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January 2008
We received an email from our Bishop Umba, in D. R. Congo, Africa, about some pressing needs.
First, one of our Churches in Lubumbashi is facing a situation with the buiding and
property that they are meeting in for Church. The owner has put the property up for sale. He has given us the
first option to buy the plot for $5000 US dollars. This amount the church itself is not able to raise, since most of
the people there make less then $20 per month.
Presently, we do not have the funds to purchase the property. Lubumbashi is a city that was
built for 2 million and now has over 7 million in population. Housing, buildings, meeting places are hard to secure.
The owner has another buyer for the property and is asking for an answer by Febuary, whethier we will be able to purchase
the property or not.
Second, As you know well that since 1987 D.R.CONGO
was pushed into war millions of people children,women and men have been killed in the east part of Congo.
Other contries like
RWANDA, BURUNDI AND UGANDA have been killing and stealing the minerals resources of Congo with
the protection of the UN.
People are dying by hunger, thurst and no one seems to be doing much about this. The UNsoldiers are building
big houses moving in big cars, ministers and deputy ministers are drinking eating in their meetings... but no one is looking
what is going on in the east part of D. R. Congo.
Some of the photos we have received are to graffic to post. Our brothers from the east
part of Congo called our Bishop Umba and asked for help. There is a great need for Food, Water, Clothes
and Housing. Bishop Umba is preparing the trip to east part of Congo and is need
of funds for food and supplies.
If you can help with one of the above mission efforts please send your donation to our Aiken office, P.O.
Box 5336, Aiken South Carolina, 29804. Please mark in the memo section or send a note designating your gift.
For the Church Property write: Church Congo. For the food and supplies write: East Congo. God
bless you.
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2008 End of the Year Update
PRAISE THE LORD!
WE HAVE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH!
We Thank God for another year to Serve Him!
Here are a few of the things that God has done and is Doing...
1. In India, our vision is to develop Church compound that will include buildings and new some new construction to operate ministry.
2. In the D.R. Congo, Africa, our Bishop Umba is faithfully
providing leadership for our Churches, caring for the widow's and orphans, while seeking the lost.
3. In other parts of Africa, such as Liberia, Kenya and
Ghana, new works are being birth and asking, waiting and longing for SOGI to come and set the church in order.
4. In Peru, the pastor is faithful to minister to
the jungle children who dwell up the Amazon River.
5. In the Philippines the churches are waiting for
SOGI to come and teach pastor's leadership and evangelism training. In addition, we have a missionary couple of SOGI,
who is waiting to move to the Philippines and establish a new missionary work.
6. On a local level we are training people for evangelism
weekly and taken them to the streets, to share there faith and to preach open air. Statistics tell us that: By
preaching 30 minutes open air, on the streets, that more people would be reach for the Gospel then the Church is presently
reach, in a 12 month period. We have seen this to be true, so we have been taking the Gospel out of the four walls of
the Church and going back to the Streets.
7. We are still believing God for a manifistation
of healing for Bishop.
It is only by God's grace and your faithfulness that we have been able to do so much with so little
resource. As you know, no one in SOGI receives a salary, the Aguilar's live as missionaries, with a small
handful of people who support them monthly (their personal income is below poverty).
Presently the Ministry that God has entrusted us with, SOGI, has many financial needs, some immediate,
and some long-term.
Immediate:
- In Africa $3000 to bring our Bishop Umba to the
USA for a two week tour
- Church of the Harvest, Georgia, USA, which is under the SOGI Ministry:
$450,000 for building and property that is pending
- Funds for the Mission Trips of 2009: D.R. Congo, Liberia,
Kenya and India
- Sound equipment for indoor/outdoor
Evangelistic meetings
- Van for Ministry transportaion
- The Aguilar's monthly support, would you consider sending
them a monthly gift in 2009
Long-Term:
- In all of Africa, over $144,140
of needs from 20+ Churches and missionary efforts. These needs represent: Church construction, land purchase, compound
construction for an orphanage, school and medical clinic.
- In India, over $123,600 for a
Church compound that will include buildings and new some new construction to operate ministry. Feeding the children,
housing the orphan, housing a school of ministry as well as housing and feeding short-term mission teams. PLUS $25,000
a year operating budget for overhead, staff, food, equipment, internet, supplies.
- In Philippines, $135,000 for land,
building and housing. Land to establish a farm as a ongoing source of income and ministry. Building
to conduct Church services, school and other ministries. And housing for a missionary couple to live and operate
out of. This amount includes initial operating support for the first year of ministry.
- In America, SOGI, $350,000
for land, buildings, office equipment, ministry transportation, etc. We have need
of establishing a Church base here in America (as you know, all our Churches are overseas, we are not
a part of a denomination, so we have no Church yet in America and no strong financial base) This
home base for SOGI would be used for Local Church Ministries, Ministry Training, Missionary Training School, and house
the main offices for SOGI.
- The Aguilar's, $3,000 a Month
increase in monthly support. The Aguilar's have served faithfully for years with no salary. SOGI would
like to provide a salary, housing and medical insurance for their family so that they can spend more time in
ministry affairs. This amount would be divided as follows: $15,600 a year salary ($300 a week), $9,600 a year
housing ($800 a month), $5,600 a year in insurances ($460 a month) and $5,200 a year in auto expenses.
This amount is small for a family of four, but it is a starting
point that we believe is possible with your help. We are asking everyone connected to SOGI to prayerfully consider
supporting the Aguilar's monthly. When sending your gift, designate it to "Aguilar"s".
Other ways you can be a part?
.
1. Pray and Intercede for us
2. Schedule a staff member to minister at your church for a missions love offering.
.
3. Support us monthly or with a one time gift and help
us change the world.
.
4. Volunteer on a Mission trip, be involved in a fund-raising
project or sponsor a missionary.
Checks payable to:
Shepherds Of Grace International
P.O. Box 5336
Aiken,
South Carolina, 29804
.
WE THANK GOD FOR YOU!
Let us have a passion for the things of Christ and do something today that will count for
Eternity.
September 2008
In addition to Bishop's many health issues, fybro maligia, diabetes (insulin dependent), problems with his
liver and pancreas.
Bishop received the results of some medical testing that concluded, that he has developed 3 growths in this
body. One on his Kidney, one on his Pancreas and one in his stomach. He will have to go through some
more test and biopsy to determine if he has cancer and if the growths can be removed.
Please stand with us for a manisfastation of healing for his body.
May 2008
Our son Abraham (Chirag) has returned to India to attend College. We thank all of those who donated
finances for his airfare. Many have expressed that they would want to keep in contact with Abe or even support
him financialy. Should you want to contact him, his email address is: abe@shepherdsofgrace.org
Should you feel lead to send him a financial gift to help support him during his stay in India, he can receive
it by Western Union, send to:
Chirag Nanda
Bhopal India.
Then email him and inform him about the amount you are sending along with the MTCN code and any question
or answer you may include for verification.
If you need a tax receipt for your donation, please send your donation to are office, P.O.
Box 5336, Aiken, South Carolina, 29804. Make check payable to Shepherds of Grace International,
and in the memo section of the check write: Abraham or Chirag, and we will deposit that total amount into his account.
Thank you for your love and support.
January 2008
In December, Bishop John spent 14 days in the hospital. His trygliceryieds when up again, over
4000, causing his pancres failure, kindney and liver problems.
At one point Bishop stopped breathing and died. He had an "out-of-body" experience before he came
back to life. We thank God for His grace and Mercy. Bishop is home now, but his recovery will take
some time, he is on insulin shots and other medication. Please pray for his complete healing.
We need your prayers and financial support during this season of life.
We thank God for you
Manjaree and family
Sept. 2007
Sept. 7th, 2007, baby Josiah James Aguilar was born... 6 lbs. 3 oz. He was taken early, at 36
weeks... and had respiratory problems... a ruptured lung.
Doctors said that he would spend several weeks in ICU... but thanks to the prayers of the saints... after
one week he was healed and released... GLORY TO GOD!
October
We Welcome... The Sunder Raj Family...
We welcome Pastor Samuel Sundera Raj and his wife Prema, son Preveen and daughter Shekinah to the SOGI family. Pastor Samuel
Sunder Raj is the National Executive Director of Kids for the Kingdom International. This ministry brings children from darkness
to light, provides spiritual and physical food for strength and gives joy and hope for the hopeless in India.
We are happy to join hands with them in furthering the Kingdom of God.
September
Katrina Relief
Big God Bless you and thanks goes out to all those who were involved in giving toward the Katrina victims.
Children received brand new shirts, the roof of houses were covered with new tarps and others received financial help.
Together We Are Making A Difference!
August
Bishop Back from Africa...
Bishop is back from africa with good reports about God's intervention on the Government level as well as protection from
robbers in the capital city of Kinshashi.
Since Bishop's return, we have been under such a spiritual attack... car trouble, financial strain and coming
home to Waycross from ministering on the road, we found that our home was robbed! They took all things of value:
tv's, vcr's, microwave, stereo's etc, as well as carpet, pictures, mirrors of the wall... God knew that this would
happen and we pray for those who stole from us, blessing them in the name of Jesus and praying for their salvation.
We are not suprised at the trouble... it is nothing more then a spirutual attack against the ministry and our family...
keep us in your prayers... more prayer... more power... we will walk in victory!
July
Bishop in Africa...
Bishop and Pastor Allan Kulp are in Africa, please keep them in your prayers.
In May...
Introducing "SOGI Seniors"
On October 4, 2000, Bishop's father, John J. Aguilar Sr., stepped over to glory. Having been on kidney dialysis
for years, to doctors, he was just another senior citizen with many health problems... but to Bishop... he was the smartest
man he had every known.... so full of life, ideas, goals, dreams, and ambitions.
In his memory we are establishing a mission division of SOGI ministries called:
"SOGI Seniors"
...a ministry in which you must be a senior citizen in order to qualify.
It is our vision to see senior citizens travel and minister in countries on a short-term mission trip designed for seniors
citizens. Those seniors who are not interested in travel can be a part of our local mission efforts.
Age or health condition should not disqualify a person from fulfilling the call of God on their life.
It's never too late to respond to the call. So what if we are hired by the eleventh hour to the field. The wage
is the same according to God's Word.
Should you want to be involved with us as we establish this division of ministry, please contact
our Aiken office. (803) 648-1551
In April...
Seminar: How to develop a Cross Cultural Ministry
You can desire, think or even talk about your Church or ministry as being multi-ethnic, but the true test is Mass
Cross Cultural Representation and Reproduction.
Speakers: Bishop John & Manjaree Aguilar Director’s of Shepherds Of Grace International, a Ministry
with a vast experience of inter-cultural approach.
For more information contact the SOGI office
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In March...
Bishop John had an opportunity to join the Prison Ministry of Bro. Don Dunagun. Brother Dunagun is a true man of God and
for years has been involved in prison ministry. One of his ministry outreaches has been the Augusta YDC (Youth Detention Center).
It was our privilege to be a part of his ministry last month. Bishop John ministered to the youth and we praised the Lord
with twelve young people that repented and gave their lives to Christ. Keep these young men and women in your prayers for
their growth in the Lord
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NEWS UPDATE...
20 families from one of our Churches in South India lost their homes. We want
to thank those who have already given to this effort. We are still collecting funds for these families. When
making a donation, make your check payable to Shepherds of Grace Intl. (in the memo section of your check,
write "Tsunami"). Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 397, Hoboken, Georgia, 31542. Every dollar collected
for Tsunami Relief will go to the families in India.
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Back From Africa
Bishop John has returned home from 15 days in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.
It took three days of travel to arrive at our destination and two days to return giving us 11 days of ministry while
in country. During this time we conducted:
3 day Leadership Conference
2 day Women's Conference
3 Day Evangelistic Conference
1 day Ordination Service ordaining 11
1 day for distribution clothes/medicine
1 day traveling among the churches
Hundreds attended the services and many where saved and healed... we give Glory of God.
In the D.R.Congo Africa, among our 10 churches, we have over 600 children. More than 200 of these children
are orphans. Almost 300 of the children are suffering from malaria, malnutrition, and no education.
Shepherds Of Grace Intl, supports these children monthly as God supplies. These orphaned children can be supported by a
donation of $35 a month. This will house, feed, clothe, and educate one child. Would you consider supporting
one of these orphans today?
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