Category Archives: Gary Shogren

A church burns: in Paris? No, in Costa Rica

One of the first things we learned about missionaries, is that Missionaries are concerned with other Christian workers and try to support them practically and in prayer! So, this month we speak on behalf of others.

FIRST – Two days before the Notre Dame fire, there was a shocking tragedy here: a fire that destroyed homes and partly ruined the church Dios Proveerá (God will Provide) in La Carpio, a large nearby precario (shantytown).

ESEPA Seminary’s director says: “All the nine people who lived there died because of this fire. Two of them were members of the Dios Proveerá church, which is pastored by one of our students and her husband. The church facilities were also damaged. You can see more in the following video [subtitled in English]: http://youtube.com/watch?v=IVl6bgcbV7o&yt:cc=on. The damage is so great that it is not possible for the church to cover all the costs. As a seminary we would like to ask you for your collaboration and to encourage you to organize an offering in your local church for this sister church. Individual donations are also very welcome. You can deposit your donation using the following link: ESEPA Agape Fund. In the comment section you should mention “ESEPA/La Carpio”.

If you want to donate using a check you should use project number 65420, description “ESEPA/La Carpio” and the following address:

United World Mission
PO Box 602002
Charlotte, NC 28260-2002

SECOND  Two of our dear missionary friends are preparing to move north to Honduras; like us, they will be involved in pastoral training. They just posted: “Please be in prayer for Honduras. There is a lot of rioting going on and it’s not civil. We’ve seen numerous videos and heard from missionaries there about burning buildings, including a fire at the US Embassy, gas bombs being released in the streets (not by the police), roads being shut down, the airport was shut down yesterday.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FRIENDS, and consider donating to Dios Proveerá.

FAMILY NEWS
Karen just flew up to Pennsylvania, to help Vikky prepare for the big wedding! The date is June 29 and we hope to share some pictures of Vik and Chris shortly!

Gary turned in his book, Iceberg Ahead! When God’s Servants Crash into Cold, Hard Reality to his translator. Kerigma Publications in Mexico plans to publish it! If you want to read a copy, let us know!

Thanks so much for putting us on the field! Blessings, Gary and Karen

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“Gary is in the classroom again!”

After a year of furlough, teaching online, and writing, Gary is back where he feels most at home, in the classroom. This term he is offering Ruth & Esther face-to-face! Some students study it in the Spanish Bible, while three advanced students are studying the books in Hebrew and Greek.

He is still working on his notes on 1-2 Timothy for Wycliffe Associates. 1 Timothy should be done in a few weeks; plus, he just finished an article on the Theology of Romans for a collection in Spanish.

ESEPA graduation is tonight, and three of Gary’s long-term students are finally graduating with their degrees, Masters in Biblical Exegesis.

Sammy starts 5^th grade next week!

The teachers went out on strike in September, so he has been at home for many months. The strike was settle, we’re happy to report!

Karen is working away on her new project, with local people doing research, and Karen heading to Colorado in a few days for a conference.

Vikky and Chris are counting down to their June wedding!

Gary’s Teaching
Gary gave a full conference to new missionaries at the Spanish Language Institute, in October. The whole conference available here! 

Praise and Prayer

• PRAISE that Gary has found a publisher for the Spanish version of his book (aka The Iceberg Project); PRAY that an English publisher also comes through!
• PRAISE that we are back in Costa Rica!
• PRAY for Karen, who has a long year of planning and study in 2019

 Many blessings to you! Gary and Karen Shogren