Comunidad Evangélica Metodista del Paraguay

In South America, the Comunidad Evangélica Metodista del Paraguay (CEMP) represents a growing Methodist witness led by Bishop Eligio Genes Fernández.

The Evangelical Methodist Church of Paraguay grew out of missionary work in the 1940’s, and the first Methodist worship gathering in Paraguay was held in 1988.

Since then, the church as an autonomous body saw a significant new beginning in 1989 following the end of the national dictatorship.

The church has grown into a community of roughly 1,025 baptized members, with a wider community reach of about 2,499 through ministries, congregations, and outreach efforts.

The CEMP focuses on holistic ministry that combines evangelism with other ministries such as education and health services. They are a “hands-on” church, known for their medical clinics and community kitchens (comedores) that serve children in the streets. Because a significant portion of the Church consists of youth and children, particularly young new believers, there is a strong emphasis on discipleship and leadership development.

Like most Churches in our Wesleyan Methodist family, the CEMP follows the Wesleyan-Arminian theological tradition, emphasizing the authority of the Bible and a “holiness message” that focuses on the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. Bishop Genes often speaks of the church’s current season as one of “re-learning” the doctrines of John Wesley — refocusing on the unique Methodist balance of personal piety and social action.