSION
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 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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