Twenty young people between the ages of 11 and 21 from the South District of Paraguay participated in a two-month discipleship program using the Journey of Grace framework.

Missionaries Jim and Angela Domroes led the weekly studies.

“Teaching about the grace of God to young people is very important as it affirms the knowledge of the character of God, who is love and also truth,” Jim said. “Learning from His grace empowers young people to believe that through the gift of grace, it is possible to live a life on the path of holiness until reaching the eternal goal.”

At the end of the study, Jim and the local Nazarene Youth International President Joel Saucedo organized a day trip to the “Arm of the Sleeping Indian” Trail in Nueva Dawn, Paraguay, to connect what the youth learned with their daily walk following Jesus Christ.

The activities, including tree climbing, zip lining, tightrope walking, suspension bridge crossing, infinity swinging, and teamwork on rafts, helped the youth visualize the sustaining grace of God.

“I learned that there are more kinds of grace than just saving grace,” 17-year-old Laura said. “I could see that the grace of God was always manifesting in my life, and also that the grace of God was working through me to others without my knowing it. I want to thank you for putting your time, love, and dedication to teach us and for showing us that young people are important.”

The students learned that God takes Christians from the point of being non-believers as He leads them with His prevenient grace to the point of saving grace, whereby faith they accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. From there, with the power of His Holy Spirit through sanctifying grace, Christians strive to live a life of holiness.

"I learned that no matter how deep (in trouble) we are, God, will always be there to rescue us,” said Adrian, age 20. “His grace is enough for all who receive it."

--Church of the Nazarene South America