God willing, yes!
My dream?
Over the last 3-4 years I have had a very specific dream: to start an evangelistic/discipleship small group for Spanish-speaker, as a side ministry, once we were relocated in the US.
North Chester Baptist in Chester PA has recently invited me to do this very thing. There are 9000 Hispanic people within a couple of miles of the church. After prayer and consideration, I said Yes, and we plan on starting February 13 under the banner: “Come and Get to Know Jesus!”
What is the plan? We will be meeting on Tuesday nights, every other week, for an hour, entirely in Spanish: to study selected passages from Mark’s Gospel; to meet the needs of people who come: from introducing them to the gospel for their very first time, to inviting believers to a deeper discipleship and Bible study.
“Why, Gary, bring this up now? Why not wait until it’s actually up and running?”
Good question, and one I have mulled over.
A. I could wait a few months and give an “after” report on what is happening
B. I could tell you a couple of weeks “before” we start, and tell you what I hope will happen
Scenario A – would be a request that you give thanks to God.
Scenario B – would be a request that you pray for the group before it even exists
I opt to ask you to PRAY NOW, BEFOREHAND. And also give thanks later.
What is my hope? For people to come to know Christ; to bring their friends; to grow in Christ; to integrate members into North Chester or another church. And very specifically – I do not believe in mystical numbers, nor in “ordaining” reality. I am simply using the number 12 to give direction to my prayer: “Lord, in faith I ask that 12 people turn out.”
Will you talk with the Lord? And mention the number 12? Many thanks!
PLEASE PRAY!
- Gary and Karen have just started a new academic year with ESEPA Bible College and Seminary
- Karen will be attending an international conference on the theme of her work
- Gary is now working on editing the New Testament for deaf non-readers – he’s up to Acts!
FINANCIAL PICTURE: Our major church donor has ended its support, but a couple of other churches are coming forward. Will 20 individuals pray about supporting us at $50/month? JUST TAP HERE!
Karen Shogren
Gary Shogren
Shogrens in Costa Rica 
Sounds like a great plan. Best of luck to you.
Tengo una pregunta en el codex vaticanus en Juan 20 dice María Magdalena o solo dice como el codice sinaiticus María? Gracias Gary.
Hola Oscar! ¿De cuál versículo de Juan 20 habla?
Quizás disfrutirá de mi blog teológico en español, http://www.razondelaesperanza.com
Gary
Hola Gary, gracias por responderme, conozco el blog de razon de la esperanza, pero mi pregunta surge porque en wikipedia en el tema TUMBA VACIA el que escribió dice que el codice sinaitico no dice Magdalena, sino solo María en todo el capitulo 20 donde aparece María Magdalena, por eso le preguntaba sobre si el codice vaticano sí tenía Magdalena. Como sé que usted sabe griego y conoce los manuscritos, o sea los puede leer, quería saber si realmente en el codice sinaitico en Juan 20 dice solo María o no, y si el codice vaticano dice María Magdalena. Muchas gracias de antemano por su respuesta. Dios lo bendiga Gary. Oscar.