> INSIDE
COLOMBIA
Transformational Approach to Poverty
GUATEMALA Changing Lives
SOUTH AFRICA New Beginnings at Nakekela
INDONESIA
Introducing: Children of Light
>foreword By Rick Postma
Gene “We are survival machines—robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.” So writes Richard Dawkins, in The Selfish Gene. Dawkins has written prolifically along this theme and his latest book, An Appetite for Wonder, seems to take on increasingly religious overtones. Man is a religious being and any religion has a series of statements which are believed and confessed by faith. Dawkins is a priest for a faith which, by way of contrast with the opening lines of Genesis, apparently informs us that “In the beginning Gene . . ..” Humans are apparently at the mercy of some selfish microscopic entity which is bent on reproducing itself endlessly. For many, this serves as an explanation for our behaviors, hopes, and dreams. Dawkins calls on mankind to unite to oppose this powerful enemy within us, “We, alone on earth, can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators.”
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For Dawkins, man’s problem is found within and we agree. Thereafter we part company as he stridently declares that we are innocent survival machines used by genes to replicate themselves. The solution for Dawkins is that we all need to counterattack these genes and overcome them. Good luck with that. Christianity, built on the wonderful truth that “In the beginning God . . .”, states that man’s problem is sin and depravity but that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The hope engendered by this truth is brought to life by articles from Guatemala, by Ruth Rodriguez, Colombia, by Missy Christie de Acosta, and South Africa, by Babette Grobler. In this issue, Hanna Korvemaker highlights a new Word & Deed family member, Children of Light (COL), which brings the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ to West Timor, Indonesia—a country with the highest population of Muslims in the world. Pastor William Boekestein reminds us that worship of God in fellowship with the local manifestation of Christ’s bride, the Church, ought to be our priority even as we celebrate His agape love for countless sinners around the globe. Rick Postma is Director of Public Relations for Word & Deed Ministries.
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WINTER 2013
WORD&DEED
meditation
Official Publication of Word & Deed An International Reformed Relief and Development Agency Free for sponsors and friends
By Pastor William Boekestein
WINTER 2013 Editor Rick Postma Assistant Editor Hanna Korvemaker, Brianna Vlaar IMPACT Hanna Korvemaker Graphic Design Knor Graphic Design Solutions Copy Editor 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, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Myanmar, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Malawi, South Africa, and Nigeria.
Join
Canada Office PO Box 20100 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4H4 Ph 519.633.2333 Fax 519.633.7181 Toll free 877.375.9673 office@wordanddeed.org Administration Director John Otten Project Director Bernie Pennings Public Relations Director Rick Postma Support Staff John Kottelenberg Hanna Korvemaker Kara Luiting Heather VanMeppelen-Scheppink Brianna Vlaar Board of Directors President - John Vangameren Vice President - Corney Les Treasurer - Henry de Waal Rev. T. Bergsma Rev. C. Heiberg Jake Sinke Lyle Ypma Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke –
International Educational Consultant Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes – Professor of Old & New Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary Dr. Arjan J. deVisser – Professor of Ecclesiology and Diaconology, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary Rev. Danny Hyde – Pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church
Dr. Nelson D. Kloosterman –
Executive Director and Ethics Consultant for Worldview Resources International. Rev. Frank Van Dalen – Executive Director of the Foreign Missions Board of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
United States Office PO Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 Ph 616.896.3160 Toll free 866.391.5728 Fax 616.896.9219 usoffice@wordanddeed.org Office Administrator Heidi Pronk Public Relations & Projects Norlan De Groot Ph 712.441.7112 uspromotions@wordanddeed.org Board of Directors President - Peter Van Kempen Vice President - Pete Vander Stel Secretary - Harry Kooistra Treasurer - Karen Vander Sloot Eric Brandt Dave Byker Mary Cogbill Paul Laman Anita Sikkema
In 1754, Benjamin Franklin published a cartoon called “Join or Die.” It pictured a snake cut into eights representing the British colonies in the New World. Franklin argued that unless the colonies formed one unified body they would never be able to resist the powerful threat of the French and their Indian allies. Considering the fierce enemies assaulting believers in every age (Cf. 1 Pet. 5:8; John 15:19), Franklin’s plea speaks similarly to the relationship between the Christian and the church. Alarmingly, many people miss the connection between the two. Statistics vary, but around half of westerners who rarely attend church inexplicably view themselves as Christians. A sincere perusal of Scripture helps us to see a far closer Christian-church connection. God not only calls His people to attend church, but to bind themselves in a visible and vital way to a local, Bible-believing, worshipping community. Participation in worship with God’s children concretizes one’s relationship with God. Corporate worship is not quite the sum and substance of church membership, but it is the centerpiece of the Christian life.
or
<
Die?
frequency than our parents did. We need to learn to say “no” to things that conflict with vibrant membership in Christ’s body. Worship with God’s people may never be reduced to a duty. But unless we know and prioritize our duties, we might never learn to delight in them. Prioritizing worship means that as we assemble ourselves together our chief aim is to meet with the triune God. If all your church friends moved away and were replaced by an entirely different but orthodox congregation, would you maintain your membership? Church membership is a gift and a duty. It’s sort of like making your children eat their dessert. Christ saves and sanctifies sinners in the church. Believers in Christ’s church have the unmatched privilege of working for the kingdom of God (Col. 4:11). As the mystical body of Christ, believers are protected from the sinister threat of Hell and the Devil. To true members of his pilgrim band, God promises “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4). God rightly says of His church, “Join or die.” But He also says, “Where else would you want to be?” W&D William Boekestein pastors Covenant Reformed Church in Carbondale, PA. His most recent book, co-authored with Dr. Joel Beeke is, Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation.
Some of us skip worship with far greater frequency than we skip work. Some of us wouldn’t miss an episode of our favorite television show, but aren’t bothered by missing the divine service. We might be altering our future family tree by attending worship with less
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>COLOMBiA By Missy Christie de Acosta
CDA: A Transformational Approach to Poverty
Students at the John Calvin School, which is located in an Internally Displaced People (IDP) zone of Barranquilla. The glass through which you view reality determines how you interact with the world around you and that, in turn, impacts outcomes. Problems or opportunities? Lack or potential? Needs or capacity? The cup half full or half empty? The answer depends on what is in your heart; for the same reality is perceived, felt, analyzed, and acted upon differently depending on your beliefs. Reflecting upon this helped me understand what my late father, Lindsay Christie, founder of CDA, saw 20 years ago on an arid mountain called Altos de Cazuca. What led him to action? Many did not understand how he could even think of entering an area populated by ex-guerrilla members of the M-19. That was the very same group that ten years before had entered our home with the intention of killing us. What led him to action? It was a matter of understanding the Word of God. I believe he saw, by the grace of God, men, women, and children made in His image. He looked at the people of Altos de Cazuca through the eyes of love and compassion, discovering their dignity, talents, and capacity. That is the legacy we received and it is the reason why at CDA when
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we deal with poverty and engage in equipping people to take responsibility for their own development, we are aware that each person’s system of beliefs is what will finally determine the way he acts. Therefore, we focus on helping people gain a biblical understanding of the world and their purpose in it while enabling access to the basic tools and resources required to make a difference. From the individual to the collective sphere, from the mind to the heart, from passivity to action, it is our goal to contribute to a sustainable transformation. Our mission is carried out through five programmatic areas— Education, Child Protection, Income Generation, Basic Needs, and Community Development. These interconnected areas are permeated by the Christian principles that inspire our actions in all projects. Sponsoring children’s access to Christian education, supporting the provision of nutritional supplements for those facing extreme poverty, training leaders to impact their community through the School of Practical Ministries, caring for children’s development and equipping parents to adequately fulfill their role, protecting girls who have been victims of abuse and maltreatment or unleashing entrepreneurship by providing access to loans, all together
Cazuca class. are part of our transformational approach to changing the cycle of poverty and violence into one of opportunity and blessing. The team on the field does a very important part of the work. Yet it is thanks to the many obedient servants throughout the world that we are able to reap abundant fruits manifested in lives changed by the power of God. Because of this support, many now understand the world differently. Andrea was displaced by violence and almost died when a bomb exploded next to her; she is now entering a university to pursue her dreams! Shirley lived in a shack in extreme poverty in the mountains of Altos de Cazuca. Everyone told her that people like herself should not dare to dream; she discovered that with God all things are possible and she has now graduated as a medical doctor having the desire to use her skills in the Lord’s service. Juan David’s parents sell goods on the streets of Cartagena, but Juan David came to know God and has a passion to serve him; he will pursue theological studies. Genaro was
a member of an urban militia; today he is a pastor serving the same community which once feared him. Briceida was displaced by violence and abandoned by her husband with three children, living without hope; today she has a small business, her kids attend school, and she knows she is not alone. Students, entrepreneurs, mothers and fathers have not only learned a skill or received a handout, they have received a hand up and learned to look at the world through a different glass—the glass of God’s truth. As peace dialogues advance in Colombia, it is clear that as Christians we have much work to do, for only God can bring the desired restoration. His forgiveness and reconciliation is what will calm the years of pain and conflict. We, therefore, look at the present with responsibility and the future with confidence, giving all glory to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. W&D Missy Christie de Acosta is the President of CDA in Colombia.
colombia
School of Practical Ministries (SPM)
A CDA vocational training center in Bogota.
The vulnerable communities that our partners in Colombia minister to require greater involvement, support and participation from local Christian churches. The SPM exists to train church leaders and staff members to be effective leaders within the communities that CDA ministers to. Churches within these communities are invited to send their members to participate in training workshops that will teach them about various topics including: God’s purpose for the family, work ethics, evangelism, Christ as the model for ministry, etc. One hundred and fifty members participate each year. 2013: $21,400 still needed.
School of Infant Development
A CDA preschool class in Altos de Cazuca.
Sadly, many of the children in Colombia are deeply affected by poverty. Usually, parents or caregivers do not understand how crucial their actions are for the emotional and social development of their children. Through this program, the parents or caregivers of 100 young children (under the age of four) in the CDA schools are educated to appropriately participate in the upbringing of their children. 2013: $22,000 still needed.
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>GUaTEMaLa By: Ruth Rodriguez
Changing Lives Now and for Eternity Students at La Palabra Christian School.
The word “transformation” can mean different things their stomachs and their souls. AMG believes that the real depending on the context. For 13-year-old Sender Ortega, transformation, the one that matters, comes out of preaching transformation began with school enrollment. Sender came the gospel with the hand of compassionate assistance. to study at La Palabra Christian School in Monjas Through the sponsorship program we can offer when he was 12 years old. He is the youngest of five a hot meal every day to our students, as well as siblings and lost his father when he was nine. His caring teachers. But the most important thing we mother worked harvesting onions and tomatoes or share is the knowledge of the Gospel. God’s Word making tortillas to provide food for her children, but can transform lives now, and prepare children for her health was fragile. In 2012 she suffered a heart eternal life with Christ Jesus. Sender’s life has been attack and died. Sender was alone and fell under transformed—he wears a nice pair of shoes, attends Sender Ortega the care of an older brother and sister-in-law, living school with his friends and learns his Bible lessons. with them and their children in extreme proverty. He lacked By God’s grace, he, and children like him, know that through not just basic services such as electricity and running water spiritual transformation a better future awaits them. but, more importantly, he lacked love and hope. Not long before her death, his mother had enrolled him in La Palabra What does tranformation mean? For us, it means giving one because she wanted him to have a better life and she had child at a time the opportunity to know that his or her life heard about the sponsorship program supported by AMG and can be better in Jesus. For these children, it means hope and Word & Deed. the possibility to reach for their dreams here on earth and for eternity. W&D It is said “empty stomachs don’t have ears” so we cannot talk to children about the love of Jesus when, as in Sender’s Ruth Rodriguez is the Director of Education and Sponsorship case, the only sound they can hear is the emptiness of at AMG Guatemala. She has worked at AMG for seven years and attends the church Vida Real in Guatemala City. guatemala
La Palabra Christian School
A classroom at La Palabra Christian School.
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La Palabra Christian School has 370 students (140 sponsor children and 230 children for whom parents pay fees) spread from pre-primary to Grade 9. Grades 10 – 12 will be added in coming years. While the school has a capacity of 400 children, the plan is to double capacity by having half the children attend the school in the morning and half the children attend school in the afternoon. Today, most children are attending morning school (starting very early and ending at noon) which is common in Latin America. Currently all of these children are sponsored.
Hope
Giving 5 $ 18 $
Are you looking for meaningful Christmas giving ideas? Consider the suggestions below as a way to bless others this year.
The average cost to purchase a Bible to be distributed in various projects. The cost to purchase one “Bundle of Love” (toy and an item of practical value) for a CDA student in Colombia.
70
$
The average cost of offering home-based care for one out-patient for one year through the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa (250 needed).
110
$
The cost to purchase one banana tree stock per farmer for the Agricultural Commercialization project in Nicaragua (14 needed).
120
$
The average cost of training one church leader or CDA staff member in the principles of biblically-based community leadership through the School of Practical Ministries in Colombia (150 needed).
270
The average cost for a two-day elder and lay $ pastor training conference through Logos Ministries in Malawi, designed to provide elders and pastors with the practical and doctrinal tools they need to better serve their congregations. (36 needed).
600
$
The cost to purchase one laptop for Logos Ministries in Malawi, needed for the administration of various church leadership training conferences. (3 needed).
750
$
1,000
$
The average cost for a four-day in-service leadership conference for pastors through Logos Ministries in Malawi, designed to provide elders and pastors with the practical and doctrinal tools they need to better serve their congregations (4 needed). The cost to overhaul a small generator to be used for electrical power at the Pengharapan Children’s Home in Indonesia, which cares for 75 abandoned children. (1 needed).
Yes! I would like to give the gift of _____ (quantity) ________________ (item) this Christmas. e.g. I would like to give the gift of __2__ (quantity) __Bundles of Love (item) this Christmas. I have enclosed a check in the amount of ___________.
(Canadian donors may purchase a gift via credit card by calling our office at 877.375.9673.)
( ) Please mail me a card that I will pass on to the recipient of my gift. ( ) Please send a card directly to the recipient of this gift. Name of recipient: ___________________________________ Your name: ________________________________________ Address of recipient: _________________________________ Your address: ______________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Your phone #: ______________________________________ Please mail this notice with payment to the Word & Deed office: Canada: PO Box 20100 | St. Thomas, ON | N5P 4H4 USA: PO Box 157 | Hudsonville, MI | 49426 winter 2013 I Word&Deed
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>SOUTH AFRICa By: Babette Grobler
New Beginnings
at
Nakekela
The Home Based Care Team at Nakekela visits out-patients and encourages continued healthy living away from the clinic. Dr. Sonja Miskin is on the far right. For the past few years we have envisioned expanding Nakekela Clinic to enable us to admit more patients because so many people urgently needing palliative care are dying in their homes in utter desperation. We were granted our wish by God as, through His power, Word & Deed provided us with the much-needed funding to add a few rooms in August 2013. In addition to the two extra four-bed patient rooms, we built a large patient recreation room. At present our patients are
using the staff room, which is creating problems as our staff now has to do all their administration work in the passage. This is fine in the summer but, because it is not an enclosed area, it is very cold in the winter. Some of the patients have weekly Bible study and art therapy classes, and are forced to sit outside in the passage when busy with these activities. The addition of the recreation room is a great improvement that will better facilitate these activities. The windows are also facing north with the hope of creating a wonderful, sunny room especially in winter.
south africa
Nakekela Clinic The Nakekela Clinic is a step-down clinic for AIDS patients. There are 12 beds in the clinic and a staff of nurses and doctors. The staff visits and assesses not only potential patients but also follows up with those who have already been discharged. The purpose of the clinic is to treat AIDS patients and to alleviate the horrible symptoms that accompany the disease, while bringing the Word of God to the afflicted. 2013: $61,000 still needed
Patients at the Nakekela Clinic.
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We have been blessed by the Sydney Reformed Church who gave us funding last year for the furnishing of these rooms. The Village Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida, has now sent us beautiful quilts made by a group in their church to use on our patients’ beds. We are elated with the sense of new beginnings. Please visit our website at www.nakekela.co.za and have a look at the blog where the development of the building process can be viewed. Mercy and Glory at the Nakekela Step Down Facility We experienced so much of God’s mercy and glory in the first part of 2013. A young orphaned boy was admitted to the facility in January 2013. He was staying with family members, as both his parents had passed away. When admitted to Nakekela at age 14, he weighed 32 kg (70 lbs) and was about 1.4 meters (4’ 7”) tall. He was so thin that he could scarcely walk and had no zest for life. The staff spent time on a daily basis with him to convince him to take his medications for tuberculosis and HIV. He was also counseled numerous times and motivated through art therapy. He painted a large elephant and amazingly felt so empowered by doing it, that he slowly began to show more will to live. He stayed at Nakekela for six months and gained at least 10kg (22 lbs) in this period. He came to visit on Mandela Day in July and most of us did not recognize him. He had changed from a thin, weak child to someone with round healthy cheeks and an appetite for life. The visitors were blessed by his presence as they could not believe how wonderfully he recovered after viewing photos of him taken before his healing. This year we have also experienced signs that Nakekela has become a beacon of hope and survival to the community. When the center first opened, the sight of our white vehicle was a sign of death to the community
In
One of the rooms being added to the Nakekela Clinic. As of the end of October, plumbing and electricity had been installed and painting had begun. and they believed that whenever our vehicle stood in front of a house it meant that someone was about to die or had died. Numerous attempts were made to close Nakekela down, as the community believed that the smoke coming from our incinerator would infect them with HIV. Now after all these years, the services rendered at Nakekela have changed the community’s viewpoint. Our white bakkie has become a sign of hope, as so many previously critical patients are now brought home with the same vehicle and are able to continue living with HIV. In addition to our current home-based care patients, Nakekela visits about 30 ex-patients living with HIV who have now gone back to work and can continue living successful lives while using their medication diligently. With God’s help, we believe that the success rate will continue to improve. W&D Babette Grobler is the Administrative Manager at the Nakekela Step Down Facility in KwaMhlanga, South Africa.
Praise of the Saviour
The Joy of Christmas
This Christmas, fill your home with beautiful music proclaiming the good news of the birth of our Saviour. This album, “In Praise of the Saviour,” includes 16 classical Christmas hymns and arrangements including “O Holy Night,” “How Beautiful are the Feet” and “Messiah Medley no. 2.” Featured artists are John Vanderlaan (organ), Joyce Postmus (piano), Karen Postmus (soprano) and Natalia Manley (violin). CDs are $20.00 (CAD and USD) including shipping and handling; a portion of the proceeds for each CD sold will be donated to Word & Deed Ministries. Please contact Joyce Postmus to order your CD: sjpostmus@bell.net or at 519.448.4161.
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>INDONESia By Hanna Korvemaker
Introducing:
Children
One of the COL kindergarten students.
of
Light
The statistical reality that 36% of school-aged children in Indonesia do not attend school was apparent to Rev. Yonson Dethan and his fellow community and church leaders in West Timor, Indonesia, as they lived and ministered there in the late ‘90s. They realized that many poor Christian families could not afford to provide their children with basic education of any kind, and the economic benefit they might gain by keeping them at home to work was often more attractive. Families who did send their children to school were often sacrificing heavily to do so, suffering from a lack of food, and an inability to provide their children with proper clothing and school supplies.
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In 1998, the Children of Light (COL) project was founded by Rev. Yonson Dethan, Rev. Yawan Bunda and Elder Petrus Nomenses to provide children from these poor, Christian homes with education. In the beginning, the project consisted of a kindergarten class. In time, after a rise in North American support due in large part to the fundraising efforts of Andy & Gerda Vandenhaak (Edmonton Canadian Reformed Church) and the establishment of a Canadian board, the rest of the grades were added (elementary and high school), as well as trade schools where skills in agriculture, electricity, welding, construction, sewing and home economics are taught. A theological college was added in 2009.
Rev. Dethan and his wife, Mary-Lynn, and five of their six children.
indonesia
Children of Light Merge
The Children of Light project has been very successfully supported by a North American board since its early years of operation. This board provided godly oversight, mentorship and partnership in the administration required to promote and manage a sponsorship program. Canadian Reformed churches were primary supporters of the project, along with generous support from other conservative, Reformed churches (including URC and OPC). However, due to the burgeoning growth of the project, the administrative, promotional and project-related tasks of the project have grown too, making it increasingly challenging to operate on a volunteer basis. In 2013, the COL project is being formally merged with Word & Deed Ministries. Please pray for a smooth transition and for God’s continued blessing on this project!
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COL is now providing education to 1,500 students, 300 of whom are supported through a sponsorship program. Graduates of the program who go on to university are asked to commit two years of service back to the program (often by returning as teachers for a time), although some exceptions to this requirement are made. For example, Aren Bulan is in his third year of study to become a doctor; when he graduates he wishes to return immediately to his home island of Rote because of the lack of medical care available there (his mother lost two children as a result) and the board has approved. With God’s blessing, COL has now grown beyond what a North American board and volunteer administrative team can manage. This year, at the initiative of their board, COL will be merged with Word & Deed Ministries. We look forward to continued partnership with the already well-established support base that the Children of Light project enjoys. What a blessing to invite another project to join the Word & Deed family, for God’s glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom! W&D Hanna Korvemaker is Public Relations Support for Word & Deed Ministries.
sponsorship Make a World of Difference by Sponsoring a Child in
Myanmar
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San: San is 14 years old. He has six
Lalcei: Lalcei is 13 years old. Her
father is Rev. Mang and her mother is Cung; she has two siblings. The family faces a lot of difficulties to send their children to school. Lalcei’s favorite subjects in school are English and Science and her hobby is singing. It is her prayer that when she finishes school she will become a doctor.
Thawnglian: Thawnglian is 16
years old. Thawnglian’s favorite subject is Myanmar, and he is a very hard-working person. He hopes to study at Bible school and become a pastor one day.
siblings and his big family struggles a lot for their daily basic needs. San’s favorite subject in school is Myanmar and he loves playing football. He would love to become a pastor or teacher one day.
Tinsui:
Tinsui is 12 years old. Her parents divorced when she was a child. Her father is in Malaysia and her mother is remarried, so Tinsui and her siblings lived with their Aunt Famtin before coming to the home. Famtin could not afford to provide for the needs of the children. Tinsui’s favorite subject in school is Science and she would love to become a teacher one day.
Don't underestimate the impact that a picture and a short letter can have on your sponsor child! Many sponsor children come from broken and dysfunctional homes and do not receive the attention or affection that children thrive on. A short note from you is one more example of healthy, Christian love in their lives. Please write, today! (Contact Kara at office@wordanddeed.org if you’re not sure how to get started.) winter 2013 I Word&Deed WINTER
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Education Maria Kinkel
The
Benefits of Gifting Life Insurance
Life Insurance policies can be used for charitable giving purposes and can provide an individual or their estate with tax advantages. There are two ways that life insurance policies can be gifted: (1) Charity Owns the Policy: In this scenario, the donor, during his or her lifetime, will transfer ownership of the life insurance policy to the charity which is also named as beneficiary. This will result in either of the following:
(2) Donor Owns the Policy: The donor will only name the charity as a beneficiary under the life insurance policy and the donor will retain ownership: a. The donor’s estate will receive a charitable tax receipt for the amount received by the charity on the death of the donor.
a. If the premiums of the life insurance policy are fully paid: i. The donor will receive a charitable receipt for the fair market value of the policy at the date of transfer. There are different ways in which the Income Tax Act calculates fair market value and a tax specialist should be consulted. ii. There may be income tax implications to the donor at the time of transfer, depending on how the fair market value and cost of the life insurance policy is determined under the provisions of the Income Tax Act. If the fair market value exceeds the cost of the life insurance policy, the donor will have to include the difference into income. iii. The charity will receive the proceeds on the death of the donor. Since the charity is the owner, there is no charitable receipt issued to the donor’s estate for the value received by the charity on the death of the donor. b. If the premiums of the life insurance policy are not fully paid: i. The donor will receive a charitable receipt each year for annual premiums paid after transfer of the policy; ii. The charity will receive the proceeds on the death of the donor. Since the charity is the owner, there is no charitable receipt issued to the donor’s estate for the value received by the charity on the death of the donor.
The decision of the donor to retain ownership of the life insurance policy or to transfer ownership to the charity of the life insurance policy depends on the donor’s tax situation and when they need the charitable receipt. If the donor can benefit more from the charitable receipts during their lifetime, transferring ownership to the charity is something that should be explored. If the donor needs the charitable receipt to offset capital gains that will occur at death, then the donor should look at the option of just naming a charity as beneficiary on a life insurance policy. W&D
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Maria Kinkel is a partner with the law firm Backus LLP in Simcoe, Ontario. She is a member of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Jarvis, Ontario.
Please note: The article is not intended to be construed as legal advice. The writer is licenced as a lawyer for the province of Ontario and the article is written on the basis of the writer’s understanding of federal and provincial laws as applicable in the province of Ontario. The tax implications explained above are relevant only for Canadian taxpayers; any USA taxpayers should seek appropriate counsel before taking action prompted by this article, as tax laws in the USA differ significantly from tax laws in Canada.
>GETTING INVOLVED WANTED:
Fall Dinner Tour
Thank you! The Fall Dinner Tour for 2013 has come and gone and we have much to be thankful for. Ten events featuring either
Dr. Silvia Martinez of the Dominican Republic or Dr. Yeny Agila of Ecuador (with Arlene Jonkman translating) were held, raising a combined gross total of
Volunteer Copy Editor Do you love the written word? Do you have experience with copy editing? Are you meticulously attentive to detail, a great team player and looking for a way to serve God with your editing talents and experience? If so, we would invite you to contact us about joining our team of volunteer copy editors. Email Brianna Vlaar if you would like to join our team! brianna@wordanddeed.org
just over $163,000! God is faithful in providing Word & Deed with the funds needed in order to bring help and the hope of the Gospel to the various communities we partner with. The Dinner Tour could not be held each year without the help of countless volunteers.
Special thanks to all of our: · Dinner coordinators · W&D local ambassadors · Cooks / bakers / servers and those who helped set up and clean up · Business sponsors · Table sponsors · Attendees and generous donors · Host families for our keynote speakers and W&D personnel as they traveled extensively
Business Group
Meetings please stay tuned for confirmed dates and locations Ancaster, ON January Wyoming/Strathroy, ON January Illiana (Illinois/Indiana) March
Calgary, AB April Edmonton, AB April Central Alberta April Southern Alberta April Cambridge, ON TBA (Launch!) winter 2013 I Word&Deed
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>VoLunteeR profile By heidi pronk
Serving Through the Written Word Martha Markwat has been part of the editing
team at Word & Deed since the spring 2007 issue. Martha and her husband Joel and their four children live in the Grand Rapids area. They have recently decided to homeschool their children so Martha will be leaving our editing team. We are so thankful to have had the benefit of her time and expertise these last six years. As she exits, we asked her to reflect on her experience.
Heidi:
How did you originally get involved in
volunteering for Word & Deed?
Martha:
Actually, you asked me if I would be
interested in doing some editing for the magazine. Since I had seen some errors in the magazine in the past, the
Martha, Joel and their four children.
editor in me jumped at the chance to help.
Heidi:
I don’t remember asking you but I suspect
those errors are what prompted me to ask! How did your background prepare you for this task?
Martha: I have a Bachelor of Arts in English Writing and Communication and worked as editor of my college newspaper. After graduation I worked for a marketing firm and edited corporate newsletters there. “Soft journalism” has always been fun for me.
Heidi:
What did you like most about being part of the
editing team?
Martha:
have always been so patient and accommodating to those of us volunteers who have a busy (and noisy) home life. Since we all work remotely, we can fit the editing into our own schedule (like before the kids got off the bus). The ministry of Word & Deed is very important to our family, so when deadlines were tight and I had to squeeze something in, Joel was always willing to help at home to give me time to edit one more article.
Heidi:
Did
you
find
Editing teams are essential! I have never
more than one pair of eyes on a writing project. The written word is powerful and should be handled carefully, so I always enjoy working with a writing team. But this team has been so great to work with. In addition to a good sense of humor, each one of them have a servant’s heart and a desire to effectively communicate with our readers about the work Word & Deed is privileged to be doing around the world. How did you get editing done with four kids
running around?
Martha:
personally
I have always been so grateful to
be able to contribute to Word & Deed in this way. Each member of the body of Christ has different talents and privileges. Some are able to contribute financially, some are great event planners, some are gifted administrators, and some are faithful prayer warriors. My service on the editing team was our family’s way of supporting Word & Deed’s work. I have counted it a privilege to help ensure that the fatherless and the widow’s voices are heard through the articles published in Word & Deed magazine. W&D
Thank you, Martha, for your faithful service. We will miss you!
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volunteering
rewarding? How?
edited anything on my own because it is so valuable to have
Heidi:
Martha: Rick and Hanna and the rest of the team
Word&Deed I
winter 2013
From the Word & Deed Canada Board
Welcome, Lyle!
Prayer Requests Corporación Dios es Amor (CDA) in Colombia • Praise God for how he has blessed the efforts of Lindsay Christie, the founder of CDA, by prospering this organization to become as large and effective as it is today. • Pray that CDA students and their families would gain a biblical understanding of the world and their purpose in it through the Gospel witness of CDA. AMG in Guatemala • Please pray for spiritual transformation in the lives of AMG students like Sender, who often do not have the benefit of a stable and loving family, and lack the basic necessities of life. • Please pray that God would grant wisdom to the teachers at the AMG schools, including La Palabra, as they teach, and as they display the love of Christ to their students. Nakekela Clinic in South Africa • Praise God for continuing to provide for the needs of the clinic through generous donors and churches. • Pray for the timely completion of the expansion of the clinic, and for the safety of the workers. • Pray that Nakekela staff and patients would be mutually blessed as they serve and are served in Christ’s name. Children of Light in Indonesia • Praise God prayer for using therequests Children of Lighthave projects been in the these lives of students like for Aren; pray these studentsof would censored thethat security be bright lights inour their communities, transforming secular partners cultural norms with Christ-like lives. Word & Deed North America • Praise God for continuing to provide an unabated stream of competent board members, staff members, and volunteers to continue the work of Word & Deed. • Pray that He would continue to move the hearts of many to give for this and other worthy ministry causes.
A warm welcome to Lyle Ypma who has officially joined the Word & Deed Board in Canada. We look forward to benefiting from Lyle’s participation as a board member and are thankful to the Lord for continuing to provide godly leadership for this organization. Lyle is a potato farmer in Taber, Alberta, and is married to Carol; they have six children, Johanna, Rebecca, Sarah, Matthew, Rachel, and Esther. They are members of the Trinity URC in Lethbridge. Welcome, Lyle!
Welcome, Brianna!
Some changes are occurring at Word & Deed. Hanna Korvemaker will be leaving her full-time post as Public Relations Support as she and her husband, Ian, are expecting a baby in January 2014. We wish Ian and Hanna the Lord’s blessings! Hanna hopes to stay involved on a parttime basis. Brianna Vlaar has been hired to replace Hanna. She and her husband Peter live in Richmond Hill, Ontario. They attend the Bethel Canadian Reformed Church of Toronto. We welcome Brianna to the Word & Deed family and look forward to having her on the team!
welcome, Susan!
Susan Trentacosti has joined our team of volunteer copy editors. She lives in Glenwood, IL, where she works for a publishing company in the higher education division. She attends the Lynwood United Reformed Church, Lynwood, IL. We have already benefited from her scrupulous attention to detail and are thankful that the Lord has led her to join our editing team! WINTER 2013 I Word&Deed winter
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programmatic areas would be of benefit for each case (there may be more than one). Transforming Lives Now and for Eternity 1. Consider the hardships that Sender has faced growing up in Guatemala. In what ways has enrollment at La Palabra Christian School in Guatemala transformed his life? 2. “Empty stomachs don’t have ears.” Explain this statement in your own words. New Beginnings at Nakekela 1. Visit the Nakekela website (www.nakekela.co.za) to read about the history of the organization on the main page. How has Nakekela grown since its inception in 2004? Mercy and Glory at the Nakekela Step Down Facility 1. Put yourself in the shoes of somebody living in the KwaMhlanga community. How would you feel about the opening of the HIV/AIDS Clinic and why? 2. How has the community perception of the Nakekela Clinic changed since its inception? Why has it changed?
Join or Die? 1. “Corporate worship is . . . the centerpiece of the Christian life.” Explain how this is true using scripture. Here is one passage to get you started: Hebrews 10:24-25 2. Explain what Pastor Boekestein means when he compares church membership to parents making their children eat their dessert.
Introducing: Children of Light 1. “Families who did send their children to school were often sacrificing heavily to do so, suffering from a lack of food, and an inability to provide their children with proper clothing and of school supplies.” List five this portion impact has reasons that Christian education is so valuable, in been censored for the the developing world and in North America. security of our partners 2. Aren Bulan is motivated to become a doctor because of the lack of medical care on his home island of Rote. Make a list of the needs you see around you (at home, at school, among friends or otherwise). What can you do now to make a difference?
CDA: A Transformational Approach to Poverty 1. The mission of CDA is carried out through projects in five main “programmatic areas.” List those areas and do some research to understand what they entail if you’re not sure. 2. Re-read the stories of Andrea, Shirley, Juan David, Genaro and Briceida. List which of the five CDA
Serving Through the Written Word 1. Discuss the following statement: “The written word is powerful and should be handled carefully.” 2. Martha mentions the different talents and privileges that each of us are given by God. Compared to students in the developing world, what unique privileges have you been given? How can you use them for God’s glory?
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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Word&Deed I
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