W&D Magazine Spring 2020 by Rick Postma

SPRING 2020

INSIDE

The Official Publication of Word & Deed An International Reformed Relief Ministry

Dominican Republic Healed. Completely.

Haiti

A School Year Cut in Half

South Africa Spotlight on South Africa

>foreword By rick postma

the

Greatest Epidemic

The world has become a global village. A virus which purportedly jumped from bats to humans at a marketplace in Wuhan Province, China, late in 2019 has now become a worldwide epidemic with reports of 50 deaths in Iran and a large jump in infections in both Italy and South Korea over the last few days as I write this. Word & Deed has canceled staff trips to Myanmar and Indonesia as a cautionary measure. Thankfully, we were able to recoup almost all of the related expenses. As various health organizations race to find a vaccine, others are racing to develop ever more accurate means of detecting those infected by the Coronavirus COVID-19 strain, including the use of artificial intelligence. Those who have been in contact with carriers are treated like modern-day lepers and forced to live in isolated colonies on ships, military bases, and the like. Isn’t it ironic, though, that mankind is born with a far deadlier virus—sin? And while an estimated 4 percent of those afflicted with COVID-19 experience physical death, 100 percent of the human race are afflicted with the sin virus and will experience eternal death unless they receive the vaccine of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. No wonder early Christians in the first century AD rushed to help those infected during major epidemics even as the rest of the population fled in panic the other way. These early believers understood that God’s love for them needed to overflow into the lives of their

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neighbors who faced not only physical death, but eternal death. They knew that their own physical death was a small price to pay. And many of them did die. How do you and I compare to the early Christians? How consistently do we apply the truths of the fully revealed Word of God to our lives? Or will the Lord say of us, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8)? At Word & Deed, we are often convicted by the sacrificial lives of our partners in the 13 countries we work in. While we have much to share with them, we are also greatly blessed by what they share with us much as Paul wrote in anticipation of his time in Rome, “That I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:12). Please pray for believers in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and South Africa as we read about their efforts to combat the sin virus in their respective countries. Pray that we all may act boldly using the means that God gives us with the confidence that victory is the Lord’s, as Pastor Bob Van Manen writes in his meditation. May the Lord cause His worldwide church to grow by leaps and bounds, even in our day, to the glory of His Name. W&D Rick Postma is the Director of Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

WORD&DEED

meditation

Official Publication of Word & Deed An International Reformed Relief and Development Agency Free for sponsors and friends

SPRING 2020 Editor Rick Postma Assistant Editor Scott Koopman Graphic Design Knor Graphic Design Solutions Copy Editors Shelly Crites, Hanna Korvemaker, Kara Luiting, Susan Trentacosti Word & Deed North America is an evangelical and Reformed humanitarian relief and development organization. Our aim is to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people in the developing world in accordance with biblical principles for the glory of God. With cooperating offices in St. Thomas, Ontario, and Hudsonville, Michigan, Word & Deed partners with Christian agencies in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Myanmar, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Malawi, and South Africa.

Director of Projects John Otten Director of Public Relations Rick Postma Director Heidi Pronk Support Staff Scott Dekorte, Scott Koopman, John Kottelenberg, Kara Luiting Dave Vander Meer Canadian Board of Directors Chairman – Harold Leyenhorst Vice-Chairman – John Vangameren Secretary – Dave Wielinga Treasurer – Henry de Waal Wilf Bout, Dr Arjan de Visser, Pastor Christo Heiberg, John Jagersma, Corney Les, Bert Mulder, Lyle Ypma USA Board of Directors President – Paul Laman Vice President - Jay Van Voorst Secretary – Harry Kooistra Treasurer – Karen Vander Sloot Paul Beezhold, Eric Brandt, Eric Greendyk, Pete Vander Stel Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke – International Educational Consultant

Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes – Professor of

Old & New Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Rev. Richard Bout –

URCNA Missions Coordinator Rev. Danny Hyde – Pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church

Rev. Mark Vander Hart –

Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies, Mid-America Reformed Seminary

Rev. Frank Van Dalen –

Former Executive Director of the Foreign Missions Board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

Canada Office PO Box 20100 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4H4 Toll free 877.375.9673 office@wordanddeed.org United States Office PO Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 Toll free 866.391.5728 usoffice@wordanddeed.org Registered Charity Number (Canada) 89 120 0941 RR0001 EIN Non-profit Number (USA) 37-1429283

Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

By Pastor Bob van Manen

the

Battle

Several weeks ago, our morning Bible Study group was meditating on the story of David and Goliath. As we studied the passage, several observations were made that are applicable to the work and calling of the church in our world today. Observation #1: David understood that this battle with Goliath was far bigger than just the giant who stood before him. The church has always had giants to face, and we will have them until Christ returns. Whether in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, or Malawi, the church faces many giants: Those of secularism, poverty, drug lords, apathy, or generational dysfunction. Paul reminds us that our real battles are not of “flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:11–12). Observation #2: David went to battle armed only with what he was best equipped to use and what was natural to him. How often the church seeks to enter the battle encumbered with the weapons of the world. Perhaps this is one reason why the church’s efforts often seem to fail. Rather than using the armor of God which should be natural for the believer and for the church, we try to use worldly techniques and strategies.

IS the

LORD’s

is in the Lion of the tribe of Judah, our Lord, our Savior, the Victorious Lamb, Jesus Christ. It is in, under, and through His authority that the church and believers go to face our giants. Observation #5: David took five smooth stones. Why five? In 2 Samuel 21:15–22 we read that, besides Goliath, there were four other giants in the town of Gath. The custom would have been for David, once having defeated Goliath, to face the next giant in line, then the next, and so on. If this is so, then it would seem David is preparing to take down not just Goliath, but the next four giants that he would encounter. David was prepared for the battle. Yes, he trusted the Lord. Yes, he placed his faith in the Lord. Yes, he even knew what the outcome would be. But he went prepared for his battle with Goliath and for others he might have to face. The church needs to be ready. We need to look beyond the first battle to what we will encounter after the LORD defeats the first giant, never taking our eyes off the Author and Perfecter of our faith. W&D Pastor Bob Van Manen is the pastor at Little Farms Chapel (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) in Coopersville, Michigan.

Observation #3: David ran quickly toward the battle line. He did not cower, he did not hesitate, he did not walk, he ran! He ran in the name of the LORD to face his fierce opponent. What does the author of Hebrews encourage us to do? “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We, as believers and as the church, need to hear the command of Christ to go! Observation #4: David knew the battle was the Lord’s. He expresses this several times throughout the passage. This was not David’s battle, this battle belonged to the LORD. How often we think that evangelism and missions are our endeavor and not the Lord’s. Our faith SPRING 2020 I Word&Deed

>DOMiNiCaN RePUBliC By Scott Dekorte

Healed. Completely. Standing in the entrance to the Luke Society Hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, I realized that the brokenness of the world reaches into the physical and spiritual aspects of each person. As a result, the need for Gospel restoration in every nation, every community, and every heart was pressed upon me more clearly than ever before. The slow smile and full eyes of the boy standing in front of me told a story of pain, but also one of hope. Looking down to this boy’s hand and wrist, I noticed that he was wearing a cast. It appeared as if he had a broken hand, but it turned out that this was not the case. The ten-year-old had not broken his wrist but had burnt his hand. Well, he did not burn it himself. His mother wanted to teach him a lesson. She found out that her son had stolen about ten cents worth of Dominican pesos and, as a punishment, she plunged his hand into a burning pot of hot water. Not knowing where to go for help, the boy ran to the hospital where he received treatment for his burns. Embraced into the arms of the hospital’s employees, he experienced hospitality infused with Christian compassion. The pain of a burnt hand can heal over time with silicone dressings and pain relievers. The root of the trouble lies in the buried pain of a broken family, a brokenness which characterizes so many of the families within

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the ten communities surrounding the hospital. When these communities on the outskirts of Santo Domingo crave a place of healing and restoration, the Luke Society Hospital is available as a fortress of comfort. For the past four years, Dr. Silvia and her dedicated team of nurses have been providing primary health care to 30–40 patients on a daily basis. The hospital offers general consultations, a pharmacy, a laboratory, and emergency services when required. Certain days of the week a cardiologist, dentist, gynecologist, and pediatrician are available for specialist appointments. These services effectively reach poor and marginalized people because of the hospital’s proximity to the communities, the low consultation costs, and the personal treatment offered to meet each individual patient’s needs. In the words of Dr. Silvia, “The people that come here, they are not only patients. They are people that God has sent. So, we provide counseling, and we pray with the patients also. It is about seeing people as God sees them—the whole body: spiritual, physical, and emotional. We want to testify to each of the patients about Jesus. So other people can know that we are not the good ones, but that God is The Good One.” Her words reveal the hospital’s

desire to see the hurt of dysfunctional families, the pain of searching souls, and weak communities healed through medical care and the power of Christ’s redemption. Hebrews 7:25 affirms the complete healing that results from believing in Christ as Savior and Lord. It declares, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” In Greek, the word “save” in this verse means “to heal, preserve, or make whole.” Christ is able to save completely (to the uttermost) those hurting on a deep spiritual level. Not only can He heal the body, but He has the power to heal the whole person. This truth daily motivates the three doctors, the chaplain, the social worker, and the six other support staff at the Luke Society Hospital. This is their hope for healing—Christ. The little boy’s burnt hand is gradually healing and one of the doctors took care of him for a few nights. The chaplain and the social worker are counseling his mother and siblings on practical and functional ways to relate to each other, revealing to the family the reality of the wounded Healer “by whose stripes you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Please pray that the labor of love at the hospital would continue to heal the deepest needs of their patients through word and deed—all for the glory of God. W&D Scott Dekorte assists in Project Management and Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

The Luke Society Hospital This hospital has two floors including a pharmacy, lab center, emergency services, and semi-private rooms. It also includes rooms for ultrasounds, examinations, dentistry, operations, and labor & delivery. The purpose of the hospital is to provide holistic care which focuses on the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the patient. It serves an area of over 100,000 people in five communities. Budget for 2020: $81,000 CAD /

$60,000 USD

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>HaiTi

By Pastor Octavius Delfils

A School

Year Cut in Half

The Protests

Rodelin Veillard is in Grade 13 at Adoration Christian School. He waited about half a year before he started his new classes for the academic year 2019–2020. For months he contacted me every week about the possibility of the schools in Port-au-Prince, and particularly Adoration Christian School, opening. Rodelin spent his whole break looking forward to being back in class in September. He looked forward to seeing his new teachers, to being taught the new subjects, and to start gaining knowledge from the new textbooks that would be placed in his hands. Imagine his disappointment in hearing that the school opening would be delayed. It was disappointing news for all of the students. Unfortunately, this disappointment lasted for the first four months of the school year. Because of the political situation of the country, schools were not able to open as usual in September 2019. Since July 2018, the political opponents to the president have been trying to force him out of power. In 2019, they used all of the violent means that they could to reach their goal. They blocked the roads and “locked” everyone in their homes for three months. They controlled everyone’s freedom with roadblocks and armed gangs. As a consequence, the country was in turmoil from September to the middle of December. During that time, the schools and

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most businesses were closed. Some of these businesses even had to lay off their employees or were forced to close down permanently. In a country like Haiti, more than 70 percent of the people who have an income are employed informally. That means these people need to be in the streets every day to try to look for work. The communities that Adoration serves are in this category. Their income, as low as it is, covers only the most basic needs for a large family, relatives, and friends. The consequence of the lockdown was that (in this country where the unemployment rate was already very high and the economy was already suffering) some businesses were brought to bankruptcy and many people lost their jobs. While education is so needed in Haiti, the schools were forced to close their doors and students stayed home. Adoration’s teachers tried to visit their students at home during this time to assign homework. We praise the Lord that during these times of hardships and dangers He protected our students, parents, and members of the church. Some of them were victims of theft in the streets, but the Lord protected them. Most of our students came back to school in January except for a few who left Port-au-Prince for a safer area in the provinces during the turmoil. They may stay out of Port-au-Prince for the rest of

the year, or they may try to come back when they feel the city or the area where they were living is safer. The political situation strongly impacted the economy and raised the rate of inflation by more than 20 percent in only four months’ time. It goes without saying that the impact of this on the school community is huge. The school serves the poorest of the poor in vulnerable communities in Port-au-Prince. That means the 500 students that come to us could never have an opportunity to go to school. While Adoration asks the parents to cover less than 10 percent of the cost per student, this year the families are having great difficulty to pay for even that small amount. This is also a difficult year academically for our students and for the teachers. They are working hard to cover in six months the academic program that they usually have ten months to complete. Grades 9 and 13 will have to write their government exams in July. They have to study the whole program in order to be ready for their exams. The Lord has given great success to Adoration students during the past years in these exams, and the reputation of the school is well-established in the community. Even in a difficult year like this, the staff and students will have to work hard to maintain the academic and Christian standards of the school. We cannot foresee the solution of the political situation in Haiti in the coming months, but we do know that the Lord is on the throne! He is in control and He knows the situation of his people in Haiti. We do not lose hope. We continue to preach and teach the Word! We continue to bring a quality Christian education to our students from Kindergarten and special needs through to Grade 13. We continue to come alongside our students in professional schools and universities. Adoration has been functioning full-time since January, and we hope that it will continue undisturbed for the rest of the school year. Rodelin is glad to be back studying in the school where he came to know the Lord through the teaching of the Bible. He is attending membership class in order to be baptized soon at the Reformed Presbyterian Church that gathers at the school. The Lord is faithful and He is building His church in Haiti through the ministry of Adoration Christian School. He is the One who says, “For the mountains shall depart, And the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed” (Isaiah 54:10). He is the LORD who has compassion on his people! W&D Pastor Octavius is the Chairman of the Board and the Chaplain at Adoration Christian Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He also serves at the local Reformed Presbyterian Church.

the lodders are granted a furlough Randy and Karen Lodder, along with their five children, have been serving at Adoration Christian School in Haiti for the last 12 years. Randy has been serving as the Director of the school and has seen much growth and blessings from the Lord. However, the living circumstances in Haiti are and always have been quite difficult. During their time in Haiti, the Lodder family has experienced an earthquake, several riots, safety concerns, and the constant risk of theft. Due to severe rioting in Haiti last year, the Lodder family was forced to stay in their home compound for several months. The unrest in Haiti heightened in August to the extent that Adoration Christian School could not fully open until January. During this time, Randy also developed some medical concerns in the form of vertigo-like symptoms. The root cause of these concerns is yet to be determined. Randy and Karen, together with Word & Deed, have decided that this would be a good time for a furlough. For the next six months, the Lodders will focus on Randy’s health, rest, and their family’s well-being, with the assistance of missionary counseling. Their situation and readiness to return to Haiti will be reviewed after the six-month time period. This is to ensure that the focus remains on their family’s needs at this time. During the Lodders’ time of absence, Adoration Christian School will operate under the leadership of the board chair, Pastor Octavious Delfils. Word & Deed will continue to provide support to both the school leadership and the Lodder family. Please remember to keep the Lodder family and Adoration Christian School in prayer. If you have questions or would like more information about the Adoration project, please contact John Kottelenberg at jkottelenberg@ wordanddeed.org.

LEFT: Rodelin (center of front row) with others after the service at the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

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>SOUTH AFRiCa By Heidi Pronk

Spotlight

South Africa

KwaMhlanga is a small town in Mpumalanga, South Africa, located about an hour from Pretoria. The population is around 7,000 (with many more people living in surrounding areas) and is over 99 percent black, half of whom hail from the Ndebele tribe. KwaMhlanga holds a special place in our hearts at Word & Deed because it is also the home of three of our partners—Nakekela Clinic, Mukhanyo Theological College, and Musawenkosi Christian Academy (MCA). Nakekela Clinic is an HIV/AIDS step-down clinic that provides both in-patient hospice care and home-based care. Mukhanyo Theological College is a higher education institution equipping people to serve the Lord and His church. MCA is an elementary school that serves orphans and vulnerable children. Each of these institutions, as well as several after-school programs that we visited in the area, are seeking to be light in darkness in this community. KwaMhlanga has some unique challenges. There is virtually no industry, so the majority of people who are employed make the journey into Pretoria or Johannesburg every day

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for work. Most of these jobs are low-skilled and low-paying, but for many it is the only option for reliable employment. It’s not uncommon to find residents who commute two hours each morning and again two hours each night for work. The highway they travel is called Moloto Road but it’s more commonly referred to as “The Highway of Death” because of the extreme number of traffic accidents. A side effect of all this is that young children are often left unattended for many hours a day while their parents are at work. In addition to poverty and employment challenges, there is a growing problem with a cheap drug called nyaope, which is a mixture of heroin, rat poison, and HIV drugs. It is extremely addictive, readily available, and gives an intense high. It is linked to high rates of crime and causes drug resistance in those who are HIV-positive. African Traditional Religion is also rampant here, with many people rejecting medicine in favor of “sangoma” (witch doctors) and pagan traditions that still taint the worldview of many even in the churches. The community is also plagued with family conflicts and breakdown, sexual abuse, and a whole host of other social and moral ills. Yet into this darkness comes the church of Jesus Christ with the Gospel message. And the good news is that there are faithful churches and faithful Christians in this community. This is one of the reasons why Word & Deed has chosen to partner here and to come alongside the dedicated Christians bringing the hope of Gospel transformation. We are encouraged to see God blessing these efforts. Many of the graduates of Mukhanyo Theological College become pastors or serve full-time in ministry, while the women go into Christian teaching or counseling. One of the women who graduated from Mukhanyo counsels patients and their families at Nakekela Clinic while her husband pastors a local church. Several of the instructors and gradu-

ates of Mukhanyo serve as board members at Nakekela or MCA. The care workers at Nakekela train church leaders on how to deal with the issues of HIV/AIDS in their congregations and care for those who are sick. The children of patients who lose their lives to HIV are sometimes able to receive Christian care and education at MCA. In this way, the institutions that God has given to this community are able to support and uplift one another in both tangible and intangible ways. It is our desire that God will continue to bless His Word as it is preached and taught and lived by the faithful believers in KwaMhlanga. We also pray that God would grow the church here in numbers and in knowledge. May He give us all wisdom as we seek to obey God’s call to care for the people here so that there would be a great Gospel transformation in this community for God’s glory. W&D Heidi Pronk is the Administrator for Word & Deed USA and the Project Manager for Malawi and South Africa.

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>VOLUNTEER By JOSIAH KNOR

God’s Power

Through Our

Weakness

Have you ever wondered if there is anything you can do to touch the lives of others? The Bible teaches that God shows His grace and power through weak and insignificant means so that He receives all the praise and honor. As it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9a: And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Hi, I am Josiah Knor, and two years ago I started a nonprofit outreach called LEGO4Missions. Through this nonprofit, I send LEGO to children in under-developed countries. These countries include Ecuador, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Ukraine, the Philippines, and Cuba. I interviewed my Aunt Arlene Jonkman who, along with her husband, Fred, are missionaries in Ecuador and have been the main recipients of the LEGO we send. I asked my aunt how the children first reacted to the LEGO. She said, “The children were amazed by the LEGO people because there are so many different people pieces representing so many different professions. This encourages the children to dream and use their imaginations for what they could aspire to.” Next, I asked how the LEGO has affected the children, and she said, “Play therapy is a very powerful tool when working with children who have suffered abuse. The toys serve as tools in counselling and often helps us diagnose problems in the lives of the children as we watch them play.” I asked my aunt whether the LEGO had affected the children’s initiative to work on homework at the projects, and

ABOVE: A sample of just one of the special donations we receive through our Facebook page from children (and adults) who we don’t know or have ever met.

my Aunt Arlene said, “The teachers love LEGO. The LEGO motivates the children to complete their homework quickly. As soon as the children have finished all their homework and other activities, they are allowed to pull out the LEGO. We also use LEGO to teach the children the skills of thinking and working together in creating projects.” Even something as small as LEGO can help these children heal from their pasts, give joy for the present, and hope for the future. I would like to thank everyone who continually gives their encouragement, support and donations. Without your help, this would not be possible. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Facebook page: LEGO4Missions or contact us at LEGO4missions@ gmail.com. Gratefully, Josiah Knor W&D

Children in the Word & Deed sponsored projects of Ecuador enjoying their LEGO inventions.

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Josiah Knor is in Grade 9 and is a member of the Living Water United Reformed Church in Brantford, Ontario.

EDUCaTiON < By SCOTT KOOPMAN

Word & deed’s approach to

Short-Term Mission Teams including (but not limited to) those that are hard to find in the local economy.

• Recognizing and fostering the spiritual benefit that the participants from North America can receive. There are many accounts of lives being turned to missions and ministry as a result of a short-term trip.

• Sending teams only when it is in the best interest of the work already being done by our field partners and when it fits their needs and schedules.

• Prioritizing time in the schedule for fellowship and

A Recent Trip to Guatemala.

One of the most common questions our staff receives when doing presentations at churches and schools is, “Does Word & Deed offer any short-term mission trip opportunities?” This is a good question. We are thankful to hear an enthusiastic desire to serve in the developing world in the name of Christ! Word & Deed’s approach to short-term missions is to send teams to the developing world only when the primary benefit is to support the work being done by our field partners. In each of our projects we emphasize selfsufficiency under Christ, indigenous leadership, and a Gospel focus—our approach to short-term teams must therefore not contradict these important foci. Short-term teams can be done poorly. There are several pitfalls to avoid:

• Sending teams to primarily do work that the local people can perform, thereby taking away an opportunity for locals to provide for themselves and their families.

• Fostering a dependency on teams to get work done in the developing world.

mutual encouragement with the local people. Teams can be a great way to let local Christians Dr. Silviaknow with that a mother they are cared for as part of the greater body and of Christ. children.

The Lord teaches us in His Word about the global nature of His Bride, the church. The Lord, by His grace, is gathering in His church all around the world; opportunities to have a front-row seat to this gathering-in can be both encouraging and convicting to the participants. May the Lord bless our humble efforts for His glory and to the eternal good of many! “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9–10)! Although we do not have any short-term mission opportunities coming up in the near future, if you are interested in joining a team, feel free to email me at scott@ wordanddeed.org. W&D Scott Koopman is the Administrator for Word & Deed Ministries.

• Sending teams with a “get-it-done” attitude while missing the opportunity to encourage the local people and build relationships with them.

• Burdening local partners by insisting on sending team after team for them to host. Short-term teams can be done well. Word & Deed has learned a few ways to make short-term teams a positive experience for the participants and for the local Christians. Here are some benefits we pursue:

• Sending teams that have some specialized skills,

Home visit on a recent trip to Guatemala.

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>SPONSORSHiP By Kara Luiting

sponsors needed for

800 Children

Malawi!

Word & Deed supports 2,100 orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi, Africa. Each of these children live with extended family members or guardians in their village and attend an after-school program. Some of these children have lost both parents through either death or abandonment. Others may have a living parent, but due to extreme poverty, food insecurity, chronic health needs, or some other life circumstance are considered particularly vulnerable. All are living in poverty. Some benefits that the children involved in the Orphan Care Program receive are: • • • •

Meals 3–5 times per week The provision of school supplies and uniforms Help with homework The provision of secondary school fees when needed

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• Biblical instruction • Family support It is our prayer that these efforts will produce godly leaders who will one day be instrumental in transforming Malawi for God’s glory. You can sponsor one or more of these children for $8 CAD (5 children for $40) or $6 USD (5 children for $30) per month. You will receive an update on the Orphan Care Program once per year. Contact Kara at office@wordanddeed.org or by calling 1.877.375.9673 to set up your sponsorship. W&D

Visit Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan

Proceeds from Tante Nellie’s Kitchen Authentic Dutch Cuisine go to support Word & Deed. Taking place May 2-9 but not open Sundays. For more details on the Tulip Time event visit their website: www.tuliptime.com

The Lord willing...

Upcoming Business Group

Meetings Please visit www.wordanddeed.org

APRIL 2020 HAMILTON, ONTARIO Thunder Bay, Ontario Ancaster, Ontario Abbotsford/Langley, BC Chilliwack, BC Visalia, CA

May 2020 Southern Alberta Calgary, Alberta Central Alberta Neerlandia, Alberta *Please see our website for new events and for dates and locations as they are determined. SPRING 2020 I Word&Deed

>FROM The BOaRD Thank you, Pete! After almost 20 years of service, Pete Van Kempen has retired as a board member of Word & Deed USA. Pete was one of the founding board members in the US. We were blessed by his immense dedication to our organization, by his participation in meetings, and by his attendance on many trips to visit our field partners in Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Malawi, and South Africa. Pete was a valued member of our board and his involvement will be missed. We wish him and his wife, Minnie, the Lord’s continued blessing in their lives. W&D

Join us at the 5th Annual

PASTOR DIELEMAN TO GO ON A 75-MILE TREK FOR WORD & DEED

COLOUR RUN Saturday, May 2nd Gage Park, Hamilton

Help make a diﬀerence in the lives of Adoration students in Haiti by participating in our 5th annual 5K Adoration Colour Run!

On May 23, 2020, Word & Deed board member Pastor Adrian Dieleman of the Trinity United Reformed Church in Visalia, California, will be biking a 75-mile trek with 7,000 feet of climbing through the mountains of central California in support of Word & Deed. This ride will coincide with the Bike-a-thons in Niagara and the Fraser Valley in Canada. If you’d like to sponsor Pastor Dieleman per mile or for every foot he climbs please contact usoffice@wordanddeed.org

In association with:

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PrayerRequestS 1. Pray for preparedness in the midst of trials and difficult circumstances, and for the willingness to clothe yourself in the armor of God so that you will be “able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” 2. Pray for strength, willingness, and specific opportunities to be used as God’s instrument for the salvation of your neighbors.

6. Pray that the hospital staff in the Dominican Republic will have the ability to treat people effectively and compassionately. Pray that Dr. Silvia and the hospital staff will effectively present the Gospel message to patients in order to bring hope and healing to all who hear it.

3. Pray that the country of Haiti will have a time of peace and stability. Pray that the students and staff of Adoration will be able to travel and learn in safety. Pray that all that needs to be done for this school year will be completed. Pray for Pastor Octavius and his leadership at the school and church.

7. Pray that the different Christian ministries (Nakekela Clinic, Mukhanyo Theological College, and Musawenkosi Christian Academy) in KwaMhlanga will be used by the Lord as a beacon of light in a dark place. Pray that many more people in this community will come to know the Lord and live their lives for Him.

4. Pray for the Lodder family as they spend time in Canada on furlough. Pray that a cause and treatment for Randy’s dizziness will be found.

b i k e - a - th o n

5. Pray for the effectiveness of the shortterm mission teams that are sent out by Word & Deed. Pray that both the North American people who are sent and the people who these teams interact with will be blessed through the experience and that God would be glorified.

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SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2020

BIKE•A•THON MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Join us for the Annual Word & Deed Bike-a-thon in either Niagara, ON, or the Fraser Valley, BC.

SPRING 2020 I Word&Deed

Word & Deed USA

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Grand Rapids, MI PERMIT #1

P. O. Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 USA

Publications Agreement # 40595030

Meditation: The Battle Is the LORD’s 1. When you hear the name Goliath, what is the first word that comes to mind? At different times we have all felt like there was a Goliath in front of us. What Goliaths are faced by those in Haiti? What are your Goliaths? Do you look to God or to yourself for strength? Are you using man’s ways to fight this trouble or the armor of God? 2. What is the best way for us to prepare for upcoming trials in our lives? When you face these trials, will you be found faithful and ready to defend God or will you shrink away like Israel did when Goliath yelled? Volunteer Profile: LEGO4Missions 1. Have you ever dreamed of getting involved in something or in pursuing something that is bigger than you (professional sports player)? The problem is that our fantasy can outgrow reality very quickly and we are often looking to do something grand. Each of us has a calling as Christians to be involved in the life of the body of Christ and sometimes the smallest acts can have the biggest impact. What can you do locally to help someone and have an impact for Christ in his/her life? What could you do to help Word & Deed to fulfill its mission and work? Haiti: A School Year Cut in Half 1. Students (and even teachers!) who live in a northern climate look forward to a snow day or another day off of school. How excited would you be if your classes were canceled for half a year? How easy would it be to cram ten months of work into six? What if it was because there was unrest in your country and it wasn’t even safe to go outside your house? This is what students in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, had to deal with. Are you thankful for the opportunity to go to school every day? 2. If you were a student in Haiti who paid

$50 for a new pair of shoes last year, how much would that same pair of shoes cost you four months later after the rioting? Would you be able to afford the shoes if your parents had not been able to work during those four months? Make a list of the most important necessities in your life.

Education: Word & Deed’s Approach to Short-Term Mission Teams 1. What are Word & Deed’s three areas of emphasis? Why do you think that a project would need a Gospel focus as long as people are getting the help they need? Look up the word “dependency.” What does it mean? Is a baby dependent on parents? As you became older, what responsibilities did you take on in your family? Do you still depend on your parents as you once did? How has North American culture shifted toward a “dependent” culture? 2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go on a shortterm mission team? What would your reason be for wanting to go on this trip? Discuss with a partner the positive and negative points of the article. Is there anything that you would add to the two lists? Do you agree with the points that were made? Dominican Republic: Healed. Completely. 1. Have you ever taken something that was not yours? Were you punished for it? The boy mentioned in the article had his hand burned just for stealing 10 cents. Do you think his punishment was justified? In what cultures can

you lose a hand for stealing? How can we steal every day but not necessarily take someone else’s property? Read the Heidelberg Catechism Question and Answers 111–112 concerning stealing. Did Q&A 112 surprise you? 2. Do you look at people that you run into each and every day as ones that God has sent to you, as Dr. Silvia does? Think of the vast number of people that you interact with. Everyone is broken, and without Christ even when you are physically healthy you are spiritually dead. Remember this as you talk and interact with people, noticing their spiritual wounds “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15b).

South Africa: Spotlight on South Africa 1. What are the three ministries mentioned in this article and what is the purpose of each of them? How are they interconnected? List the difficulties that the people deal with in the community of KwaMhlanga. How are these difficulties different from what you face? Are there similarities? What is the only answer to difficulties no matter where you live?

Integration: Integrate Bible, history, geography, critical thinking, current events, and reading comprehension (etc.). Missions: Challenge students to consider short-term mission trips and the use of their time, talents, and money to the glory of God while also having them ponder their relationship with the Lord. Problem Solving: Develop problem solving skills in response to problems presented in the articles. Awareness: Dramatically raise students’ awareness of what people in the developing world face on a daily basis. It will shape them for life. Compassion: Elicit compassion when students come face to face with the very difficult lives of their peers in the developing world. Thankfulness: Encourage thankfulness for God’s blessings in their lives.