Newsletter - April, 2010

The Least of These My Brethren

April, 2010

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matt. 25:40

Published by the Society of the Good Shepherd, P. O. Box 122, Amberson, PA 17210. (717) 349-7033

The Pastor Who Repairs Computers

Near the end of last year, we had the opportunity of meeting Tary and Lorena Portillo. They are a couple who started a business two years ago. They sell office supplies and computer parts, offer copier services, and they repair computers. Although they started the business with their own funds, they needed the help of the Society of the Good Shepherd to give their business a little push and to buy sufficient inventory to keep the business going. The Society granted them the loan they needed. This gave me the opportunity to get to know Tary and Lorena better and to hear their story.

Opening their new business has been quite a challenge for Tary and Lorena, especially because they are always so busy with church activities. Brother Tary has been the pastor of a church in Siguatepeque for over seven years. He is also the president of the Pastors Association in Siguatepeque.

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In spite of their busy lives, they wanted to start a business for three main reasons: First, their church isn’t able to fully support them, and so they needed supplementary income. Secondly, they wanted to have sufficient funds of their own to be able to support church ministries with offerings and services. Finally, they wanted to set an example to the church, demonstrating that a business can be run successfully based on Christian principles, operated with fairness, honesty, and integrity.

Please pray for this couple as they work in their business and ministries, so that they may continue to grow in the Lord. They also asked me to share with you a personal prayer request concerning their family. They have been married for almost eight years and have a great desire to have children. However, God hasn’t allowed that for them yet. Please pray that God would bless them with children or give them the peace to accept being childless, as it has been emotionally wearing for them.

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Click on the following link if you would care to make a donation to the work in Honduras: Donations

A Word to Our Supporters

The ministry of the Society of the Good Shepherd began in Honduras a little over ten years ago. The directors made the decision back then to use only volunteer labor and to pay all of the travel and administrative expenses of the Society out of their own pockets. This worked reasonably well during the early years of the Society.

However, over time, as the work load of the Society has increased, we have found it necessary to hire helpers to help operate the ministry. The state of Pennsylvania now requires non-profit ministries like ours to hire an independent CPA firm to audit our records each year. And as more people have become involved in the work of the ministry, our travel expenses have increased. Despite these extra expenses, the directors have continued to bear these costs out of their own pockets.

We are now asking, with the permission of our donors, that we be allowed to set aside 10% of the donations we receive to cover the expenses we incur in operating the ministry. The other 90% will go totally to the work in Honduras. We don’t foresee ever needing to change this ratio.

At the same time, if you would prefer that all of your donations be spent directly on the poor in Honduras, just let us know and we will honor that request for everyone who asks. Thank you for your support through the years and for your understanding in this matter.

David Bercot

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