Vision and Mission
Brethren Assembly work in Paraguay was started in 1908, by Allan Smith, John Ross and other New Zealand missionaries. At present, there are over 100 local Brethren Assembly churches, in Paraguay, 35 of them associated to FEMIPA (Fundación Evangelica Misionera del Paraguay).
FEMIPA is a missionary service foundation created in 1998, to develop and support local churches in their vision for mission. It encourages each church to organize a missionary committee, to hold missionary conferences at least once a year, and promotes one annual National Conference on Mission. Key Bible foundations are Mt. 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8.
FEMIPA also provides information and reports from the mission field, on events, missionary family data and history of Brethren work in a monthly Magazine “La Siembra” (in Spanish). It has published Prayer Guide booklets with pictures, names and data of missioners and workers commended by each local assembly, so that churches may know about them and thus be encouraged to pray for them and also to provide support in practical manners.
The women’s committee (COMIFE) works hard to raise funds for practical support for missionary families, for example, providing an annual Christmas basket with food and groceries, blankets for winter time, school notebooks, pencils, for children of missionaries, etc. There are other objectives too.
The founder-chairman of FEMIPA, Mr. Ruben Trinidad, suffered a brain haemorrhage in June 2003. He was operated on and remained 30 days in hospital, for 20 of which he was in a coma status in the intensive care unit. Then he had two further operations, but thanks God his life was preserved. In May 2007, he was appointed honorary chairman. His body was half paralyzed, and was confined to a wheel chair, but his mind remained clear until God called him home on April 18th. 2008.
Some churches have been able to support financially to maintain the office and activities to achieve our goals. However most churches are rather small in numbers or with low financial resources and some others are reluctant. The Foundation has been active, trusting that God will provide for the needs, in His time. We have chosen Psalm 126:5-6 as our motto.
FEMIPA EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Rubén Trinidad, Honorary President
Humberto Laurino – Chairman
Fidencio Sanabria, Vice – Chairman
Daniel Cantero, Treasurer
Graciela Acevedo, ICE Parque (Auditor)