Rusty & Aimee’s Wedding Church

Story

We met just over two years ago at a Bible study, and since then we’ve enjoyed finding ways to connect with and encourage others. After getting engaged in Laodicea, Turkey, we began thinking about what we wanted to do as an engagement gift. Aimee immediately said she wanted a church—not just any church, but a Maranatha Volunteers International church! We ended up sponsoring a church in Peru. We have so much to be thankful for, and in addition to the church in Peru, we want to continue sharing those blessings. So, instead of a traditional registry, we’re sponsoring a Maranatha church in Paraguay.

We’re getting married on September 7, 2025, and we hope to either help with the actual construction of this church or visit it once it is completed. It would mean so much to us if you would consider giving to this project in celebration of our marriage.

Why Paraguay? The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Paraguay has struggled to grow, largely due to the lack of church buildings and financial resources. There are modern churches in Asunción, but the rest of the country desperately needs churches for existing congregations. There are currently 15,000 members in the Paraguay Union. Twenty years ago, Maranatha built 14 new churches in the eastern part of the country. These churches grew and started more congregations. Maranatha’s current commitment is 24 churches scattered throughout the country, which will bring additional space for 3,000 members.

For more information on Maranatha’s work in Paraguay, watch the following Maranatha Mission Stories television episodes.
Warming Hearts in Paraguay
https://watch.maranatha.org/videos/mms11e43-1

Women of Faith
https://watch.maranatha.org/videos/mms11e46-1