August 2026 Newsletter

KAREN SHARES: Life around the Shogren house!

We’ve both just passed through two difficult years. I, Karen, had a nearly fatal group of blood clots and a knee replacement in 2025 and a second knee replacement this year. Gary had a retinal tear that healed

well after surgery, but then he needed more surgery to clear his vision. We’ve each had to travel for work, which sometimes was stressful and exhausting. I have felt a lot of pressure to get more work done more quickly. For me, sleep is often elusive, so our schedules don’t align very well and either of us can be found working at odd hours while the other sleeps.

When I’m tempted to be discouraged by all this, I like to swoop up for a bird’s-eye view. Both of us are doing jobs that possibly few others have the opportunity, time, and money to do. Each of us uses an unusual group of skills to do what we do, skills that are the sum of nearly everything else we have ever done. I am a firm believer that God never wastes anything, especially not life experience, skill, or desire to serve Him. God has provided everything we each need to do our jobs, exactly when we needed it. I’d be here all year just trying to name them!

Yet even more, God has given us each other. We celebrated 46 years of marriage in May enjoying a lovely lunch with dear friends the Richards’. All those years ago, as Gary and I were dating, we both knew we wanted to marry someone who was fully committed to serving God. Not only has that been a joyful blessing and unifying factor above all else, but we’ve experienced that truly our whole is greater than the sum of our parts. Neither of us could do what we do without the wholehearted, uncomplaining, sacrificial support of the other. Gary has learned more than he ever thought existed about [church] abuse because he has heard me talk about it so many times, and he has never once complained or even looked bored. He is truly my biggest cheerleader, encouraging me through the tough days in myriad ways: hugs, treats from Wawa (my favorite local convenience store), many jokes, acting as family chef, and putting up with having the Christmas tree still up in May. I try to get everyone excited about the awesome job Gary is doing with the Symbolic Universal Notation Bible project, helping them understand how tremendously important this ministry is for the Kingdom of God.

I praise God that all those years ago He knew that the provision Gary and I would most need to serve Him best was each other!

Casa de Shogren, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania