20 years, 16 souls, one nation

ASUNCION, PARAGUAY — Sixteen Christians — from the U.S., Paraguay and even Italy — have served on the Asunción mission team during the past two decades. Each has seen God at work in this South American capital.

Members of the Asunción team take a group photo before leaving on a survey trip to Paraguay in 2002.

“It was late 2009, and we had been renting a facility for over five years when, out of the blue, the property owner gave us just 60 days to vacate,” said Chris Fry, who served on the team with his wife, Vickie, for eight years. “In that moment, we saw an opportunity to focus the church on prayer and fasting, relying fully on God to guide us to our next step. … He led us to a property just a few blocks away … that was not only affordable but also had great potential for future development and growth. The Sacramento church has been there ever since.”

Related: A pair of decades in Paraguay

The mission also has blessed souls outside of Paraguay, said Troy Spradlin. In 2013, he helped launch the Asunción Bible Academy, a school associated with Denver-based Bear Valley Bible Institute International. The school operated for four years. In the U.S., Bob Turner and Keith Kasarjian of Bear Valley served as international directors for the school. In Paraguay, Spradlin served as local director. Teammate Perry Hardin was co-director for two years.

“We graduated two classes of students,” Spradlin said. “One of the students has gone on to serve as a missionary in Brazil.”

From left, Ethan and Ashley Hardin, Vanessa and Josh Hardin, and Chris and Vickie Fry

Team members who have served in Asunción:

• Ethan and Ashley Hardin (2003-2008). They live in Henderson, Tenn., and worship with the Estes Church of Christ. Ethan is an independent software consultant. Ashley works with the county library.

• Vanessa Heady (2003-2008). She married Josh Hardin, who served on the team from 2006 to 2008. Vanessa works for Cummins Inc. Josh preaches for the Linden Church of Christ in Tennessee and writes Christian fiction.

• Chris and Vickie Fry (2003-2011). Chris is director of Latin teams and Vickie is Latin teams women’s consultant for Great Cities Missions.

• Enoch Rinks (2003-2010) He married Laura, an Italian-born Christian who grew up in Paraguay. Enoch is a minister for the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ in Nashville, Tenn., and works in development for Great Cities Missions.

From left, Alba and Perry Hardin with their children, and Andrea and Troy Spradlin.

• Perry Hardin (2005-2013). He married Alba, a member of the church in Asunción. Perry is Hispanic minister for the Estes church and a Spanish professor at Freed-Hardeman University.

• Brittnea Dye (2007-2024). She married Ale Yegros, a church member in Asunción. They recently moved to Etheridge, Tenn.

Team members Enoch and Laura Rinks, Ale and Brittnea Yegros and Cara and Josh Blackmer meet at a hotel in Asunción.

• Josh and Cara Blackmer (2009-2014). Josh is a minister for the Palm Beach Lakes Church of Christ in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

• Troy and Andrea Spradlin (2010-2017). Troy is minister for the Margaret Street Church of Christ in Milton, Fla.

Members of the Capiatá Church of Christ in Asunción, Paraguay, gather for a photo. The congregation later merged with the Sacramento Church of Christ, planted by the Asunción mission team.

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