Mennonite church grounds Paraguay’s first family

Maria Gloria Penayo de Duarte Frutos, wife of Paraguay’s president, and her five children are a vital part of a Mennonite Brethren Church.

A former Catholic, Maria Gloria was among the second group of converts baptized in the Iglesia Raices Hermanos Menonitas, founded seven years ago as an expansion of the German-speaking MB church in Asuncion. Currently the church has 163 members.

The First Lady’s baptism followed discipleship training and her expressed commitment to the church and its Anabaptist theology. She is active in all church activities, but especially evangelism, says Victor Wall, one of the congregation’s team of pastors.

The family’s eldest son is also a baptized member, and the four younger children participate regularly in Sunday school and youth activities.

Nicanor Duarte Frutos, installed as Paraguay’s president in August, attends whenever duties of state allow it. Wall says the president is a believer and identifies strongly with Iglesia Raices. The church leaders have regular prayer with him.

“Politically, he pays a price for his commitment to Christ, [but] he shares his faith with his cabinet,” adds Wall. The president has invited Mennonite business leaders to work with him on “a frontal war on corruption.”

Paraguay is one possible location for Mennonite World Conference’s Assembly 15, to be held in 2009. The other is eastern Pennsylvania, U.S.

—MWC release