Tag Archives: bible

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1st Peter 4:10

The last several weeks have been a whirlwind of prepping for a mission trip to Pilar. Through this time, we were reminded of just how great our God is in bringing together a church body to work in unity. As we served the people we could see how each person used what gifts God has given them to be put to the task and we are very thankful to have been a small part in the team.

We set out Thursday, August 13th, for the small town of Pilar. This was not my first time to Pilar, but it would be the first time going as a family and with a team. We had organized activities, work, and ministries to be completed while there all in hopes to bless the church and the missionaries as they serve in this community. From raising funds for a construction project, to collecting medications to take for a clinic there was a lot of work put into this trip. All hands were on deck, and we set off in four teams from two different churches.

The route most known takes about 8 hours to arrive in Pilar from Ciudad del Este. Leaving at 13:00 meant we would arrive late and for safety we took the long route. Arriving in Pilar with enough time to unload, sleep a little, and get to work! We were asked to lead the outreach portion of the trip and to partner with others to organize a kids activity.

Pilar is unlike any other area that I have visited in Paraguay. They are not as open and accepting of people from outside their circle. We saw even others from our team struggle in communicating and forming relationships because they are from different parts of Paraguay, so imagen our difficulty as Americans. It was difficult to see as we walked down some of the streets to invite people to the free medical clinic, but before we could get close to their homes, they were shutting their doors and would not answer. This didn’t keep us from trying, even if it meant going back to the same neighborhood 4 times.

The medical clinic was able to help around 20 people all who sat and heard the gospel one-on-one with a member of the team before they could receive a consult. The construction team finished with the frame of the awning that they were building but fell short of putting the roof on top. Lord willing we can raise the rest of the funds necessary for this project. The kids club was a hit! In all we had roughly 40 in attendance (kids, moms, dads and grandparents). They got to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ through a skit, as well as through small group times. They played some games and got some treats to celebrate Kid’s Day in Paraguay before they went on their way home.

More than just helping out a church in another town, this was a training opportunity for the team at Iglesia Bautista Biblica Jerovia. Many from our team had never visited this part of Paraguay. They know the name Pilar because it is one of the oldest cities in Paraguay, but they had never experienced a cold Paraguayan. This was eye opening and great to see and hear the testimony of how the Lord has worked on hearts from those in the team. We ask that you continue to pray for this team that went, pray as they have a new burden to serve and reach more of these smaller communities. Pray as we continue to disciple some of these young lives for the glory of God. Please also pray for the work in Pilar and the Missionaries Victor and Mercedes as they work to be a light in a dark place.

If you have a moment you can see the video we made showing some of the work and things that went on in Pilar. We were greatly blessed as a family to be part of this team. We thank you all for allowing us to serve the people of Paraguay in this way. We know that we do not do it alone. God has brought along a great support system for us to help carry the ship along as we row below in the ministry.

I am sure after two years you know what to do… How can we pray for you? Not doing this alone means we are a team, and thus we have a responsibility to be praying for you as you pray for us. So please send us an email and let us know what is going on in your lives!

Jaha Paraguay Pe!

The Loucks Family

Kid’s Corner:

This one is dedicated to all the kids! Traveling 8 hours, to serve several days in a different community isn’t easy on anyone! This makes us all the more thankful that our kids jumped in and took part. From long walks passing out tracks, to long days helping set up and take down, they were troopers! Your prayers carried them along as well!

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Psalm 133:1

What a great truth to remember as we recap on all that the Lord has done the last several months of ministry. Bringing in new team members, having visitors from the states, and connecting with other national pastors has all brought great encouragement to us and the ministry here in Paraguay.

The end of June and beginning of July were busy weeks as we prepared for guests and also for the Missionary Training Camp (CEM). This year one of the guest speakers for CEM was our director of Adelphos-USA, Shawn Haynie. This year he was also able to bring with him his wife Tina for the visit, but it wasn’t going to be a relaxed vacation. They arrived after a long trip and had to jump right into ministry as Shawn had a full schedule of preaching and teaching. The trip did not allow for much down time to talk about life and ministry, but rather they got to experience our busy season of ministry.

This year for CEM Kathleen and I were asked to take on some different responsibilities and ministries. Kathleen and Temperance headed up the nursery ministry making it easier for many young couples to come and join us for the three days of training. This was honestly a true blessing to so many! I was asked to head up the Counseling portion for CEM, being available to everyone to have personal conversations and discuss spiritual issues in their lives. Added to these ministries were also blessed to co-teach a course on the importance of childrens’ ministries and on giving toward missions.

After three days of training, then came time to put it into practice. What a joy it was to see youth and young adults out connecting in communities and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the three days we did, two kids’ clubs, went and evangelized at a public hospital, and spent hours walking around neighborhoods sharing the gospel. Please continue to pray for the lives that heard the gospel as well as those who took part in the week of training that their lives would continue to be transformed.

Now that life has gone back to normal the kids have started their next year of school. Temperance is in High School now, which seems impossible but it’s true. Jedidiah and Adara-Dasha are in middle school taking it one subject at a time while Elija and LuVerna are working through elementary. It is back to full days of school, tutor time, and church activities. Please continue to pray for each of the kids as they study and for Kathleen as she keeps up with gradings and administering of materials.

Thank you for your continued prayers for the group in Hernandarias. Praise the Lord for continued spiritual growth. As with every ministry we have had some difficulties, but God is good and the group is growing in the Word of God and in fellowship with one another. Please continue to pray for this ministry as we seek to grow and reach out to the community. We are considering now the opportunity of renting a room so that we can meet and invite more people to join us in studying the Word of God.

Now how can we pray for you? It is a joy to remember those who remember us in prayer, so please don’t hesitate to send an email and let us know how we can be praying for you.

Jaha Paraguay Pe!

The Loucks Family

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshuah 24:14-15

When we arrived in Paraguay, we knew God had called us to serve and support the roles of local pastors. While we felt like we had a good understanding of how exactly we would do that, but God had something more in store! As we have served in Paraguay now for two years, we have seen that in order to aid in sending men and women into the ministry we need to start with helping them understand that the base is a strong church. As we talked with Pastors and ministry leaders in Paraguay, we quickly learned that the greatest need they have as leaders is help in teaching what biblical families look like. With this in mind we began discussing how “Strong Families make Strong Churches” and how we can partner with local churches to speak to these themes.

As we began studying this theme we quickly realized that it wasn’t going to be a quick study. We needed to start at the beginning: The importance of every believer in the church. Then we can discuss how the marriage relationship affects the church, and lastly how the family affects the church. Our first conference was titled “I have purpose in the Church.”

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday we had open meetings where I (Jared) spoken on: Our purpose as a Body from Romans 12, Obedience to Authority Hebrews 13:17, and Aligning my priorities with those of God’s (Finances) Matthew 6:24. Tuesday I met with the men and we talked about the spiral of the sin of David. Kathleen shared with the ladies on Thursday about selfless service in the local church.

The amount and content of conversations that came from these meetings was truly a blessing. Each meal we were invited to throughout the week was purposed by those who invited us to discuss the themes from the conference that the wanted more clarity and help on. Really, it was such an exciting time for us to be able to dedicate one week to the ministry in Encarnacion and to be used by God in this way. Will you continue to pray for these young couples as they follow the Lord in obedience to His Word.

Looking back over the last two years seeing all that the Lord has done is truly humbling. Kathleen and I have had many conversations the last few weeks about just how blessed we are to serve the Lord to the people of Paraguay. We are also blessed to look out and see all that the Lord has done in the lives of our children. Starting off dear in headlights just trying to learn the language, to making friends and sharing the gospel.

We want to thank each of you for your faithfulness in love, encouragement, and support as we serve the people of Paraguay. We know that this ministry does not exist without strong churches who faithfully pray for the ministry. We want to thank you for praying for the people of Paraguay, for praying for us as a family, and for praying how you can serve the people of Paraguay alongside us in the ministry.

Jaha Paraguay Pe!

The Loucks Family

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

As the sun rose on Resurrection Sunday I took this picture from our back patio and was reminded of the mercy of God. What a beautiful truth to hold on to as we prepared for the day. The undeserved favor that we have received is truly beyond expression and to know that he continues to pour it into our lives.

The month of April was full of planning, organizing, and starting up new things. This year we have been asked to help reboot the Sunday School program at church. We have taken on this role to help prepare others for these sorts of leadership responsibilities, but also to give us another avenue to create connections and disciple lives into ministry opportunities. To encourage the team we have started having breakfast together at the church. This allows us some time to pray, set up the rooms, and be ready when students arrive.

Last year we started praying specifically about the opportunity of planting a church in Hernandarias and many of you have joined us in praying. We started a weekly Bible Study in the mornings to build a team unity and foundation for a church plant. This year we have started an evening study every other week and it is going great! Not only do we have great fellowship and a wonderful time in the Word of God, but we are seeing new faces already and many are eager to invite their family and friends. Please join us in praying for this ministry and for a space that is large enough for us to meet.

This month it was a blessing also to support Missionary Felix and Adela as they went to Pilar to help with some projects around the church and in an outreach event during holy week. While we were not able to join them, we were able to support them, encourage them, and dedicate a time to pray for them every day. They accomplished a lot in a short period of time and now we are praying about a follow up visit.

Many of you remember that Felix and I went to Tobati a couple months ago to check in on Pastor Juan Flores. He had open heart surgery and praise the Lord he is doing well. Pastor Juan Carlos, Felix and I took the opportunity to go to Tobati this month to check in on Pastor Flores and another gentleman. We ask that you continue to pray for the churches in Tobati and for opportunities to continue to serve alongside these churches in support and encouragement.

As a family we are happy to report that we are doing well. Praise the Lord we are over the virus that struck the house this week, everyone seems to have recovered well. The kids are on their last day of school today and are excited for a little break! We have enjoyed getting out in the evenings and soaking up what sunshine is left of the summer season. We are in fall now and the cold rainy season is upon us. God has given us lots of areas to serve in and keep us busy and for that we are very blessed.

Praise and Prayer:

Praise we got our renewed passports, Ministries are in full swing for 2026, and kids have ended their 25/26 school year.

Pray for the ministries in Hernandarias, Pilar, and Tobati. Also please continue to pray as Kathleen and I prepare for a conference in Encarnacion. We will start a 4-part series focused on “Strong Families make Strong Churches”.

Now how can we pray for you? We appreciate hearing what the Lord is doing in your lives and would love to stay in touch! Thank you for your faithfulness in allowing us to serve the Lord in Paraguay. We really are blessed!

Jaha Paraguay Pe!

The Loucks Family

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:6

What a great promise to lean upon as we serve the Lord here in Paraguay. You think of all the plans we establish on this earth. As westerners we are planners but often with that comes a little disappointment because not everything we plan goes according to that plan. However, when the heart of man is fixed on the work of the Lord, how blessed we are to complete the task that we set out to do. Colossians 3:23-24 says “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Back in November we had started communicating the idea of going to Encarnacion as a team and hosting two missions conferences. There are two churches that are both run by Paraguayan pastors that have a desire to do more in reaching their communities as well as into other parts of Paraguay. In December we had set the dates, we would go and spend 10 days in Encarnacion with Pastor Juan Carlos Mancuello and Pastor Joel Benitez.

Our first weekend was with Pastor Juan Carlos Mancuello and his church Iglesia Bautista Biblica de Cambyreta, and we had a great time. The conference started Saturday night with a Men’s Bible Study on the Purpose of Godliness. Sunday Kathleen and Adela took the kids for a class, while Felix taught the Sunday School hour on the calling of all of us to be involved in missions. During the morning service the ladies did another kids class while I preached on the importance of being on mission where God has you. Then in the evening the ladies had a study that Kathleen taught on “How Holiness affects our Service”.

We always feel welcomed at this church! They have a heart for serving their community and sending out people into the work that the Lord has called them to. With this trip we were able to establish some very good relationships in the church and are excited to be planning another trip or 2 as we have been asked to speak at a couple other conferences. We ask that you continue to pray for the church and their desire to serve.

The week went fast but we were blessed with a couple rest days and lots of time to connect with both the pastors to find out how we can better serve them in their ministries. The following weekend we kicked off again Saturday evening for a late night start to the Missions Conference. This was our first time visiting Iglesia Bautista Maranatha but it really was a joy! Hosting two missions conferences back to back was nice because the base for the material was the same with some minor tweaks. I spoke Saturday night on the importance of being on mission serving in the local church as it affects our service to our communities and the world. Sunday morning, Felix spoke on the who is called to serve and walked us through how God had used many men who felt uncalled, but were used greatly. Then I closed up with the commands of being salt and light and the impact our message has on the world around us.

Again, the ladies worked together two run a kids class so that the parents could be part of the conference and they were very thankful for the opportunity. It was also great to hear how much fun the ladies had working together and forming a relationship. Many of you know that Felix and Adela are praying to begin a church plant later this year and we hope to partner with them in this work. Having this time together strengthened the bond of unity and fellowship for the ministry. We are excited to see where the Lord might take us next.

As mentioned, we have already begun planning for what lies ahead in Encarnacion. Pastor Mancuello has asked us to organize a conference that will focus on strengthening the church and the families in the church. Our goal is to maybe do 4 conferences this next year and we ask that you please pray for us and the planning of these events. Pastor Joel has asked that we come in September for an Evangelistic event to share the gospel in an open-air event. He has also opened the door for other activities should we be in the area.

Praise the Lord for the three souls that confessed faith in Jesus Christ. Please pray for the groups that go out into the communities each week from these churches. Several teams are being formed and propelled to being “On Mission” (our theme for the conferences). Please pray for us as we need to make a trip to the capital city soon to receive our Passports, and are also planning a trip to Santani to get to the know the area that Felix and Adela desire to serve in. We are also working with Pastor Juan Carlos Escobar on planning a trip to help encourage our brothers in Tobati.

Isaiah 26:7 “The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.” What a joy it is to know that when our hearts are set on the Lord, his plans are our plans.

Thank you for taking time to read our update and know what is going on in our lives, now how can we pray for you?

Jaha Paraguay Pe,

Jared and Kathleen Loucks

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

When we began this journey 6 years ago we chose Philippians 1:6 as our theme verse because in it we were comforted by a very specific promise from God.  Our God has purposed us to a good work, that he will complete until the day of Christ Jesus.  As our sending church begins this year with the theme of focusing on the promises of God, we too think it is a great time for us to reflect.  An added bonus was that while we were celebrating the new year, we blessed with a double rainbow reminding us of another specific promise from God.  What promises in Scripture are your favorites? 

We rang in the new year with Pastor Juan Carlos and the family and had a wonderful time of celebration. It was great to be around so many faces and to learn a little bit of culture for how they celebrate the new year. Can you believe it, they actually stay up until mid-night and bring out snacks so they can stay awake longer? Our kids were cooked from swimming all day so we got to bed around 1am. It really was a blessed time of sweet fellowship for all the family.

The year came to a quick close with lots of studying and ministry wrap ups, but also some planning for the future.  We are excited to share with you some of the things we are looking forward to as we start into 2026.  We hope that this ministry update will give you some very clear things to pray for, but also encourage you in that the Lord is not done, the harvest is still very plentiful!

As many of you are aware the last several months we have spent time working on discipleship with a group in Hernandarias.  This is a city just north of us about 20 to 25 minutes that is growing rapidly.  It is our desire that in the first few months of 2026 we will start an evening Bible Study that will open the opportunity for some of those from the group to invite their family and friends.  We are asking for specific prayers for strength for the core group that has been meeting, but also for a young man and family to join in the work as the Pastor of the church.  Would you please join us in praying for the work in Hernandarias! 

Secondly, it was brought to my attention that Missionary Felix (the man whom I do most of my traveling with) and his wife, Adela, are planning to leave in June or July to begin a work in in central Paraguay.  While we are sad to see them go, we are excited to see them following the Lord into ministry.  We are praying for how we can be part of this ministry and how the Lord would use us in helping encourage our brother and sister as they go.  Will you please be praying for this opportunity now and we look forward to sharing more about this couple and the ministry that God leads them to. 

Thirdly, God has blessed us with the opportunity to connect with other churches in Paraguay and to begin to organize some conferences to help encourage local churches.  At the end of February and the beginning of March we will be traveling for about two weeks and sharing in a couple different conferences.  These will allow us to support the local pastors in their ministries and encourage the church bodies to be faithful in their local church and its ministries.  One of the desires we have is to help strengthen local churches that they would be able to send out men and women into the ministry. 

What will we do with the other ministries that we have been involved in? We are glad you asked! We still plan to be involved here at Iglesia Bautista Biblica Jerovia, but it will require that we find some other helpers to fill in. The Club de Niños and discipleship ministries are precious to us! However, we were called for other ministries as well and so we ask that you pray for other leaders to be involved and to step up to help out.

How is that for some exciting news? God is doing great things here in Paraguay and is taking the gospel to new communities. We are excited to be part of the process, but we know we do not do it alone. We want to thank you for your faithfulness in love, support and encouragement that made the 2025 year such a great success. As we continue to adapt to life in Paraguay, and the Lord continues to move us forward, we know we do not do it alone! What does 2026 have in store for you? Just as we have asked you to pray for us and the ministry in Paraguay, how can we then pray for you?

Thank you for faithfully taking time to read our ministry updates and to pray for us. Missions is a team effort, and we are glad you are part of it!

Jaha Paraguay Pe,

The Loucks Family

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34

It has been a great year reflecting on verses that draw our attention to the goodness of our God. Matthew Henery in his commentary states that “Let God be glorified in our praises. Let others be edified and taught, that strangers to him may be led to adore him.” The message of Christ is greatly affected in how we choose to live for him. May we glorify the name of Jesus and may it speak volumes to the lost around us.

This Month has been a busy month that we almost forgot it was coming to an end. As I stated in the last ministry update I (Jared) would be traveling with Missionary Felix to Encarnacion to check in on Pastor Juan Carlos Mancuello as well as making a trip to Pilar to check in on Missionary Victor. Praise the Lord we were able to organize a trip and go serve our brothers and sisters in these two cities.

We did a lot of driving in the four days while we were gone, averaging about 4 hours a day in the car, but it was very worth it. The pictures above are from the new ministry work in Pilar that we will share more about in coming months. Missionary Victor and his wife Mercedes are doing a great work at reaching a cold community. I say that not just because they sit off the river in the south of Paraguay, but because the people are unlike any I have met in Paraguay. Will you please continue to pray for this wonderful couple and the people that God has called them to serve.

It was great catching up with Pastor Mancuello again and share from the Word of God. The church added two new deacons just the week prior to our visit and we were encouraged at the growth and hunger for the word of God. Pastor Juan Carlos Mancuello was blessed to receive a VISA for the United States and is praying to return to the US in 2026 to share of his ministry. If your church would be interested in having him share his ministry please let me know. I would love to help you make contact with this great brother and his ministry.

We have had an abundance of opportunities to plug into the lives of believers and encourage them in their walk with Christ. Kathleen gets to teach a lesson for the ladies group every other month, along with opportunities to teach in Children’s Church and Kids Club. These are growing times as they help us in building relationships and discipling lives. This month I was asked to teach at a youth conference on “The Battle for Holiness”. The youth included those from 13 years to 30 years old, and it was a great opportunity to encourage them in their Spiritual Walk. The battle is one we all face daily, but the blessing is we do not face it alone!

This month’s ministry video will be focused around our Kids Club (Club de Niños). We have learned so much through this program and are blessed to serve the Lord by reaching the community around us. Iglesia Bautista Biblica Jerovia was stated with a kids ministry and we have learned that the best way to impact lives here in Paraguay is through ministering to the kids. We hope that you will take a moment and watch out update and see why this ministry is so important.

Thats a wrap for another ministry update. We want to thank you all for your faithfulness in praying for us and encouraging us along the way. Now, how can we pray for you? Please send us an email and let us know how we can lift you up in prayer!

Jaha Paraguay Pe!

The Loucks Family

Kid’s Corner:

A man from our church asked if Jedidiah and I wanted to train with his team in Kickboxing. As a father I thought it would be a great way to connect with Jedidiah more and he has loved it. Not only has he been training hard, but he is also connecting with others and learning to follow leadership. Would you please pray for him and his testimony among his team members? We train with the team two times a week and there is a variety of contacts (it also helps that our coach goes to our church!).