W&d winter2017 18 web by Rick Postma

INSIDE

WINTER 2017/18

Dominican Republic The Luke Society Hospital Pregnancy Program

Guatemala Ministry through Education and Recreation

Plus

Christmas Catalogue

page 11

Nicaragua Changing Norman Bluchaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Life

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

>foreword By Rick Postma

God Loves You The below article was very helpful in writing this piece:

www.gty.org/library/questions/QA193/does-god-love-whom-he-does-not-save As I visit our partners and their projects in the majority world (a more respectful term than “developing world”), I am often struck by the stark daily challenge just to survive. Many live in squalor, suffer abuse from family members, wrestle to find food for themselves and their families, deal with addictions, and often face horrifying pressures to join gangs or prostitution rings. So when some of our partners, ministering to their needs, tell them “God loves you,” the message is a stark contrast to just about anything else that has been directed at them in their lives.

33:11) and who cares for the well-being of all people, as is evident from the recent bountiful harvest (Matthew 5:45, Romans 2:4, Psalms 145:9). Still, we need to be careful. In Mark 10, we are told that Jesus loved the young man who refused to sell all his possessions and submit to His Lordship. In this story, Jesus demonstrates both a love for the lost and a desire to address his lost condition. Here in North America, as well as in the majority world, as we reach out in love we need to find ways to do the same. The woman who has been abused and injured by her husband may need to hear that God loves and cares for her, but she also needs to hear that God, motivated by love, sent His Son into the world to die for sinners who believe in Him (John 3:16). Does she believe that she is a sinner in need of a Savior? Perhaps this discussion doesn’t happen “...God, during the first visit, but happen it motivated by should and must. Otherwise, we help this precious lady with her temporal sent needs and give her a false sense of His into her security regarding her eternal destiny. the world to

love, Son

die for sinners who believe in Him...” To be honest, I’ve wrestled with comforting or encouraging “almost” strangers with the statement, “God loves you.” Where I come from, some Christian churches and ministries say this too easily, I fear, and people may assume that they can go on living life the way they are without really coming to grips with their sinful state and need of a Savior. As well, Scripture teaches that God has graciously chosen from eternity past those who will be saved and leaves others in their state of rebellion (Ephesians 1:3–6). Does God love those who aren’t elect? Yet the Bible clearly reveals a benevolent, merciful God who does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel

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In this issue of the magazine, Pastor Kelderman addresses this essential need by urging parents among our readers to bring their children to the Lord Jesus. We also bring you updates reflecting the need for a balance between Word and deed from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the plight of persecuted Christians. Your prayers for the work are coveted. Let’s not forget to pray for our neighbors as well and to ask them if they think that God loves them. That could lead to fruitful balanced discussions that God may graciously use to pour His eternal love into their souls. Wouldn’t that be cause for joy and praise! 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

Winter 2017/2018 Editor Rick Postma Assistant Editor Hanna Korvemaker Graphic Design Knor Graphic Design Solutions Copy Editors Shelly Crites Susan Trentacosti In response to Jesus’ command to love others, Word & Deed is an international, evangelical relief and development ministry that provides funding to meet spiritual and physical needs among people in developing countries. 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.

Canada Office PO Box 20100 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4H4 Toll free 877.375.9673 office@wordanddeed.org Director of Projects John Otten Director of Promotion Rick Postma Office Administrator Scott Koopman Support Staff Hanna Korvemaker John Kottelenberg Kara Luiting Board of Directors President - Corney Les Vice President - Jake Sinke Secretary - Dave Wielinga Treasurer - Henry de Waal Dr. Arjan de Visser Rev. C. Heiberg John Jagersma Harold Leyenhorst Bert Mulder Dick Naves John Vangameren Lyle Ypma 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

United States Office PO Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 Toll free 866.391.5728 usoffice@wordanddeed.org Office Administrator Heidi Pronk Board of Directors President - Pete Vander Stel Vice President - Paul Laman Secretary - Harry Kooistra Treasurer - Karen Vander Sloot Eric Brandt Anita Sikkema Peter Van Kempen Registered Charity Number (Canada) 89 120 0941 RR0001 EIN Non-profit Number (USA) 37-1429283 Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

Pastor Mark Kelderman

Suffer

the

Little Children

to Come to me

Ministry among young people is vital to the church, both within and without. There are many young people involved in supporting Word & Deed and many who are ministered to through Word & Deed. But consider for one moment these facts: of the world population (7.5 billion), those under age 20 make up 50% of the population. That’s nearly four billion. Those aged 15 and younger number about 33%. Consider this in light of another fact: of those who come to faith in Christ, 75% do so before they turn 18 years old. What impact does this have for our own youth, their salvation, and their involvement in supporting or ministering in word and deed? What impact is the ministry of Word & Deed having on youth throughout the world and how can I assist in this work in prayer or other means? When you look at Mark 10:13–16 it is remarkable that Jesus, who rarely became angry, was clearly upset on that occasion. He was angry when His disciples prevented parents from taking their children to Him that He might take the children up in His arms and bless them. It is clear from this and parallel passages that these parents had brought their children/infants to Jesus for the express purpose that He would touch, lay His hands on, and pray for them. Since less than half of children survived to age five, these parents no doubt felt a great burden. The parents may have thought, “If Jesus blesses those who were possessed or diseased by laying His hands on them, why not bring to Him our children that they might be blessed also?” Are we bringing our children to Jesus? What is the message the children are hearing from us? What message are they seeing in us? Do you believe that Jesus will honor our request? As you read this passage you soon realize that Jesus truly loved children, He delighted that they would be brought to Him. He is ready and willing to bless them. What is remarkable is that the words indicate that the parents were coming one after the other and Jesus was taking the children one by one, putting His hands on them and blessing them. Do you suppose that Jesus was simply wishing these children a good life,

a successful life, and that they would not have troubles and hardships? Or do you believe that Jesus was praying that His Father might bless them indeed, blessing them with spiritual life and the forgiveness of sins? How could we think otherwise when the Savior in the same breath says, “for of such [children] is the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, children also can know Him and be saved by Him. And surely, after He

had blessed them, Jesus’ expectation would be that the parents would take these children and teach them the fear of the Lord. It was not enough that at one time Jesus had blessed them; no, they needed to grow up in the faith. They needed Christ every day thereafter. This is also true of our children and the children that are touched through the work of Word & Deed. They need the ongoing ministry of Christ through others that they might grow up in the Lord Jesus in faith. Have you taken your children to Jesus? Has He blessed them in this same way? In what ways are we preventing the little children from coming to Him? Is Jesus displeased? By the grace of God let us seek to press our children and the children of this world into the kingdom, let us bring them to Jesus that He might bless them, and then let us seek to continue to minister to them in the ways He gives us to do so. W&D Pastor Mark Kelderman is Dean of Students and Spiritual Formation, as well as Instructor in Pastoral Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. WINTER 2017/18 I Word&Deed

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>DOMiNiCaN REPUBLiC By Dr. Silvia Martinez

The Luke Society Hospital Pregnancy Program

Volunteers speaking to community members about illness prevention.

Every morning the Luke Society Hospital opens its doors to those that need spiritual, emotional, and physical care. Many patients come for the different health care services we are running there: pediatrics, family doctor, general doctor, gynecology, cardiology, emergency care, laboratory, and pharmacy.

tion. Once we begin our prenatal care for them we often find that these women are not able to follow the treatments or health care they need for the babies due to their economic situation; because of that we find the women experience many infections, chronic anemia, malnutrition, and other illnesses that put both the baby and the mother at risk.

We start every morning with a devotional with the staff, and then with the patients we pray and read a verse from the Bible to let them know why we are here serving them in the name of Jesus. We want to honor God and glorify Him here at the hospital. Because of our community health program, we have access to the community, talking to the people about their different concerns, mostly health concerns which is our mission there. One of the programs we developed at the hospital is our pregnancy program, where we work with women from the beginning of their pregnancy to make them ready and in good health so they can have a healthy baby. Healthy and happy mother, healthy and happy baby is our saying for this program. Through medical brigades or through our daily work at the clinic, we see pregnant women that come to our consulta-

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A child wellness check-up.

Also, most of the women that come to our medical clinic are single mothers, teen mothers, or women whose spouses do not care about them and are having affairs. Some mothers have addictions such as alcohol or drugs. The rest, a small percent of them, are in a good marriage, but economic factors are affecting their well-being. Women who are in vulnerable situations as described above are the ones who become part of the pregnancy program at the hospital. Here at the hospital these women find people that welcome them, people that treat them not just as patients but as someone God brought to us to show His care for them. Because of the patients’ situations, we find that there are many malnourished babies—they are born malnourished and one of the main causes is the health condition of their mothers. Our pregnancy program consists of:

• Monthly consultations with the patients to see how the babies and the mothers are progressing and also to detect and treat any problems that we may find. • Laboratory testing to check on the health of the babies and mothers. • Education and resources on relevant topics (e.g., How to better care for their pregnancy, the responsibility of having a baby, breastfeeding and how important it is for the baby, etc.) • Bible reading so recipients can learn about the Gospel of Jesus. • Home visits to observe the environment they live in, to help us better understand their situation, and to show us how we can provide better help to them.

A wellness check-up for an infant as part of the Pregnancy Program.

Because of this program, we are avoiding several problems that a child may have in the future and even in their adult life. This program provides health care to the pregnant women and a timely detection of other illnesses that can affect the normal growth and health of babies delivered. We are avoiding a cognitive deterioration and a low IQ associated with the symptoms of malnutrition. We are avoiding low birth weight. Also, we are contributing to an emotional and spiritual improvement both for the mother and for the baby. This is why the program is very important. A difference is being made through the Luke Society Hospital among the poor people that come from the different communities. Everything is done for the glory of God, in the name of Jesus. W&D Dr. Silvia Martinez is the Executive Director of Sociedad Lucas in the Dominican Republic.

The Luke Society Hospital This hospital has two floors and includes a pharmacy, lab center, emergency services, semi-private rooms, and rooms for ultrasounds, examinations, dentistry, operations, and labor and delivery. Eventually, both inpatients and outpatients will have access to various specialty surgery services. The purpose of the hospital is to provide holistic care which focuses on spiritual, physical, and emotional needs. It serves an area of over 100,000 people in five communities. Budget for 2018:

$78,000 CAD / $60,000 USD

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>GUaTEMaLa By John Otten

Ministry

through

Education

and

Recreation LEFT: Children at the Yalu After-School Program gathered for devotions just prior to lunch. Below: Chatting with the cooks of the Yalu After-School Program.

In August 2017, I was able to visit Word & Deed partners and projects in Guatemala. One purpose of the trip was to visit two newer projects that Word & Deed has begun supporting, the Yalu After-School Program and Camp Canaan. I was encouraged by what I saw at these two projects and I hope that you will be too.

Yalu School Yalu is an agricultural community which is traditionally Mayan and strongly Catholic. Alcoholism is a big problem in this community. There is no church there, though our partners at AMG International are getting several churches in other towns to become involved. The local public school has 600 children in grades one to six. About 25% of them go on to pursue higher education, but the majority stay home to work in agriculture. The Yalu After-School Program is run by AMG. There are 175 children in the program, 25 of whom are sponsored through Word & Deed. The children attend the program each day after school (five days a week) to receive support in reading skills, math skills, personal finance, and business skills. Christian values are also taught, along with regular Bible classes. The needy children in this program receive a snack and a hot meal each weekday; all children receive clothing and a pair of shoes, and medical, dental, and psychological care when possible. Conferences on hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and other relevant topics are held for parents, who are encouraged to attend and to be involved in the program. The project is well run. The director, Hilaria Sipac, is very

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competent, and the teachers have a warm relationship with the children. They teach what is referred to as the “Aflatoun” course, which teaches children about handling money and business concepts. Through it, children participate in a business project. Recently, some children grew the herb cilantro, which was then used in the feeding program for two months. A big impact of the project is that the children are taught Bible texts and songs, and read and study God’s Word in chronological order. This is so different than just going to mass each week and hearing no Scripture in their own language—the typical religious regimen of a Catholic school. One day the cook was asked to read a portion of Scripture regarding idolatry. When she was finished, she was so struck by the realization that it described exactly what she was doing in her own life, and her heart was changed. One of the tutors commented that preparing Bible lessons helped her to grow spiritually. The children are doing very well in the program and are excelling in the local schools. The children like the Yalu After-School Program more than school because of its facilities, food, and the attention they receive, but there is a very good relationship with the local school. The local school has even asked AMG to do seminars in their school on how to teach children.

amg international Activities at Camp Canaan. Teams are preparing for a competition.

Camp Canaan Camp Canaan is a simple but beautiful camp which has been owned by AMG for over 30 years. The purpose of the camp is to provide an annual five-day retreat for AMG students. The program includes many recreational activities (e.g., games and sports) and educational activities (e.g., crafts and home education), but it is centered on God’s Word through Bible lessons, devotions, worship, and even Christian movies. Eighty to one hundred children attend the camp weekly for 42 weeks. Children from fifth grade to the end of high school attend, so some will be able to attend Camp Canaan eight times. Each day is programmed with activities such as swimming, horseback riding, sports, devotions, and campfires. One evening they have what is called “the social campfire”; another evening they have the “spiritual campfire,” where they are challenged to walk with God and called to trust in Him. Thursday night is talent night and groups of children will do a presentation focused on the Bible for the others. They were preparing for that when I visited. One group memorized Proverbs 4:23 as part of their presentation. Daily studies are done on various topics such as drugs, sexuality, homosexuality, and many other relevant topics. Many come to camp with disrespect and abusive perspectives on girls. Here girls are taught to care for themselves, to know that God cares for them, and that they have dignity and worth. Boys are taught to respect girls. Often, as camp counselors get to know the youth they see issues or problems in their lives that they are able to help them navigate. The counselors will inform the AMG schools of special cases and needs of the children they learn of at camp so that the teachers and chaplain can follow up with them during the year. Many of the children that attend come from unstable or broken homes where there is much conflict and where everyone lives in tight quarters. Many have a sense of being worthless, have suffered abuse, or have been in gangs. At Camp Canaan they have space, special attention from the leaders, and lots of love. The prayer of the camp counselors, cooks, and support staff is that children will go back home refreshed, different, and as lights to their family. Some children are changed by camp, but are afraid to demonstrate it at home; others leave being more focused on Jesus and showing it at home and at school.

AMG stands for “Advancing Ministries of the Gospel.” Their goal is to “meet people at their point of need, whether it be hunger, sickness, or hopelessness, and to show them Jesus as the only answer to the problems of this life and the only hope for eternal life.” Word & Deed first began partnering with AMG International in 1994. In the beginning, we partnered with them by supporting John Otten as Director of the Cubulco Hospital. This partnership has grown to include collaboration on several projects today: Cubulco Hospital operations, a recent renovation/addition and hospital equipment, sponsorship through La Palabra Christian School, a Christian radio program, a Cubulco After-School Program, and, most recently, the Yalu After-School Program and Camp Canaan. May God continue to bless the work of AMG International and our partnership with them!

Praise God for these two programs which are having such an impact. Please pray that the work of our partners will be blessed, and that the staff at both the Yalu After-School Program and Camp Canaan will be strengthened for their task of instructing and mentoring often troubled youth in Guatemala. W&D John Otten is the Word & Deed Projects Director. Before joining the Word & Deed team in 2007, he was the Director of the Cubulco Hospital in Guatemala for 20 years, which was and continues to be supported by Word & Deed Ministries.

The facilities at Camp Canaan.

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>NiCaRaGUa By carlos coffin

Changing

Norman Blucha’s

Life

Surveying the pineapple crop.

After five years of hard work with the families of the Miskitu communities on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, the efforts of Word & Deed through the Agricultural Commercialization Program are bearing fruit. Here we have the opportunity to know a family’s history. Norman Blucha is a farmer from the community of Santa Marta. A father of eight children, four of them live outside and formed their own family and Norman still has under his responsibility four children who are in school. Although he has always been characterized as a hard-working man, maintaining family and working for food, housing, and education has been a challenge. From a very young age he has performed several jobs that include mining, fishing boatman, wood sawyer, and farmer; however, he has never been able to have a stable income. In mid-2013, he became a beneficiary of rice seeds by Word & Deed Nicaragua and was quickly chosen as promoter of the project in the community because of his performance. He expresses that at the beginning he did not feel as motivated because he thought that this was just another project, as several had already passed through the community after Hurricane Felix. However, as he participated in the trainings and meetings, little by little he realized that this was very different from the work of other agencies that had been there. Among the new and important things he learned were: biblical stewardship, the importance of the family, and biblical principles for development.

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From that moment he started the work with his family to improve the results of the harvests, applying the techniques learned from the trainings. At the beginning of 2015 he received 6,500 yolks of pineapple that were sowed in a quarter of a hectare of land; he received the first fruits in the middle of 2016. These sold very well in the municipal market and generated income in the amount of approximately $500.00 USD. This income helped to meet basic household needs such as food, medical expenses, children’s school expenses, and investment in crops. The harvest of 2017 again generated income, and their standard of living is gradually improving. However, like all families in these

Agricultural

Commercialization This project is training locals in eight communities in sustainable agricultural production. Over the span of ten years (2012–2021), the project will move from education in basic farming techniques (developing and maintaining seed banks, exploring different types of crops, etc.) to commercialization of the produce and the development of Christian leaders. Budget for 2018:

$110,000 CAD / $82,000 USD

communities, shifting from a subsistence mindset to a developmental one with long-term goals is not easy; it is a process that takes time to change the mentality and to adopt a new culture for a lifetime. Mr. Blucha states that when he believed that he had already achieved the necessary change in the family, after several meetings with the project’s technical staff, he realized that he had not yet mastered the production technique and the long-term development approach. So he is currently in the process of receiving technical advice to improve his work. The vision is to increase the productive area to five hectares in a period of three to five years.

THIS PAGE WAS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Throughout this process, a thought that has marked Mr. Blucha’s life is that “there is no place to blame others for the poverty that is lived, but that one must be responsible for his own development using the resources and opportunities he has.” Praise God that through this program we are able to provide many with resources and opportunities to improve their lives and to present the Gospel which provides hope for eternity. W&D Carlos Coffin is the Director of Projects in Nicaragua and a member of the Word & Deed Nicaragua board.

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>VOLuNTEER PROFiLE By hanna korvemaker

Pete Vander Stel Word & Deed: How long have you been involved with Word & Deed? How did you first get involved? Pete Vander Stel: I have been on the board for approximately 13 years. I was asked to observe by Pete VanStrien, whom I had known for many years. It seemed like I would meet Pete at all mission presentations. W&D: What is your role now? What do you “do” for Word & Deed? PVS: I presently serve as President of the US Board. I’m currently a member of the Projects Committee. I’m also involved with the softball tournament in Grand Rapids and the Dinner Tour. W&D: What was your first impression of Word & Deed? PVS: I really didn’t know anything about Word & Deed, but I learned a lot by attending the meetings and a few of the fundraisers. My eyes were really opened on my first trip to Malawi and South Africa. These trips are truly life-changing and very important for all board members to experience. W&D: How have you seen the organization evolve over time? PVS: When I first joined W&D, the organization was in its infancy. As time went on, the board became more involved in the projects we were supporting. Visiting the projects gave much needed insight into how W&D operated. Policy Days were very helpful for the US board to learn from our Canadian board, who had been in existence longer than we were. W&D: What has surprised you most about volunteering for Word & Deed? PVS: I have been on many boards over the years, but the camaraderie and the ability to work together for God’s kingdom was a pleasant surprise.

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W&D: What part of the work do you enjoy the most? PVS: When you visit the people in these third-world countries and see the joy they have with the smallest of blessings. It is also humbling to be able to worship with them in their own culture. We tend to think we have all the answers when it comes to how to worship our God, but the simplicity and sincerity they have sometimes puts us to shame. W&D: What do you do when you aren’t volunteering for Word & Deed? Can you tell us about your family and the church you attend? PVS: My wife and I a t t e n d H e r i t a g e Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. We have five children and twentyone grandchildren. I worked in the tool and die business for 46 years and retired in 2013. Now I work three days a week for a local Chevrolet dealership delivering parts. It gets me out of the house and I enjoy driving and meeting people. I am also an elder in our church and the elder representative on the school board of Plymouth Christian Schools. My wife and I are also involved in our church’s neighborhood Sunday School which meets every Sunday afternoon. We pick up children from the inner city of Grand Rapids and bring them to church for a simple lesson and then transport them back home. We also pick them up about six times a year on Saturdays for an outing. I do have times of relaxation. One of the great joys of my life is spending time with my grandchildren. W&D: What might somebody be surprised to learn about you? PVS: I’m not sure if anyone outside of our friends and associates would know how diverse our family is. We have three daughters who are all happily married to African American men. One is a true African, having moved to the states from Nigeria at age 19. W&D

GIVING HOPE

CHRISTMAS CATALOGUE 2017

Are you considering meaningful Christmas giving ideas? Consider purchasing a gift from our catalogue this year as a means of blessing those in need.

6 cad $ 5 usd

BIBLES Purchase a Bible to be distributed at projects in various countries.

8 cad $ 6 usd

TEN CONCRETE BLOCKS (ECUADOR) Provide ten concrete blocks to help construct a medical clinic in Quininde, Ecuador.

10 cad $ 7.5 usd $

SCHOOL SUPPLIES (HAITI) School supplies for one student for one year at Adoration Christian School.

18 cad 14 usd

BUNDLES OF LOVE Christmas gift (a toy and a practical item) for a student at Christian schools in Colombia or Guatemala.

30 cad 23 usd

REFORMED BOOKS (MALAWI) Provide a Reformed book for the library at Logos Ministries in Malawi to be used by pastors and students.

MEAL (COLOMBIA) Ten meals or high calorie snacks for a malnourished student in Colombia. This program also includes workshops for parents to better understand their child’s nutritional needs.

16 cad 12 usd

35 cad $ 25 usd $

125 cad $ 95 usd

MEALS (HAITI) Feed one student one meal a day for the school year at Adoration Christian School.

180 cad $ 135 usd

LEADERSHIP TRAINING (COLOMBIA) Train one church leader or Christian school staff member in the principles of biblically based community leadership through the School of Practical Ministries.

260 cad 200 usd

MEDICAL CARE (MYANMAR) Medical care for one month for 70 poor children at the Child Development Centre.

435 cad 325 usd

UTILITIES (MALAWI) A month of utilities for the Logos Ministries Resource Center in Malawi.

1500 cad $ 1150 usd

MOTORBIKE FOR PASTOR (INDIA) Purchase a motorbike for a Pastor in India in order to provide him a means of transportation.

$ $

DONATION OPTIONS ONLINE: Visit the Giving Hope web page to view the full catalogue, to place your order, and to make your donation via credit card.

SOCKS & SHOES (INDONESIA) Socks and shoes for a student at Children of Light.

www.wordanddeed.org/givinghope 50 cad 38 usd

UNIFORMS (INDONESIA) Provide school uniforms for a student at Children of Light.

70 cad 55 usd

HOME-BASED CARE (SOUTH AFRICA) Home-based care for one patient for one year through the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic.

110 cad 85 usd

SEWING MACHINES (INDIA) Provide a sewing machine and fabric for an “untouchable” woman graduate of our one-year sewing course in India.

PHONE: Call 1.877.375.9673 (Canada) or 1.866.391.5728 (USA) to place your order. Payment can be made via credit card or mailed cheque. Acknowledgement Cards are available for those who wish to purchase a gift from our catalogue on someone’s behalf. Please note that cards will be mailed within seven days of receiving your donation.

View the full catalogue and order online at winter 2017/18 I Word&Deed

>FROM THE BOaRD by Pete vander stel

Message

from the

When you hear the phrase “The Board of Directors of Word & Deed,” what comes to your mind? Do you think of an active, engaged group of people? In this short article, I would like to paint a picture of how the Projects Committee of the Word & Deed (W&D) board operates.

U.S. Chair The Projects Committee (PC) is comprised of four members from the US and four from the Canadian board and they meet once monthly via Skype. The PC exists to assess and monitor current projects and to review recommendations for new projects. Projects are visited once per year by staff on average, often with a board member. This is done to determine if funds are being used appropriately and to assess if the project is accomplishing the stated goals. Any problems found are dealt with appropriately. New projects must meet the criteria set up by the board. These criteria are: 1. Does it meet the W&D mandate? 2. Does it have a strong Gospel focus (Reformed, biblical)? 3. Does the project serve to strengthen the local church? Is the church present locally either by way of an indigenous church or a mission effort from supporting churches? 4. Does it meet a need?

A routine appointment for a new baby as part of the Pregnancy Program at the Luke Society Hospital in the Dominican Republic.

Word & Deed is on Instagram! Please follow our brand new account to stay up to date with the work that Word & Deed is doing around the world.

https://www.instagram.com/worddeedna/ or search “worddeedna”

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5. Can W&D show that it has clear direction and control of its resources (financial, human, etc.)? 6. Is it within the financial limitations put on the various countries? 7. What is the impact of the project and is the impact worth the input? If the project meets these criteria, it is forwarded to the entire board for approval. Any new project goes through very stringent observation and must meet carefully laid-out standards. The work of W&D is far-reaching, the need is great, and the reward is eternal with God’s blessing. We as a board covet your prayers for the Lord’s help. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). W&D Pete Vander Stel, U.S. Board Chair

sponsorsneeded!

wordanddeed.org/ways-to-give/child-sponsor 1

Benyamin

Birthday: May 7, 2005 Benyamin likes to go fishing with his friends after school. The fish that he catches he brings home for his family to eat.

Jadro

Birthday: September 6, 2004 Jadro has many friends and diligently attends church.

Seselia

Birthday: September 15, 2001 Seselia likes reading books and dancing.

Metri

Yerison

Erlita

Birthday: December 31, 2005 Erlita diligently attends school. She likes reading and watering flowers at school.

Birthday: May 6, 2004 Metri likes singing. 7

Birthday: June 3, 2002 Yerison likes playing soccer. He is a kind boy and is a very active student. 11

Raves

Birthday: September 1, 2004 Raves likes playing soccer with his friends.

Wanda

Child Sponsorship

Birthday: December 7, 2004 Wanda likes reading books and dancing.

Gideon

Birthday: March 15, 2005 Gideon likes playing soccer and going to Sunday school. He is a hard worker.

Birthday: July 30, 2005 Yunfi likes playing badminton. She is smart and likes to help others. 12

Risaldi

Birthday: March 19, 2005 Risaldi likes playing badminton and attending Sunday school.

$38CAD / $35USD PER MONTH

Yunfi

Ida

Birthday: April 1, 2003 Ida likes playing basketball; she is good at sports. She is also very kind and likes helping others.

Yunita

Birthday: October 5, 2003 Yunita likes singing, attending Sunday school, and helping others.

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prayer requests Dominican Republic: The Luke Society Hospital Pregnancy Program • Praise God that through the Luke Society Hospital there is support for vulnerable, pregnant women in the Dominican Republic. • Pray that the staff ministering through this pregnancy program will have wisdom and enthusiasm to offer compassionate care that meets the unique needs and situation of each woman and family.

Guatemala: Ministry through Education and Recreation • Praise God for the Yalu After-School Program and Camp Canaan, which are having such an impact in Guatemala. • Pray that youth who are impacted by the Gospel will be courageous to live out their faith in their home and family lives as well, and that even their parents and siblings will see the beauty of the Gospel. • Pray that the work of our partners in both programs will be blessed, and that the staff will be strengthened for their task of instructing and mentoring often troubled youth in Guatemala.

Nicaragua: Changing Norman Blucha’s Life • Praise God that after five years of hard work among the Miskitu communities in Nicaragua, the Agricultural Commercialization Program is bearing fruit and making an impact on Norman Blucha and other men like him. • Pray that our partners will continue to be strengthened for this slow, sometimes frustrating, work of encouraging the program recipients to think beyond subsistence living. • Pray that the Gospel will continue to be central to this project so that recipients will receive hope not only for their life on this earth, but also for the life to come.

education: the Persecuted Church • Praise God that persecution has not and will not stop the spread of the Gospel! • Pray that the Lord will protect and encourage the persecuted church and that many will be added to her.

Word & Deed North America • Praise God for providing board members who are both competent and engaged in overseeing the work of Word & Deed. • Pray that the Lord will continue to provide wisdom to the members of the Word & Deed Projects Committee as they assess and monitor current projects and review recommendations for new projects.

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Winter 2017 ancaster, on dufferin, on Hamilton, on Thunder bay, ON Grand Rapids, MI Pompton Plains, NJ

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programmatic areas would be of benefit for each case

Meditation: Suffer the Little Children to than Comeone). to Me (there may be more 1. Why is ministry among young people vital to the church? Transforming Livescan Now forthe Eternity 2. After reading the articles in this issue, youand answer questions that Pastor 1. Consider the hardships that Sender has faced growing up Kelderman poses? in Guatemala. In what ways has enrollment at La Palabra a. What impact is the ministry of Word & Deed having on youth throughout the Christian School in Guatemala transformed his life? world? 2. “Empty stomachs have ears.” Explain this b. How can I assist in this work in prayerdon’t or other means?

statement in your own words.

Dominican Republic: The Luke Society Hospital Pregnancy Program New Beginnings at Nakekela 1. Describe the situations that are typical of the women who are in the pregnancy 1. Visit the Nakekela website (www.nakekela.co.za) to read program. about the history of the organization on the main page. 2. List all the benefits of being in the pregnancy program for both mother and child. How has Nakekela grown since its inception in 2004? 3. Dr. Silvia states that through the program, women will “find people that welcome them, people that treatand themGlory not just patients but asStep someone GodFacility brought to Mercy at as the Nakekela Down us to show His 1. carePut for them.” How you think of thissomebody special careliving and attention yourself indo the shoes in the impacts the womenKwaMhlanga who come to them? community. How would you feel about

the opening of the HIV/AIDS Clinic and why?

Guatemala: Ministry through Education and Recreation 2. How has the community perception of the Nakekela 1. According to the description of Yalu in this article, what might it be like to be Clinic changed since its inception? Why has it changed? a young person in that community? How would the Yalu After-School Program Introducing: Children of Light impact your life? What needs would it meet? 1. like “Families who send children to school were 2. What might it be to grow up in adid home liketheir the ones described in the secondsacrificing heavily toCanaan do so,impact suffering a to-last paragraph ofoften the article? How would Camp your from life? What lack of food, and meet? an inability to provide their children needs does the Camp Canaan program proper clothingwhile and Camp schoolCanaan supplies.” List five 3. The program in Yaluwith focuses on education, is a more reasons that Christian education is can so valuable, recreation-based ministry. What benefits to both approaches you see? in

Join or Die? 1. “Corporate worship is . . . the centerpiece of the Christian the developing world and in North America. Nicaragua: Changing Norman Life to become a doctor because life.” Explain how this is true using scripture. Here is one 2. Aren BulanBlucha’s is motivated mean he compares subsistence mindset passage to get you started: Hebrews 10:24-25 1. What does Carlos Coffin of the lackwhen of medical careaon his home islandwith of a developmental mindset? 2. Explain what Pastor Boekestein means when he compares Rote. Make a list of the needs you see around you 2. Why is so difficultattoschool, shift from a subsistence to a church membership to parents making their children eatdo you think it(at home, among friendsmindset or otherwise). developmental one?What can you do now to make a difference? their dessert.

Persecuted Churchthe Written Word CDA: A Transformational Approach to Poverty Education: The Serving Through 1. Why in is it important to remember pray forstatement: persecuted believers aroundword the 1. The mission of CDA is carried out through projects 1. Discuss the and following “The written world? 13:3. and should be handled carefully.” five main “programmatic areas.” List those areas andConsider Hebrews is powerful 2. RickifPostma mentions that Word & Deed is working six of the 50privileges countries do some research to understand what they entail 2. Martha mentions the differentintalents and on the World Watchthat List. each You can view this list here: www.opendoorsusa.org/ you’re not sure. of us are given by God. Compared to students christian-persecution/world-watch-list/. Choose what three unique of these privileges countries, research 2. Re-read the stories of Andrea, Shirley, Juan David, in the developing world, have persecution that Christians there, andglory? take Genaro and Briceida. List which of the five CDA the level and type ofyou been given? How can are youexperiencing use them for God’s some time to pray specifically for believers and churches in those countries.

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.

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winter 2013