wfn.org | Workers in Paraguay face multicultural, evangelism issues=20

[Beth Hawn <BethAH@mbm.org>]

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August 16, 2000
August 16, 2000
Beth Hawn
Communications Coordinator
Mennonite Board of Missions
Box 370
Elkhart, IN 46515
(219) 294-7523
<www.MBM.org>

Mission workers in Paraguay face multicultural, evangelism issues

ELKHART, Ind. (MBM/COM) - Like many minority urban populations in North =

America, German ethnic Mennonites in the capital of Paraguay share a=20
common language, history and cultural tradition.

Those are ties that strengthen the faith community, but also make=20
relating to people outside that community a challenging part of =
ministry=20
for C. Paul and Hildi Amstutz, mission associates for Mennonite Board =
of=20
Missions and the Commission on Overseas Mission. =20

The Amstutzes have returned to their work in a complex multicultural=20
setting after spending four weeks visiting with churches and C. Paul's=20
family in the United States.

In Asunci=F3n, Paraguay, C. Paul is active in a business chaplaincy =
program,=20
where a staff of four chaplains serves more than 600 employees of 12
different Mennonite-owned firms.  The program is funded directly by
employers and is=20
endorsed by two local congregations.  It ministers to employees, =
calling=20
them to a personal relationship with Christ and to live out Christ's=20
teaching. =20

Hildi is the coordinator of the 30 small groups at Menonitengemeinde=20
Concordia, one of the two German-speaking Mennonite congregations in=20
Paraguay's capital city.=20

C. Paul's work includes leading six of the 20 different employee Bible=20
study groups, planning weekly devotions and chapel services, and=20
organizing Christian literature for lending.  He also counsels workers =
in=20
difficult times and visits those showing openness to the gospel.

C. Paul said he finds some of the workers suspicious of the Mennonite=20
chaplains' motives, since 90 percent of the Paraguayan population=20
considers itself Catholic and already Christian.  He tries to encourage =

open dialogue, believing that authenticity and confidentiality best=20
demonstrate that he is not a "spy for the owners." =20

Through small groups, Hildi works with leadership development and Bible =

study.  She encourages evangelism through friendships, hoping that=20
cultural and spiritual openness will help members make room for new =
people.

All 300 members of the congregation are connected with a small group.

Hildi is also involved with the caring team for church discipline and=20
counseling issues, a women's prayer group, and the church board.  She=20
said the congregation also tries to reach out to young adults from the=20
German-Mennonite colonies who are moving to Asunci=F3n.  The youth are=20
often looking for anonymity rather than a Christian commitment, she =
said.

While most everyone in the Paraguayan Mennonite congregations knows=20
Spanish, there is still a strong pull to preserve the German heritage,=20
according to the Amstutzes.  The tendency has been for German speakers=20
to send out missionaries to work among Latino and indigenous people =
while=20
remaining in Germanic enclaves themselves, said C. Paul.

By inviting Spanish speakers to the congregation, the Amstutzes said=20
Menonitengemeinde Concordia is becoming more open to local involvement=20
with Latinos.  This is still threatening for some, however.  "People=20
naturally gravitate toward [people] they know," explained C. Paul.=20

Together the Amstutzes lead a Spanish-language small group, and C. Paul =

translates worship services from German to Spanish over earphones.

Hildi said she would like to see churches in both Paraguay and North=20
America "cross-pollinate" across ethnic boundaries.  "Our human =
tendency=20
is to stay in our comfort zones," she said.  "It takes intentionality =
to=20
move beyond the familiar and comfortable, be that geographically,=20
emotionally or culturally."

C. Paul is inspired to continue reaching out when he sees new people=20
come to faith who don't have generations of Sunday-school background=20
behind them.  He said that is a joyous experience that church members=20
can easily lose sight of.

The Amstutzes have served in Hildi's native Paraguay since 1991, when=20
they were invited by the German Mennonite colonies there. =20

Their daughter, Miriam, will begin at Hesston (Kan.) College, this =
fall. =20
Son, Daniel, attends a Paraguayan Mennonite high school that teaches in =

German and Spanish.

The German colonies were founded by Mennonites escaping persecution in=20
Russia in the 1920s and by immigrants from Canada.  In addition to the=20
Amstutzes, COM and MBM currently support three other mission associates =

in Paraguay.

* * *

Anne Horst							PHOTO
AVAILABLE

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