W&D Magazine Summer 2021 by Rick Postma

SUMMER 2021

INSIDE

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

Indonesia & Myanmar A Shift in Focus

Ecuador

The Mission of the Seminary

Malawi

God’s Faithfulness in the Face of Difficulty

India

All We Can Do Is Pray

Education

Persecution: A Present Reality

>foreword By rick postma

tHe

One Thing Needed In the midst of another lockdown of sorts here in Canada, our church has started a Wednesday evening education series with the theme, “Learning from the Past, Looking to the Future.” An Adult Sunday School series, if you will, except from home on Wednesday evenings via our church’s YouTube channel. Last week, my fellow elder, Ed Laman, spoke on Bishop Ryle and tonight, as I write this, I have the privilege of speaking on Charles Spurgeon, “Prince of Preachers.” In the second half of the 19th century, Charles Spurgeon regularly preached to congregations of 6,000 people and, not infrequently, far more than that. He once preached to over 23,000 people with no amplification and all could clearly hear him. Tourists to London at that time were said to have two main goals: To catch a glimpse of Queen Victoria and to “hear Mr. Spurgeon preach.” Spurgeon was a strong defender of the doctrines of grace. Along the way, Spurgeon faced many obstacles. As one of the best-known men in England, and even throughout the world, he faced strong and often slanderous opposition from the secular newspapers due to his promotion of an increasingly unpopular Gospel with God at its center instead of man. He also faced vocal opposition within his own increasingly liberal denomination, the Baptist Union, as expressed in the many church-related periodicals of the day. Periodic severe depression, gout, and severe kidney disease led to his death at a relatively young age of 57 (my exact age). Spurgeon was dedicated to preaching Christ as the only path to salvation through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. His message was compelling and urgent with eternity looming and along with it, heaven or hell. As I reflect on that, I’m thankful for the biblical preaching we have, but note as well the many distractions that keep my focus from the “one thing needful” as it applies both to myself and to my relationship with others, including my neighbors.

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It also reminds me of the importance of having the Gospel at the center of all Word & Deed projects. Assisting the many in need in the developing world wherever we can is important and biblical, but ultimately our eternal destination along with that of those we help is paramount. Spurgeon started an orphanage which was a means of helping thousands of orphans, but he never let it overshadow the preaching of the Gospel.

Do not believe that there exists any man, much less any race of men, for whom the gospel is not fitted. C.H. Spurgeon

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In this issue, the importance of thorough biblical training is reflected in articles by our partners in Ecuador and Malawi, you are updated on the trials faced by our partners in Myanmar (military crackdown) and West Timor (cyclone), and Pastor Mark Wagenaar highlights our need to reflect a compassionate Savior. Dave Vander Meer provides an important piece on the persecution of Christians. Are we ready?

As I reflect on my Spurgeon study, I realize how much of a blessing it has been to read biographies, sermons, and other writings from the past. Most of Spurgeon’s sermons are online. Highly recommended! W&D Rick Postma is the Director of Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

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WORD&DEED

meditation

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

By pastor Mark Wagenaar

SUMMER 2021 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 – Corney Les Vice-Chairman – John Vangameren Secretary – Harold Leyenhorst Treasurer – Henry de Waal Wilf Bout, Dr Arjan de Visser, Pastor Christo Heiberg, John Jagersma, Corney Les, Bert Mulder, James Neven, 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, Pastor Adrian Dieleman Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke – International Educational Consultant

Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes – Professor of

Old & New Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Pastor Richard Bout –

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

Pastor Mark Vander Hart –

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

Pastor 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

Seeing Our Compassionate King “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them.” (Matthew 9:36) One of the most paralyzing problems for missions is a distorted view of our commissioning King, who has called us to go and disciple the nations. Jesus knew this was true for His disciples and so, before sending them on their mission to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6), He revealed the character of His kingship. In his Gospel, Matthew identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promised King. This comes to a head in Matthew 9:27, when two blind men recognize that Jesus is the royal Son of David. As the King, Jesus displayed His absolute authority over creation, salvation, demons, and death through His various miracles. No earthly king, no matter how great they were, ever possessed such power and authority as King Jesus. This is something that His disciples must know before they are sent out. They must see that Jesus is the King. It is the sovereignty of Christ that assures His people of the success of their mission (Matthew 28:18). However, if our mission efforts are going to be sustained then we must not only see Jesus as the King, but as the compassionate King. Matthew 9:36 states, “...when [Jesus] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them.” When we think of great kings of the past, we think of their conquests. But here is the most powerful King and we are told of His compassion. Jesus sees the crowds. He is not a monarch who is far removed from the common people, but He is with them and He truly sees

them. There is a look of love in His eyes. He sees their many physical problems (9:35), but He also sees their spiritual needs as they are like lost sheep without a shepherd. It is this sight of their desperate need that leads Jesus to be “moved with compassion for them.” Jesus is not cold and indifferent, like a stone. He is deeply touched by the problems of the people. The Spirit loves to focus on Christ’s heart of compassion as it is the most common emotion that He experiences in the Gospel records. Ultimately, it was the love and compassion of Christ that led Him to die in the sinner’s place on the cross. And before mobilizing His disciples on their mission, Christ shows them His heart. This is where we must start if we want to be faithful to Christ’s commission. Do you see the compassion of Christ? Have you experienced His undeserved mercy in your life? The only way we will go out with the Gospel is if we know the compassion of our King and share His heart of compassion toward others. Only a heart that is enflamed with compassion will pray, give, and speak to others. Only a heart that is like Christ’s will want to share Christ. May we no longer be indifferent, unfeeling, cold, and loveless. Let this sight of our sovereign King’s compassionate heart move us forward with joyful confidence in our mission efforts. W&D Pastor Mark Wagenaar is the Pastor of Zion Free Reformed Church in Fenwick, ON.

Registered Charity Number (Canada) 89 120 0941 RR0001 EIN Non-profit Number (USA) 37-1429283

Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

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>INdonesia and MyaNMar By Kara Luiting

Shift

Focus

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“Happy is that man who can not only believe when the waves softly ripple to the music of peace, but continues to trust in him who is almighty to save when the hurricane is let loose in its fury.” C.H. Spurgeon

As much of the world continues to struggle with the implications of COVID-19, Indonesia and Myanmar are examples of two countries that have been forced to shift their focus elsewhere. Indonesia On Easter weekend, Cyclone Seroja hammered the islands of Indonesia, striking some areas more than once. As a result, roads and cities were flooded, thousands of people were displaced, and many homes and other buildings were severely damaged. Word & Deed has been in touch with our partner there, Children of Light (COL), and we are grateful to hear that while some lives were lost, most were spared in this disaster. The material needs of those impacted continue to mount. Word & Deed initially sent $20,000 CAD / $16,000 USD in relief funds and has since sent an additional $10,000 CAD / $8,000 USD. With these funds, our partners were able to buy food and medical supplies for the people in need in the rural areas. Much cleanup will need to be done, along with the rebuilding of homes and other buildings in future phases. It will take many months for the people to recover from this tragedy and the disaster response team needs wisdom and clarity about which options to prioritize in their relief efforts. The students and teachers of COL have also been struggling to continue with their education in the midst of COVID-19 and now this disaster has impeded these efforts even more.

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Myanmar In November 2010, after almost 50 years under a military dictatorship, Myanmar began its transition toward a democratic government. In 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi, a former Nobel Peace Prize winner, won the national election and her party gained power in Myanmar. In 2020, another election was held and Kyi’s party won with a landslide victory. On February 1, 2021, the military detained Kyi and seized power, claiming election fraud. Since this coup, many innocent protesters have been killed and hundreds have been detained in local prisons. Word & Deed supports two children’s projects in Myanmar supporting over 100 children. Due to the current unrest, we have had little contact with them. They have asked us not to call them for fear of being targeted by the military. Email correspondence is also very difficult, since the military has been cutting off the internet connection in Myanmar and has been keeping an eye on communications coming from outside the country. From the information that we have been able to gather, it is our understanding that our partners have all been kept safe from the violence happening in their country. Please keep Word & Deed’s partners in both of these countries in prayer as they walk through these trying circumstances, depending on the Lord for their daily provisions. W&D Kara Luiting is the Administrative Assistant and Sponsorship Coordinator at Word & Deed. Food Relief in Myanmar

>president’s message By Paul Laman

Thank You Psalm 100 is a wonderful song of thanksgiving and praise for the Lord’s faithfulness to his people. These sentiments fill our hearts at Word & Deed as we review the generosity and care of our supporters and donors over the last year during the global COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic first struck there was a lot of uncertainty about how this would affect our funding, and how we would have to curtail the funding for our various projects around the globe, especially when they would need help the most. Initially, giving did subside and our projects did experience support cuts. However, by the time the fall of 2020 came around, your generous support returned. This encouraged the board and staff greatly as we could continue to serve the Lord with gladness by ministering to the poor and needy that we have the privilege of helping. We were able to undertake many special onetime emergency projects specifically in response to the pandemic. Last year was very unique for the Word & Deed Public Relations team, as they could not conduct all of the regular fundraisers, dinners, and Business Group meetings. Some of these were attempted virtually, but it was not the same as meeting all of you in person. Yet, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provided. By the end of 2020 we had received more donations than we did in 2019! Thank you, thank you very much for your support and love! “Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! . . . For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:1, 5). W&D Paul Laman is the President of the Board for Word & Deed USA.

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>ECuaDOR

By Luis Carlos Moreno

tHe

Mission

of tHe

Seminary

during the covid-19 crisis In March 2021, we remembered one year of the global crisis caused by the presence of COVID-19 in the world. In Ecuador, the impact has been tragic in every sense of the word. With thousands of dead thrown into the streets, an inefficient health system, and a weak national economy infiltrated with corruption, Ecuador notoriously displays the consequences of a society which has turned its back on God.

But neither theological education nor the preaching of the Gospel is dependent on premises, facilities, or infrastructure. Programs, groups, and students remained active in fulfilling the greater goal: studying and preparing to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. For this reason, and with the help of technology, the scheduled courses were carried out. There is no doubt that we needed to quickly learn new avenues of teaching and learning.

The control measures, which were implemented around the world, included mandatory confinement and the closure of commercial, educational, and social activities. Of course, neither the church nor the CRETE MINTS seminary was exempt from these restrictions. We were all forced to make hasty decisions and, knowing that group activities would necessarily be restricted for a long time, we had to temporarily close the offices where the seminary was operating from.

Despite all this, the courses of the CRETE MINTS seminary have served as a place for pastoral accompaniment, mutual comfort, and the study of the Word. The course on Job was precisely prepared to help our students face the pandemic and provide an answer to this crisis. As soon as the promotion of this course was launched there was an immediate response—more than 100 people participated in the conference and about 40 took the course as students.

Studying prior to COVID-19

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After the first impact of the pandemic, the atmosphere caused questions of an eschatological nature to be raised: Is this the end of the world? Are these the last times? Is the global world government project underway? These were the topics that flooded the internet platforms. Inside the churches and chat groups, students were discussing these topics. As with all questions, it is best to respond with the teaching of God’s Word. We launched a conference with the elders of the churches that form the Fraternity of Reformed and Presbyterian Churches of Ecuador and presented various aspects of the Christian response to God’s providence. After this, we taught a course on Eschatology. Both had a very wide reception; more than 3,000 persons connected in the conference broadcast on Facebook and about 100 people participated in the course.

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Mark then, Christian, Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it, but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer. C.H. Spurgeon

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In these circumstances, technologies have served us in many ways: they have allowed us to expand our student base and have also given us the options of having professors from other countries teach courses. This enabled us to increase the number of courses offered and has given us the opportunity to offer some new courses. The ministry of MINTS in Ecuador demonstrated its importance in initiating and encouraging educational and pastoral processes in the churches in spite of the crisis. The churches that are brought together with the seminary have seen enormous benefits in the spiritual growth of their congregations. MINTS has become, more than ever before, a reference point in the provision of theological education in Ecuador that for years the church has lacked. May all the glory be to God!

the Word of God and to proclaim the Gospel. We thank the Lord for the means of technology which are a benefit as we focus on Christ and His Lordship amid trials and sufferings.

3. CRETE MINTS’ model of theological studies has proven its effectiveness because of its ability to adapt in the face of adverse circumstances and limited resources. By not being tied to infrastructure, basing its institution on As we reflect upon the current situation, there are specific people, and responding in a timely and adequate manprayer requests that are important to mention as we look ner to this lengthy crisis situation, it fulfilled its objecto the future. tive of being a “Mission Seminary.” But the work1. The situation in our MINTS Leadership training ers are still scarce, and country will take a The goal of this project so we ask you to continlong time to stabilize. is to facilitate classes ue to pray to the Lord of The church needs to and conferences for the Harvest to send more cry out to God for the development of laborers of the Gospel. mercy and grace on pastors and church W&D our country’s behalf. leaders in Ecuador The COVID-19 criLuis Carlos Moreno is and other Spanishsis has undoubtedly Director of CRETE (the speaking countries. In partnership with MINTS caused the church Center of Reformed International Seminary, to seek God, out of Theological Studies this project supports comfort and hope, in Ecuador) and the biblical, Reformed training and for that we are Associate Dean of courses in the language thankful to God, but MINTS in Ecuador. He of the local people at an we also need to be is a professor in Bible affordable price, resulting an interceding body and Theological Studies in stronger leadership in of believers. at the seminary and is Ecuador’s churches and an elder at the Grace communities. Budget 2. Pray that the church Reformed Church in for 2021: $39,100 CAD / will persevere in her Quito, Ecuador. $29,325 USD. call to be edified with SUMMER 2021 I Word&Deed

>MaLaWi

By Macfaiden Chipeta

God’s Faithfulness

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Malawi, we feared the worst. Updates of how devastating the virus was were fast spreading on all news platforms. The government’s preventative measures sounded too limiting to the normal life we were used to. For Logos Ministries, this meant adapting to the “new normal” to maintain our activities where necessary. The southern region office managed to continue the lay church leaders’ training program. All 15 centers from the seven districts in the region are being covered. This has been possible because members in the training centers are aware of the preventative measures of maintaining social distance, frequently washing hands, and avoiding handshakes. Our training officers have also played a vital role in ensuring that the measures are followed. They have been brave to go out in the field amidst the pandemic to soldier for our Savior Jesus Christ. They have not only taken the Word of God to the different centers but have

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in the

Face

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also educated civilians on ways of preventing the virus. Other centers also took initiatives to help reduce the spread of the virus. One such center is Kamwendo in Mulanje district. The center managed to construct a pit latrine to reduce congestion during trainings and prevent the possibility of catching the virus. They managed this without our support. During this time Logos also began broadcasting radio programs using material from our theological training manuals. This has been well received. With the help of Word & Deed relief funds, we were able to buy masks, hand soap, and water buckets. While we have encouraged participants to buy masks on their own, our efforts have been successful as the people are being more conscientious toward defeating the pandemic. Although cases rapidly increased in January this year, we are thankful to God that there hasn’t been any COVID-19-

related cases in any of the projects. We are hopeful that things will normalize with the coming of the vaccine. We have hope that God will continue taking care of His people in this troubling time. He enourages us in Isaiah: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (41:10). We know he is a faithful God even in the face of difficulty for we have witnessed His faithfulness. The Mukhanyo Distance Learning program, in partnership with Mukhanyo Theological College in South Africa, has grown above expectation amidst the pandemic. We are expecting to graduate 26 students this year. The students have perfomed very well despite the government closing down schools. May the Lord continue to bless this theological training for the good of many in Malawi and for the glory of His name! W&D Macfaiden Chipeta is the Administrator of Logos Ministries in Malawi.

Logos ministries Word & Deed partners with the Church of Central Africa, Presbyterian (CCAP) to provide pastors, elders, and leaders with the practical and doctrinal tools they need to better serve their congregations (which often number in the thousands). They offer training seminars to church leaders to equip men in CCAP churches to lead and instruct their flocks. What an amazing opportunity to impact a one-million-member denomination! Budget for 2021: $320,000 CAD / $240,000 USD.

PrayerRequestS 1.

Pray for the persecuted church, that their testimony of endurance for the Lord will be a way of witnessing to neighbors. Pray also for their strength and for a hedge of protection around them. Pray that we may be more zealous on their behalf.

Pray for the church around the world as there is much turbulence due to economic hardship caused by responses to the COVID-19 outbreak. Pray that the church will continue to proclaim the Gospel even in these trying times.

Pray for the CRETE center in Ecuador as they continue their work, albeit online, of teaching people to be leaders in their churches. Pray that this instruction will be a blessing to the churches in Ecuador and around the Spanish-speaking world.

Pray for the situation in India as medical supplies are in desperate need particularly in rural locations. Pray for these people who seem to go through so much affliction. Pray that even in their difficulties they will find strength in the Lord and proclaim that to their neighbors.

Pray for the situation in Myanmar and in Indonesia. Pray for our partners that are going through such trying times in countries that are not friendly to the Gospel. Pray for their safety, provision, and strength to persevere.

LOGOS MINISTRIES OFF-CAMPAS TRAINING LOCATIONS Northern location training weekly Began in 2017 Central location training daily and ongoing curriculum development. Began many years ago.

MALAWI

Southern location weekly training in over 20 centers. Began in 2018.

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>INDia By Rick Postma

All We Can Do is PRAY

As I write this in late April, Dexter Gollapalli, the Director of COUNT Ministries and a pastor in the Agape churches of India whom many of you have met, has just reached out to me begging for prayer as many believers in his churches, including key leaders, are very ill with COVID-19. I, along with board members Bert Mulder and Lyle Ypma, met a number of these dear people on our trip a few years ago. Medical services in the remote areas they live in are scarce to nonexistent, so the availability of oxygen is a big challenge. The Agape churches were planted by Pastor John, Dexter’s father, and other evangelists starting in the 1970s in some of the most remote and impoverished areas of India. The Lord richly blessed their labors such that whole villages were baptized and the denomination today has over 120,000 members (of which 40,000 are first generation believers) and continues to grow. Over the years they have faced much persecution from Hindus with a number of

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their churches burned and pastors killed. Being a Christian in India, especially in the areas where their churches are located, is very difficult. In God’s providence, in addition to persecution, members of the Agape churches have suffered severe trials in the last few years. Cyclone Titli In late 2018, Cyclone Titli wiped out thousands of little fruit tree farms owned by members of the Agape churches— small farmers who in turn employed many other members in the churches for seasonal work. There was talk of abandoning their villages, but the Lord opened doors such that we, including you, our dear supporters, could come alongside by funding 120 men in three groups of 40 who worked six days a week for six months with chainsaws to clean up the farms with the help of villagers. Leaders of the churches, and members themselves, said that the

COUNT MINISTRIES Word & Deed partners with COUNT to work in remote tribal areas of India that have seen very little development. These areas are marked by poverty and lack the basic infrastructure needed to make education, health care, electricity, and even sufficient food and water accessible. Close to 3000 children are provided for in the After-School Program and are provided with food, Bible teaching, and tutoring. Budget for COUNT programs in 2021: $427,000 CAD / $320,000 USD.

Lord answered their cries for help and preserved their churches, farms (with substitute crops), villages, and way of life. COVID-19-Related Food Relief In 2020, the government locked down the country with the result that the same small farmers affected by Cyclone Titli could not bring in their harvests since they had no workers. Brother Dexter then reached out to us with the cry: “The tithing barns are empty!” An unprecedented situation in living memory. Again, with sacrificial giving from our supporters and the Lord’s help, we were able to provide funds for food to be purchased and delivered to these villages for many months in 2020. In all, more than $300,000 CAD / $225,000 USD was sent to India for this purpose, including our other partners there, the Evangelical Reformed Churches and the Reformed Presbyterian Churches of North-East India.

COVID-19 Crisis In 2020 and the early part of 2021, the number of infected people in India was relatively low—many thought they would escape the worst of it for reasons not fully understood. But in God’s providence, huge numbers are now becoming infected and survival, especially for people in the remote villages who need oxygen, is tenuous. Unlike the other crises, we can’t send them money to buy relief in the form of food, medicines, or chainsaws and workers. Now, all we can do is pray. Prayer—All We Can Do Is Pray I suspect you share with me some discomfort with that phrase. We hasten to add that we have been praying to our benevolent God in the other crises too, but we had other ways of helping then. Now we are left relying on the Lord alone. As our dear brother reached out to us in tears asking for prayer, Psalm 121 came to mind and I shared it with him, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth . . . The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (verses 1, 2, 8). We would dearly love to help in other ways—I just asked our brother if there is anything else we can do he said “just pray.” And then we prayed to our Sovereign Lord, together, to have mercy on the many afflicted in his churches, in India and throughout the world. Together, we cast our burdens on Him because He cares for us. And that is enough. W&D Rick Postma is the Director of Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries. SUMMER 2021 I Word&Deed

>EDUCaTiON By Dave Vander Meer

PERSECUTION: A

Present Reality

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) Since the very beginning of the church, Christians have been persecuted. Before his conversion, the Apostle Paul was one of the main perpetrators of persecution. He witnessed and consented to the stoning of Stephen and persecuted the church in Jerusalem. “He made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). Paul’s reputation was such that Ananias was hesitant God is too good to to go to him when the be unkind and He Lord told him that Paul is too wise to be had been converted, and mistaken. the disciples in Jerusalem were also afraid of him. And when we However, the power of God cannot trace His transformed him into a hand, we must great missionary to trust His heart. the Gentiles. C.H. Spurgeon During early church history, there were four general persecutions of Christians enacted by the Roman government. Most often Christians could avoid being persecuted if they would burn a little incense in front of the statue of the emperor. Those who participated would then receive a letter of proof and they would not be persecuted. We call this practice syncretism. Many Christians could not in good conscience conform, even though it could mean torture, imprisonment, or death.

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video presentation

Despite the reality of persecution throughout the early centuries of church history, it is believed that around 100 million Christians were martyred in the 20th century alone. This is more than in the first 19 centuries of the church combined. Over the last few years we have heard of the genocide of Christians in Nigeria, the Middle East, and other places. There is a spiritual battle happening that many in North America are oblivious to. Why are Christians targets of persecution? Think of it this way: If Hindus become Christians, they have not only changed their religion, they have rejected that society’s norms. The caste system, while officially outlawed in India, is based on Hinduism and still rules the lives of many. Christians understand that all people are equal; however, the caste system puts people in a pecking order that all must follow. By becoming a Christian, the convert has attacked an entire culture. The communist system is similar, except now it is the atheistic state that is supreme. The state demands their peoples’ full allegiance and there is no room for God as their Lord. Coercive action must take place for the believer to give up Christ. The state will accomplish this by destroying your home, taking away your children, or torturing your wife to make you give in. There are many other situations where con-

persecution

Word & Deed has a video presentation on persecution that can be accessed by contacting us at office@wordanddeed.org. We are also willing to come and present on this topic to your group. This presentation is appropriate for churches, schools, youth groups, or Bible studies.

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A Living Legacy verting to Christianity causes perceived cultural discord, such as in Muslim countries, cultures that still utilize witch doctors, or when gang members have been converted. When people convert to Christianity, it means that they are leaving another form of religion behind and this offends the party that is abandoned. These situations reiterate the fact that there are two powers at war: One that is oppressive, trying to control people’s lives, and one that is liberating, giving people freedom through salvation in Christ. When these two worlds collide, we as Christians should not be surprised by conflict. Word & Deed has partners in seven countries considered high-risk places of persecution for Christians. One of the pastors we work with has been involved in training seven pastors who have been martyred. He also reports that Christians are being asked to give money for the building of a Hindu temple and if they don’t they will be roughed up. Giving a couple of dollars for a Hindu temple is like burning incense before the statue of a Roman emperor. Because of situations like this and many more, Word & Deed has to be careful on our website, magazine, and social media posts to make sure that we are not exposing our partners to possible persecution. People are killed for their faith each and every day. We need to become more aware of this reality and pray specifically for the persecuted church.

As generation gives way to generation in North America, billions of dollars change hands. Who will benefit? Consider adding a child named “Charity” to your will and leave a legacy that lives on through the work of the Lord on this earth.

Please contact the Word & Deed office or visit our website for more information on Planned Giving. I hereby give to: Word & Deed Ministries Canada Inc. 39993 Talbot Line, Talbotville, Ontario, charitable registration number 891200941RR0001 OR Word and Deed USA, Hudsonville, Michigan, EIN non-profit number 37-1429283, [a specific percent] of the residue OR [a specific amount] of my estate, to be used in fulfillment of its proper purpose.

Persecution should also be our expectation in North America. We are surprised by persecution because we have had it so easy for so long. As was mentioned, this has not been the norm for many throughout history and even now in the present day. Our reaction to persecution needs to be biblical so that we can act as we should: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43 — 45a). We need to prepare ourselves, because persecution is already a present reality. W&D Dave Vander Meer works for Word & Deed in the Public Relations and Projects departments.

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SPONSORSHIP cubulco , guatemala

Cristo es la Luz After-School Sponsorship Program The Cristo es la Luz sponsorship program in Guatemala is an After-School Program (ASP) ministering to needy children in the community. They are in a transition stage of expanding the program in Cubulco to a larger location in Chicuxtin (10 minutes from Cubulco). Currently there are 50 children enrolled in the program which operates three days a week at the center in Cubulco. With the larger facility, an additional 50 children will have the opportunity to enroll in the ASP. We hope that by the end of the year all the sponsored children will be studying at the Chicuxtin facility. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these new children, contact Kara at office@wordanddeed.org or call 1-877-375-9673.

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Student Testimony - Angel

David

I am very happy to be part of the Cristo Es La Luz after school program because they help me with school tasks, they give us food, we have computers that we can use every day, we play ball in the yard and sometimes they fill up the pool that they bought us. We also do our school work and activities like drawing competitions, I like to draw and sometimes I have won prizes. I like very much that the teachers support us and take an interest in us. I walk a lot because the center is far away from my home, but I do not mind because they help me with everything and I have to take advantage of the studies my dad is letting me have, he works a lot and sometimes he goes to the farms with my uncles. Thank you for all the support that you give to children like me. We do not always have someone at home to help us with the school tasks, because sometimes our parents do not understand how to do our homework. I am very grateful to you.

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Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself

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C.H. Spurgeon

Meditation 1. Why are people quick to acknowledge Jesus as being a respected teacher or a good example to follow but are slow to acknowledge His role as King? Do we take Jesus for granted? Have we lost our compassion and heart for our neighbors and for the world? Indonesia/Myanmar 1. What is a coup? What would it be like to see your country’s military roaming around your streets? How would you feel if election results in your country were rejected by a group who then arrested leaders and put them into jail? 2. In your daily life, what are some examples of situations where you must rely on someone else to help you? Can you always rely on your own strength and abilities? Ecuador 1. When people lose a sense of control over their life, why do they get scared? Where can we find true peace? 2. Why do you think more people than usual started watching classes through CRETE? Malawi 1. What would it be like if you didn’t have “normal” hygiene supplies like soap readily available to you? 2. Besides the normal teaching of the Word of God, what else did the Logos staff have to teach the people? India 1. What would it be like to lose all your material possessions? How would you react? Read Job 2:10b. We expect blessings, but we do not always receive them as we hope to. Search the Bible for verses that speak of perseverance. 2. Have you ever experienced the power of prayer? Is prayer an important part of your daily life? Persecution 1. Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Why did that happen? 2. Would you burn some incense in front of a statue if that meant you wouldn’t be persecuted? Look up the word syncretism. How does this world try to trap Christians into mixing true beliefs with false?

SUMMER 2021 I Word&Deed

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2nd Annual

Coast-to-Coast

Bike-a-thon sept.25.2021 rescheduled

Due to gathering restrictions in many locations, the 2nd annual Coast-to-Coast Bike-a-thon has been moved to Saturday, September 25th, 2021, D.V.. The 1st Annual event in September 2020 raised over $300,000 CAD / $225,000 USD for the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa. We look forward to the event in September to help raise funds for the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic and the MCA Christian School which both serve many vulnerable families in South Africa.