Praying for Paraguay

Sounds and stories of today's vibrant Christian fellowship in Paraguay will be brought to life for two Oxford churches as they join in the worship for this year's Women's World Day of Prayer on 2 March.

AS women across the globe come together for the service written this year by the Christian women of Paraguay, sisters Margaret Scruby and Rosemary Munro (pictured right) will add a personal touch to events at Botley Baptist Church and St Leonard's Church, Eynsham, playing their Paraguayan harps and sharing their knowledge and experiences of the country's lively and growing Christian community.

Rosemary  told the DOOR: 'The service is called United Under God’s Tent, and we hope to capture some of the excitement in Paraguay about the word of the Gospel and the huge growth of the Christian church today.

'The revival is the fruit of prayer for over 20 years for the people of Paraguay. Pursuing a Christian faith there has not been easy. There is persecution still and a great deal of  poverty and hardship for some. But what God is doing there is a miracle and people see that and want to be part of it.'

The sisters' long association with the South American country dates back to their teens when, at their parents' Christian conference center, a Paraguayan band visited and taught them to play indigenous lilting tunes on Paraguayan harps - which are smaller than the harps traditionally seen in Britain and Paraguay’s most common instrument.

They spent their university gap year in the country and Rosemary later married Robert, a Paraguayan with whom she now runs yearly guided tours back to his home country.

Robert says: 'Every convert in Paraguay is an evangelist. They are not afraid of the Gospel...'

From hairdressers to opticians to dentists, daily life now is infused with Christians passing on the word of God to all they  meet.

One church known by Rosemary and Robert began 20 years ago in a garage, and is now in the process of erecting a new building to take 10,000 people.

Close to their hearts is a project in Chacarita, the shanty town on the outskirts of Paraguay's capital Ascuncion.  Luis and Olga Manfredi  of the Centro Familiar de Adoracion Church, have founded Ko'eju (meaning dawn) for street children, aimed at raising the low self-esteem and lack of respect for their bodies that see many of them turn to prostitution, drug addiction and crime.

For many, the regular meals and Christian teaching and guidance means a new dawn in their lives as they realize they are valued.

Rosemary says: 'It's wonderful that the focus of women all over the world on 2 March will be on prayer for Paraguay, as well as for our own and other countries.

'What we hope is that people will continue to pray for and find out more about the country, its struggles and its vibrant Christian life.'

One way for churches, schools and other groups to do that, and help Project Ko'eju, is to host a fundraising meal  at which Rosemary and Margaret will play their harps, display and sell indigenous crafts and provide simple Paraguayan food - a tasty way to extend the power of Women's World Day of Prayer this year. Call Rosemary on 01865 861791, or email