Culture-Saturated Religion

If you were asked to write the constitution for a new country with complete latitude, what would you write? Would the country you design be a democracy, an oligarchy, a theocracy or…? Would there be freedom of religion (pluralistic) and freedom of speech? Do you agree that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and, if so, would this be reflected in what you would write? Freedom. I think most would agree that freedom has been won at a great price over the centuries and millennia, but freedom to do what? Moses cried out to Pharaoh that God demanded that he “let My people go” so they might serve Him in the way He required (Exodus 9:1). In 2023, it seems that freedom to do just that is being lost in the West. Today, I read in the newspaper of a doctor, given his commitment to obey God first, lost his job because he refused to refer to a large muscular man as a woman. Several provincial governments in Canada have told their teachers that they must actively take part in pride month activities in June, no exceptions, even though it was just a few years ago that the first pride flag was flown at a public school. I’m sure you are aware of many more examples.

The “rest” of the world, especially believers there, are watching us. Are we willing, as Paul Borthwick writes in “Western Christians in Global Missions, What’s the Role of the North American Church?”, to stand up for what we believe in? Are we, as I heard in a sermon recently, “willing to be reckless for Christ”? Or are we more committed to our comfortable lifestyles? Surely God doesn’t intend for us to lose all that we have worked for so hard all our lives, does He? Paul Borthwick carried out a survey of believers in the “rest” and shared some of their questions for us:

1) Does the church in North America have a prophetic role in its own society or does it simply mimic the culture and entertain its members? “When the NA church stands up for Christ in the face of a growing and infiltrating secularism and compromise, we in the global arena have somebody to emulate and also wave before our dissenters as to the credibility and potency of the Gospel”.

2) Does the North American church have the humility to learn from us?

3) Does the North American church have the magnanimous spirit to work alongside us in a genuine partnership that is based on mutual respect and shared resources, or do they simply see us as their “partners” to fulfill their plans in our countries?

May God help us faithfully reflect His image in answer to question 1, even when it hurts, give us the teachable spirit referred to in question 2, and even as Word & Deed strives to live out question 3, help us and our supporters do even better.

When the NA church stands up for Christ in the face of a growing and infiltrating secularism and compromise, we in the global arena have somebody to emulate and also wave before our dissenters as to the credibility and potency of the Gospel

In this issue, you will read about our partners in Costa Rica, India, Nicaragua, Turkey, and Uganda and how they are striving to reflect the image of Christ into often very difficult circumstances. They are strong examples for us and they are also praying for us. In his meditation, Pastor Eric Ngala Mutumbi reminds us that God has given us His Word to correct, enliven, and fill us with hope. To Him be all the glory! W&D

Rick Postma is the Director of Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

Summer 2023

Editor Rick Postma

Assistant Editor Scott Koopman

Graphic Design

Knor Graphic Design Solutions

Copy Editors

Shelly Crites, Hanna

Korvemaker, Kara Luiting, Bethany Post, 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, Egypt, Guatemala, Kenya, Myanmar, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Malawi, South Africa, South Sudan, and Tanzania..

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, Laurenne Wattel

Canadian Board of Directors

Chairman – Corney Les

Vice-Chairman –

John Vangameren

Secretary – Dave Wielinga

Treasurer – Henry de Waal

Wilf Bout, John Jagersma, Bert Mulder, James Neven, Paul Wagenaar, Lyle Ypma

USA Board of Directors

President – Paul Beezhold

Vice President - Jay Van Voorst

Secretary – Harry Kooistra

Treasurer – Karen Vander Sloot

Eric Brandt, Pastor Adrian

Dieleman, Eric Greendyk, Paul Laman, Pete Vander Stel

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

Dr Arjan de Visser – Professor of Ministry and Mission, Canadian

Reformed Theological Seminary

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

BY PASTOR ERIC NGALA MUTUMBI >