W&D Magazine Winter 2020/21

INSIDE

Winter 2020/21

Covid-19 Relief Summary Costa Rica Christ’s Church Pulling Together

Haiti

An Oasis in the Wilderness

Nicaragua Growing Crops and Worldviews

Indonesia New Opportunities

by His Grace

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

>foreword

By Dave vander meer

Overcoming Fear There is nothing more evident today than that people are afraid. Over the last number of months, the world has had its mortality placed right in front of them and they are scared.

During the Great Depression, in his inauguration speech, President Franklin Roosevelt said, “the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself— nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

When people are afraid, they often look to the government for answers or comfort and are sorely disappointed.

Politicians will use crisis for gain and fear as a way of coercion.

The government has been established by God and has been delegated power from Him for the good of the people (Romans 13).

Can you imagine a society without government?

We have seen glimpses of what that looks like this year with riots in cities across the US. On the other hand, the government sometimes overreaches into the religious sphere. How many disagreements are ongoing right now over gathering for worship due to government-mandated restrictions? Who has the final say on that-the local church consistory or a government official?

One reason that there is so much fear in the world is that people don’t know the Lord. As a result of experiencing disappointment and distrust in the government and others in authority over them, people have begun to rely on their own sinful and self-centered emotions to appease their increasing fear. They can feel that something is not as it should be. However, instead of turning to the Lord for deliverance from their fear, their hatred against Christianity

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and the truth grows (John 15). Persecution against Christians is becoming a real threat in the West but for some of our partners, persecution is already a daily reality.

We were recently told of two men from one of our partners in India who continue to bring the Gospel to a particular village. They have been repeatedly beaten by Hindu men but they believe their work will be blessed and some will come to know the Lord. Why are they not afraid? They must truly understand John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” The answer to overcoming fear is not to look to governments for peace. If you want true peace instead of fear, look to the One who overcame the world.

Fear is also used by the enemy to stop some from working as they ought to. Carlos Coffin helps us understand that this is an underlying issue in the thought patterns of many people in Nicaragua. People need to be trained to think biblically in order to overcome harmful patterns of thought.

Finally, when we fear, we tend to hold on tight to “what is ours.” Pastor Green explains it is better when we work handin-hand for the Kingdom than to have turf wars. Let us all say, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). W&D Dave Vander Meer works for Word & Deed USA in the Public Relations and Projects departments. He lives in Hudsonville, Michigan, with his family.

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

Winter 2020/21

meditation

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

Director of Projects John Otten Director of Public Relations Rick Postma Director Heidi Pronk Support Staff Scott Dekorte, Scott Koopman, John Kottelenberg, Kara Luiting Dave Vander Meer Canadian Board of Directors Chairman – Harold Leyenhorst Vice-Chairman – John Vangameren Secretary – Dave Wielinga Treasurer – Henry de Waal Wilf Bout, Pastor Christo Heiberg, John Jagersma, Corney Les, Bert Mulder, Lyle Ypma

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USA Board of Directors President – Paul Laman Vice President - Jay Van Voorst Secretary – Harry Kooistra Treasurer – Karen Vander Sloot Paul Beezhold, Eric Brandt, Eric Greendyk, Pete Vander Stel, Pastor Adrian Dieleman Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke – International Educational Consultant

Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes – Professor of

Old & New Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Rev. Richard Bout –

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

Rev. Mark Vander Hart –

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

Rev. Frank Van Dalen –

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

Canada Office PO Box 20100 St. Thomas, ON N5P 4H4 Toll free 877.375.9673 office@wordanddeed.org United States Office PO Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 Toll free 866.391.5728 usoffice@wordanddeed.org

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

Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

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>DisasteR ReLieF

By Scott Koopman

Colombia

61 families, mostly refugees from Venezuela, were assisted with basic food necessities for three weeks. Spiritual encouragement and family support were also provided by the Conviventia team.

s

In addition to Word & Deed’s regular projects, so far this year, with God’s blessing, we have sent over $500,000 CAD / $375,000 USD for COVID-19 food relief to 12 countries with many more requests pending. The lockdowns have been particularly hard on the poorest families who are often prone to job instability and have little or no savings to cushion them during economic challenges.

However, the Lord is working in the hearts of many who have been helped through this relief. May He continue to bless these efforts to alleviate physical hunger and may many see Him as the bread of life to satisfy their spiritual hunger for all eternity.

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COVID-19 Relief Summary

Dominican Republic

The Luke Society Hospital provided 50 families with basic food necessities and sanitation supplies. Along with these supplies they were also able to educate the beneficiaries on COVID-19 prevention and were able to provide biblical support. s

Costa Rica s Word & Deed’s partner Education Plus distributed food baskets to feed 145 families in three shantytowns around San Jose, Costa Rica, over a 12-week time period. Children received Bible study material from the staff on their visits into the shantytowns.

Ecuador

Over 200 families in multiple villages were assisted with food relief over a four-month time period. Some of the food baskets went to an area that contained many disabled people and others were distributed within a remote indigenous Chachi tribe. The medical clinic “House of Hope” reopened in Quininde and is very busy. Needy patients have also received food packages.

Haiti – Adoration Christian Centre 400 families were assisted for one or two weeks (depending on their needs) with food packages that included rice, beans, spaghetti, cooking oil, cornmeal, sugar, and soap.

The Gospel message was also delivered with the food via the local Reformed Presbyterian Church. See Pastor Octavius Delfils’ article beginning on page eight of the magazine. s

Guatemala s

AMG Guatemala assisted 1,350 families, prioritizing families from the Word & Deed sponsorship program and others who were in need in those communities. Food and masks were provided.

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Malawi s The 180 most vulnerable children in four orphan care programs are being provided with food relief. Masks, soap, and other hygiene products are being provided since they are legally required for all meetings.

Haiti – Esperance Microloan s

Food packs are being distributed biweekly for three months to 83 of the most needy families from the churches in the area where the microloan program operates.

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South Africa s 30 families in the patient support groups of the Nakekela HIV/Aids Clinic were provided with food and a small stipend for electricity.

Tanzania

200 families (100 from the church and 100 from the community) were provided with food and education on COVID-19 prevention. The local church leaders, with the assistance of the friendly local government officials, selected those families who were most in need.

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>Costa Rica

By Pastor Bill Green

Christ’s Church Pulling Together Christ’s church always benefits when Christians “pull together,” help one another mutually in various ways, and choose the way of self-sacrifice over self-promotion. We have all seen the sad results of turf wars, jealousy, and unhealthy competition, and these things have no place in Christ’s kingdom.

It has been a great joy to cooperate with Word & Deed over past years in various ways. Our most recent joint project is a particularly important one. The Latin American Fellowship of Reformed Churches (CLIR) produces both translations and original texts of a variety of

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Reformed literature. CLIR has produced commentaries (John Calvin and others), theology (Warfield, Machen, and others), and preaching resources (Clowney and others), as well as church school material for children and young adults. Most recently CLIR is producing historical novels of the Reformation period to stimulate good reading habits in young people and an understanding of church history.

This past year Word & Deed took the initiative to work out a very important three-way project that would place some 17 key theology books in the hands of pastors

across Latin America. The pastors pay for mailing expenses, Word & Deed finances the purchase, and CLIR coordinates the contacts and shipping. Fiftyfive pastors were the beneficiaries of this worthy effort! Most all of these pastors would never have the means to receive such valuable tools for their ministries. We have received many thanks from them.

I wish to congratulate Word & Deed for their sensitivity to such fundamental needs in the church of Latin America. Good theology will produce healthy churches. We need to always work on the foundations. On behalf of CLIR, we look forward to continued cooperation in the future. W&D Pastor Bill Green is the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Fellowship of Reformed Churches (CLIR) and serves with his wife Aletha in Costa Rica as a missionary sent by Bethany United Reformed Church in Wyoming, Michigan.

>FROM The BOaRD

By Harold Leyenhorst

message from the canadian chairman As we look back over the last year, we are amazed with the changes we have seen and the challenges that Word & Deed partners and supporters have experienced. Many of the partners have shifted from their regular projects to providing food to thousands who have no income and no support from their governments.

Our supporters have also faced difficulties, but have still donated so we could maintain regular programs as well as support the large demand for food relief. As of October 1, we have approved $600,000 CAD / $450,000 USD for food aid and expect it may reach $800,000 CAD / $600,000 USD by the end of the year.

At Word & Deed, we go forward confident that the Lord will provide. All requests for support and proposed projects are evaluated by the executive team and forwarded to the Projects Committee. The Projects Committee is made up of four board members and one executive member each from Word & Deed Canada and Word & Deed USA. The committee meets once a month with all recommended new projects and disaster relief being approved by the boards.

Our response to COVID-19 included limiting new projects, evaluating all costs, encouraging our partners to reduce costs where possible, and basing future commitments on support received. It was your support that made it possible to continue our operations and to give life-saving food relief. Most of the relief is distributed by church groups and is received as a gracious gift of God. “. . . rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12: 12–13). W&D Harold Leyenhorst is the Chairman of the Word & Deed Canada Board and a member of the Langley Canadian Reformed Church.

GIVING HOPE

CHRISTMAS CATALOG

Are you considering meaningful Christmas giving ideas?

Consider purchasing a gift from our catalog this year as a means of blessing those in need.

The gifts available include: • An acre of seed for a farmer in India • Books for a Pastor in Latin America • A motorcycle for a teacher in South Sudan and much more!

View the full catalogue online at

www.wordanddeed.org/givinghope Winter 2020/21 I Word&Deed

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>Haiti

By Pastor Octavius Delfils

an

Oasis

in the

Wilderness

It was 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday when I received a call from a lady who asked me to return the call because she didn’t have enough minutes on her phone for a long conversation. Knowing that this is a common practice in our community, I gladly returned the call. The woman identified herself as Roseline, the mother of one of our most diligent students in Grade 13, and the aunt of a Grade

Roseline with her son Rodelin.

8 student at Adoration Christian School. She called me to express her deep gratitude for the blessings that she received from Adoration.

In fact, because of COVID-19 the government put a lockdown on the country and the impact on our community has been huge. In a country where 80 percent of the population is living on informal day-to-day economic activities, a lockdown becomes a life-stopping decision. You either stay home and die of hunger or you venture out to the streets and face the disease. Between the two, it’s hard to choose. This is exactly what our students’ communities were facing when Word & Deed helped Adoration provide a food ration to our students and their families. Roseline received a provision of rice, corn, spaghetti noodles, oil, and washing soap—enough to feed her family for at least two weeks.

I could understand her joy and she expressed it in a flow of words and expressions of gratefulness to Adoration and

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her supporters. I was surprised to see how glad she was! In May and again in June, with the support received from Word & Deed, Adoration was able to provide food for two weeks to 200 of the most vulnerable families of our students and for one week to the other families. Roseline was among the first category.

She expressed her gratefulness, among other things, for the good education that her children receive and she reminded me that, a few months ago, the school and church had helped her get to the nearby hospital when she was really sick. Her words of thankfulness were piling one over another and I could feel her joy. She promised to come and visit the church as soon as COVID-19 allows.

I heard about testimonies from our staff and I received text messages from staff and parents, but Roseline’s testimony was superior by the sincerity of her abundant gratitude. Roseline lives in Cité Aux Cayes, a shantytown, where most of our students come from. Her husband lost his job several years ago and her health and education do not allow her to do any formal work. Life is hard for them. But the Lord provides an education for their children through Adoration, where they also receive a daily meal. The boy would visit the school several times a week to see friends, but with the hope also to receive a meal even when school is closed.

Life is hard, but when a family can receive food for one or two weeks in a period of confinement like that it is an oasis in the middle of the wilderness. Many families feel that and are grateful, but Roseline’s gratitude overflowed and her joy and words of blessings have expressed it. Perhaps she will soon join her son in the church.

Praise the Lord that you can be part of this blessing. W&D Pastor Octavius Delfils is the Chairman of the Board and the Chaplain at Adoration Christian Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He also serves at the local Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Adoration Christian Centre Through Adoration Christian Centre, children in Haiti are brought Christian education, basic medical care, and the hope of eternal life through the Gospel. The focus of their education is “Learning for Serving.” It is our prayer that with the Lord’s blessing the communities served may be transformed and that over the long-term

families will become more self-sufficient. Praise God for the fruit that can be seen in the growth of the local Presbyterian Reformed Church, due in part to membership by Adoration students and family members. Budget for 2020: $420,000 CAD / $315,000 USD.

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>NicaRaGua

By Carlos Coffin

nine years of experience

Growing Crops and Worldviews At the end of 2012 we had the opportunity to help our own people with a development project. The Miskito indigenous people live in raised houses and live on agriculture and cattle raising. These families are very remote and know little of a biblical worldview. At first, we thought that the process would be easy since the community expressed their needs and were willing to work. We found this very motivating and, with great enthusiasm, we started a project to support agricultural production. We believed that giving the people tools, seeds, and a little technical training was enough. The focus on the Gospel was only to share the good news of salvation. However, along the way we realized that things were not as we thought. As an organization, we made all the necessary effort to accompany the community in their work and to improve their living conditions, but after much time

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and effort the expected results were not seen.

Concerned, we turned to some people in our country who had similar experiences with development projects in indigenous contexts; however, even they did not have the answers to help our situation, and they congratulated us for being on the right path to deal with the real problem.

We went back to the people whom we had trained to figure out why they were not working as they had been trained to work and why they lacked motivation in their work. They helped us understand that most of the people had grown up with an animistic (spirit worship) and fatalistic worldview, believing that they are inferior to other ethnic groups, so therefore they will never be able to do great things. Also, although they all professed Christianity, they believed that God destined them to be poor. This worldview caused them to have little motivation in life, conditioned only to subsistence and a bad work ethic. This knowledge allowed us to change the focus of the work that we were doing. We

tried to give greater attention to biblical themes, starting with original sin and its consequences for people, the development of worldviews, and the culture of poverty. We also shared the principles of the kingdom of God for the development of humanity from the cultural mandate in creation and continuing through to redemption in Christ.

We shared biblical studies related to worldview, stewardship, family, and work, among others, all from a biblical perspective of redemption in Christ.

Prayer RequestS

These themes helped community members have a new understanding of God, themselves, their Christian faith, creation, family, and work. After sitting through these classes, many of the people have abandoned apathy and fatalism and devoted themselves and their families to work with greater discipline and responsibility to improve their living conditions. Many parents are better dedicated to taking care of their families, they work with a long-term vision in mind, and they tend to their crops and businesses better. Further studies are still required, but we believe, by God’s grace, that we are on the right track.

Soli Deo gloria. W&D Carlos Coffin is the Director of Palabras Y Hechos Nicaragua (Word & Deed Nicaragua).

Word & Deed Nicaragua The Agricultural Commercialization project trains Miskito indigenous peoples in sustainable agricultural production. Over the span of ten years, the project has moved 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 2020: $83,000 CAD / $62,000 USD.

1. Pray that the worldview training in Nicaragua be an instrument of heart change and have the desired effect.

2. Pray that the theological resources will be a blessing to the pastors who received them in Latin America, and pray for CLIR in its ministry in that region of the world.

3. Give thanks that the food needs of many people could be supplemented in Haiti and other places around the world. Be in prayer for those who truly need their daily bread at this time.

4. Pray for wisdom for the Word & Deed staff as we work with our partners around the world during these extraordinary times.

Give thanks to the Lord for the generosity of our donors who enable us to continue in this work.

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BIKE-A-THON Thank you!

The First Annual Coast to Coast Bike-a-thon was a massive success with God’s blessing! Over 400 riders across North America biked thousands of miles and raised over $300,000 CAD / $225,000 USD for the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa. This news was a great encouragement to the clinic staff in the midst of what has been an extremely difficult year for them. We are amazed and humbled by the Lord’s bountiful provision in this way and we look forward to 2021’s event!

Thank you to all who organized, participated, and donated!

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Malawi Orphan Care Support

Supporters Needed for children in Malawi!

For $8 CAD (five children for $40) or $6 USD (five children for $30) per month, you can cover the monthly costs of a child who is part of the Malawi Orphan Care Program.

This program supports over 2,100 orphan and vulnerable children in Malawi who are cared for in a family-based program. The support that you give will provide a child with 3-5 meals per week, school supplies and uniforms, help with their homework, biblical instruction, and family support where needed.

You will receive an annual update on the status of this program.

Contact Kara at office@wordanddeed.org or by calling 1.877.375.9673 to set up your support.

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Dinner at Home fu n d r a is e r Help us to reach our goal of raising

$150,000 CAD / $115,000 USD

to support Word & Deed’s projects, including COVID-19 food relief.

Join many other supporters and Word & Deed’s partners from around the world for the Word & Deed Dinner at Home Fundraiser.

when:

November 13, 14, 20 or 21,

where:

2020 d.v.

The comfort of your own home.

Who: Your household and a few friends or family members (As permitted in your area) How: Prepare a meal for your guests, and then watch an online video presentation from Word & Deed that will inform you about the Lord’s work in the lives of countless people around the world.

Register at www.worddeed-dinner.com or call 1-877-375-9673 to receive a link to the video presentation and for information on how to donate. winter 2020/21 I Word&Deed

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Word & Deed USA

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

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

Publications Agreement # 40595030

Haiti 1. How has COVID-19 affected you? Did it cause you to wonder where your next meal was going to come from? What does it mean to live “informal” day to day? (Google “informal economy.”) When you pray for “your daily bread,” is it because your pantry is bare?

2. What are you thankful for? How does this compare with the things that Roseline is thankful for? What do you think of when you hear the word “wilderness”?

Pastor Octavius Delfils makes a reference to an “oasis in the middle of the wilderness.” See if you can find a similar thought in Psalm 107.

Costa Rica 1. Word & Deed was able to help 55 pastors because of partnership with CLIR. Are you a good team player? Would you rather do something by yourself or be part of a team?

Meditation 1. What do you think about the idea of the book of Revelation as being a “secret”? What is the secret that we can learn from it? How does this bring you comfort in trying times?

Nicaragua 1. What is a worldview? Do you have one? Does your worldview guide and direct how you live? How important is it that you have a Bible-based worldview?

If your worldview isn’t based on the Bible, what will it be based on and how will you then live?

Integration: Integrate Bible, history, geography, critical thinking, current events, and reading comprehension (etc.).

Missions: Challenge students to consider short-term mission trips and the use of their time, talents, and money to the glory of God while also having them ponder their relationship with the Lord.

Problem Solving: Develop problem solving skills in response to problems presented in the articles.

Awareness: Dramatically raise students’ awareness of what people in the developing world face on a daily basis. It will shape them for life.

Compassion: Elicit compassion when students come face to face with the very difficult lives of their peers in the developing world.

Thankfulness: Encourage thankfulness for God’s blessings in their lives.