W&D Magazine - Winter 2021-22

Giving Hope

christmas catalog 2021/22 PAGE 05

INSIDE

Winter 2021/22

Ecuador

Growing with Hope

Guatemala

Education through the Word

Nicaragua

The Harvest Is Plentiful

Malawi

Evidence of Fruit

From the Board Confidence Amid Challenges

Sponsorship

Cristo es la Luz After-School Sponsorship Program

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF WORD & DEED, AN INTERATIONAL REFORMED RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY

>foreword By rick postma

Eternity

as our

Horizon

Lately, I’ve been interrupting conversations, gently I hope, with something like, “All roads lead to COVID.” By this statement, I imply that it is time we build some new roads or rediscover some of the old ones. It appears that in the West we have a way of allowing current, and admittedly serious, challenges to completely dominate our landscape.

I do realize that this may be different in your area, dear reader, but my unscientific poll as I interact with supporters from across Canada and the United States is that it looms too large in most places.

As our team interacts with our partners in the developing world, we note that overall the pandemic has not been such a divider in the churches there. In some countries, the churches are growing, even significantly, as Christians share the bounty of their own labors or the help they are receiving from us and other concerned organizations and churches. There is evidence of some growth in our churches as well, as our neighbors react to the pandemic by asking the important questions about life that are so easily overlooked in “normal times.” For this we give thanks even as we urge one another to reach out to our neighbors with the hope of the Gospel which does not end with death, “. . . thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).

Now while this is understandable in a secular world where death marks the end of hope, has this pandemic become too much of a divider in the Western church? Whereas Paul expressed concern for those who identified as followers of Apollos or of Paul himself (1 Cor. 3:4), have we begun to In this issue, we hear both from and about some of the graduates in our partners’ programs in Ecuador, identify ourselves as those who are pro-vaccine Guatemala, and Malawi. Scott Dekorte gives or anti-vaccine? Pro-mask or anti-mask? What No doctrine is us a bird’s-eye view of our work in Nicaragua happened to having our identity in Christ? I have more excellent, and Corney Les, Canadian board chair, reminds spoken to people who say that fellow church us that even as we as believers face serious members are starting to feel like strangers and or necessary challenges all around us, we need not fear. they no longer look forward to worshiping on to be preached Sunday as they used to. and studied, Dr. Joel Beeke writes about the Puritans and

“

their dedication to God’s Word in the Meditation.

I want and need to be careful here. There are than Jesus valid points to be made in this debate on both Christ, and Him The Puritans were masters at ensuring that eternity was their horizon. This didn’t mean sides and I’m not writing this to say one side is crucified. that they simply let events roll over them; no, entirely right and the other entirely wrong. What John Flavel they stood strong in the Lord and His Word I’m urging all to do is to strive for an eternal and worked relentlessly to faithfully apply that perspective. With eternity as our horizon, this pandemic takes on its proper proportion. With the hope of Word to worship, family, education, and the public square. the resurrection through the accomplished work of the Lord May we strive to do the same—together.

Jesus Christ, and the knowledge that God controls all things, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, we can face the future while keeping our eye on the prize always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that and, by grace, we can echo the Apostle Paul who wrote, “For your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). W&D to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

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

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WORD&DEED

meditation

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

By dr. joel r. beeke

Winter 2021/22 Editor Rick Postma Assistant Editor Scott Koopman Graphic Design Knor Graphic Design Solutions Copy Editors Shelly Crites, Hanna Korvemaker, Kara Luiting, Bethany Post, Susan Trentacosti Word & Deed North America is an evangelical and Reformed humanitarian relief and development organization. Our aim is to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people in the developing world in accordance with biblical principles for the glory of God. With cooperating offices in St. Thomas, Ontario, and Hudsonville, Michigan, Word & Deed partners with Christian agencies in Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Myanmar, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Malawi, and South Africa.

Director of Projects John Otten Director of Public Relations Rick Postma Director Heidi Pronk Support Staff Scott Dekorte, Scott Koopman, John Kottelenberg, Kara Luiting Dave Vander Meer Canadian Board of Directors Chairman – Corney Les Vice-Chairman – John Vangameren Secretary – Harold Leyenhorst Treasurer – Henry de Waal Wilf Bout, Dr Arjan de Visser, Pastor Christo Heiberg, John Jagersma, Bert Mulder, James Neven, Lyle Ypma USA Board of Directors President – Paul Laman Vice President - Jay Van Voorst Secretary – Harry Kooistra Treasurer – Karen Vander Sloot Paul Beezhold, Eric Brandt, Pastor Adrian Dieleman Eric Greendyk, Pete Vander Stel, Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke –

International Educational Consultant Dr. Gerald M. Bilkes – Professor of Old & New Testament, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Pastor Richard Bout –

URCNA Missions Coordinator

Pastor Danny Hyde – Pastor,

Oceanside United Reformed Church

Pastor Mark Vander Hart –

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

Pastor Frank Van Dalen –

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

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

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

Bible quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

The

>

Priority of the Word in Puritan Thinking

“Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.” John 17:17 KJV

I have the greatest respect for the ministry of Word & Deed. Literally, “word and deed” is a great biblical concept. In this short meditation, I want to focus on the priority of the Word in Puritan thinking.

Puritan preaching was thoroughly biblical. The Puritan preacher found his message in God’s Word. As Miller Maclure noted, “For the Puritans, the sermon is not just hinged to Scripture; it quite literally exists inside the Word of God; the text is not in the sermon, but the sermon is in the text. . . . Put summarily, listening to a sermon is being in the Bible.” The Puritans were people of the living Book. They loved, lived, and breathed Scripture, relishing the power of the Spirit that accompanied the Word. They regarded the 66 books of Scripture as the library of the Holy Spirit that was graciously bequeathed to them.

They viewed Scripture as God speaking to them as a father speaks to his children. They regarded the Word as empowered by the Spirit to renew their minds and transform their lives. They saw the Word as truth that would sanctify them and that they could rest upon for all eternity. They truly believed John 17:17, and often preached on this glorious text: “Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth” (KJV).

The Puritans searched, heard, and sang the Word with delight and encouraged others to do the same. Puritan Richard Greenham suggested eight ways to read Scripture: with diligence,

wisdom, preparation, meditation, conference, faith, practice, and prayer. Thomas Watson provided numerous guidelines on how to listen to the Word. “Dreadful is their case who go loaded with sermons to hell,” Watson warned.

By contrast, those who respond to Scripture as a “love letter sent to you from God” will experience its warming, transforming power.

The Puritans sounded a clarion call to become intensely Word-centered in faith and practice.

They regarded the Bible as a trustworthy guide for all of life. “We should set the Word of God always before us like a rule, and believe nothing but that which it teacheth, love nothing but that which it prescribeth, hate nothing but that which it forbiddeth, do nothing but that which it commandeth,” said the Puritan preacher Henry Smith to his congregation.

Our evangelistic efforts must be similarly grounded in the Bible. We must search the Scriptures more frequently and love the Word of God more fervently. As we learn to think, speak, and act more biblically, our messages will become more authoritative and our witness will become more effective and fruitful. W&D Dr. Joel Beeke is a minister of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, where he is also the Professor of Systematic Theology and Homiletics.

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>ECuaDOR

Growing with Hope Misión San Lucas supports more than 300 students at three different project centers in the city of Quininde, Ecuador. These projects are after-school programs that are supported by Word & Deed’s child sponsorship program. Below are testimonies from two former beneficiaries of this project. We praise the Lord for His faithful work in the hearts of many children who have participated in this program over the years!

Jordy I entered the project at a very young age. The project taught me dynamic lessons from the Word of God and as I grew, little by little, I was learning all about good and evil. I learned to acknowledge my sin, to repent, and to seek forgiveness. I often thank the Lord for the project, because my life would be very different today if I did not have the opportunity to know God from a young age through the ministry of the project. Without the help of the teachers throughout the years, I would never have been able to graduate and go to post-secondary studies. Even throughout my post-secondary studies, the teachers at the project have invited me to come and do my homework at the project where there are computers available. Thank you so much for all the support you have given to me and I also ask you to continue to pray to the Lord, that He would guide my life and keep me faithful.

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Lilibeth The project has been of great blessing in many areas of my life. I entered when I was only four years old. I am beginning to study biology at the university next month.

My success can be attributed to God and to the love, commitment, and dedication each teacher has had with me. Each teacher marked my life in an extraordinary way and taught me the importance of sharing the Gospel. The teachers always took care of me and influenced me during my adolescent years, teaching me the perfect plan that God has for my life. They taught me the importance of waiting for His will to be done in me. I long to be able to study and see my dreams fulfilled as I begin university and see what God has prepared for me. The Growing with Hope projects of Misión San Lucas are a testimony of God’s love. Thank you for all your support during these years and for enabling me to be surrounded with God’s love and protection through this ministry. W&D

GIVING HOPE

CHRISTMAS CATALOG 2021

ARE YOU CONSIDERING MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS GIVING IDEAS? Consider purchasing a gift from our catalog this year as a means of blessing those in need.

6 cad 5 usd

$

$

10 cad $ 7.5 usd $

18 cad 14 usd

$

$

BIBLES

Provide a Bible to be distributed at projects in various countries.

MEALS (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.

BUNDLES OF LOVE (GUATEMALA)

Christmas gift (a toy and a practical item) for a student at Christian schools in Guatemala.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES (HAITI)

$

20 cad 15 usd

School supplies for one student for one year at Adoration Christian School.

21 cad $ 15 usd

Provide one month of care for a child in an after-school program in rural India.

105 cad $ 75 usd

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

$

$

$

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM (INDIA)

SEWING MACHINES (INDIA)

TRAINING BOOKLETS (MALAWI)

150 cad $ 115 usd

Print 100 booklets on Systematic Theology and Church Leadership for lay leaders in Malawi.

350 cad $ 265 usd

A month of utilities for the Logos Ministries Resource Centre in Malawi.

2,100 cad $ 1,600 usd

Provide a denominational missions office in India with a fresh source of drinking water to replace a failing well.

6,500 cad $ 5,000 usd

To rebuild key components of a truck used by agriculture trainers in Nicaragua

$

$

$

$

HOW TO PURCHASE A GIFT:

UTILITIES (MALAWI)

WELL DRILLING (INDIA)

TRUCK REPAIR (NICARAGUA)

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

www.wordanddeed.org/givinghope

PHONE: Call to place your order. Payment can be made via credit card or mailed check.

1.877.375.9673 (Canada) 1.866.391.5728 (USA) Acknowledgement Cards are available for those who wish to purchase a gift from our catalog on someone’s behalf. Please note that cards will be mailed within seven days of receiving your donation.

View the full catalog and order online at: www.wordanddeed.org/givinghope

>GUaTeMala Education

through the

Word

Keneth

La Palabra is a Christian school run by AMG Guatemala. “La Palabra” means “The Word”—something woven throughout the education received by students through the support of Word & Deed sponsors and evidenced through the testimonies of the two former students below.

I have the dream of completing my studies at the university, and I would like to study an industrial engineering career, then start my own business, and one day get married and start a family. I believe that God will make my dreams come true and I will be able to move forward and help my family.

Keneth I am 19 years old and I had the blessing of studying at La Palabra School since I entered the first grade. My teachers took great pains for me to learn both academically and spiritually. They gave me love, attention, and also discipline.

Something that marked my life was that I had people who helped me without knowing me personally, who dedicated their time and resources so that I could study.

They are my sponsors. Thank you, dear sponsors; I will be eternally grateful to you.

Thanks to God, I was able to study until I graduated from the program of Science and Electricity in high school. I had the blessing of being sponsored for 11 years.

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Electricity is something that I like a lot. I am working now as an electrician for a construction company. Thank God I am earning my own money and I can help financially at home. The career that I followed was a good choice since there is a lot of work in this area and I can learn more every day. I also want to mention that since I was a child, I have collaborated with the local fire station by volunteering there and am now studying to be a professional firefighter when I am not working as an electrician. I do all this because I believe that we should love our neighbors and help people in any way we can.

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Winter 2021/22

Shalém I am 20 years old and I studied at La Palabra School from the second grade to the ninth grade. My dream was to study to become a teacher of pre-primary education.

Thank God I achieved this and graduated in 2019. I did my practice teaching at La Palabra School, since I considered that it was a way of giving back a little and thanking the school and my sponsors for everything they gave me during my studies because I had the happiness of being a sponsored student.

Shalém

I am currently studying two other careers that I am passionate about. One of them is a Beauty Technician at a local school where, thank God, I was also able to obtain a scholarship to carry out these studies. I am starting to work in a beauty salon in my town in Jalapa to be able to have much more practice since my dream

wise & impactful

year-end giving Giving non-cash assets is a smart tax choice to advance the ministry of Word & Deed in the developing world.

is to have my own beauty salon so that I can generate resources for the good of my family. Also, this year I started studying my second semester in Communication Sciences at a local university because I want to learn to be a good communicator and to use technology for this.

After finishing my studies at the university, I would also like to study theology and thus understand the Word of God in a better way.

The love and education that I received at La Palabra School marked my life. The school and its Christian environment were a strength for my life when my mother experienced a difficult accident that took her years to recover from. Also, the love of my sponsors was seen in the payment of my tuition, food, and financial aid with my scholarship in my secondary education. God bless you very much.

Regarding my spiritual life, I am fine. I love God, I serve Him, and we attend church. During the pandemic, my family has had studies of the books of the Bible and we pray and try to help others in everything that we can.

God has been good in our lives and I want to reciprocate His love and always serve Him. W&D

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The whole life of a Christian should be nothing but praises and thanks to God; we should neither eat nor sleep, but eat to God and sleep to God and work to God and talk to God, do all to His glory and praise.

—Richard Sibbes

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Stocks Retirement Accounts Real Estate / Land Farm Commodities Tangible Personal Property / Equipment Business Interests Life Insurance

To learn more about this opportunity contact Dave Vandermeer at dvandermeer@wordanddeed.org or at 269-760-0771.

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>NicaRaGua By scott dekorte

The Harvest Is

Plentiful

After many years in a working relationship with our partners in Nicaragua, it is good to reflect on how our partnership has developed, and on the Lord’s goodness to us throughout these many years. Lessons from the past offer instruction as we continue moving forward and creating new goals with our partners. Here is a short timeline of our history with Palabra y Hecho de Nicaragua (Word & Deed Nicaragua).

In 2009, Palabra y Hecho (PyH) began home rebuilding and cattle management in the fishing village of Dakura. A fence was also built to help divide the crops from the free ranging cattle, pigs, and chickens. PyH had to reconsider serving in this community in 2012, when a large illegal shipment of drugs washed ashore, causing disputes and ill-productive cooperation.

In 2007, Hurricane Felix hit the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, causing 133 deaths and $720 million USD in damages.

Through a close connection with Eric Pennings of MINTS (Miami International Seminary), we were able to connect with Carlos Coffin and a local indigenous team to assist with the relief needs. The “deeds” came first as we helped more than 400 families with immediate food, restoring wells, and the reconstruction of their homes. Soon after, we were able to begin teaching and sharing the Word with recipients of the relief. The relationship with Palabra y Hecho de Nicaragua (Word & Deed Nicaragua) had begun!

By 2012, our partnership was rooted in a ten-year commitment to an agricultural program focused on teaching eight rural communities basic techniques for growing crops such as rice, beans, peppers, and bananas. With a team of five and a local Board of Directors overseeing the recently established partner, we began agricultural and biblical training for the 180 families wanting to participate.

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Did Christ finish His work for us? Then there can be no doubt but He will also finish His work in us.

John Flavel

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In 2014, a microloan program to promote self-sustainability had been in full swing for two years, already supporting 36 families per year to raise animals for extra income and to grow crops producing harvests large enough to sell at local markets. Teaching about how to preserve seeds from one harvest to the next planting season became a major focus in the communities.

In 2015, a small office building was constructed as a home base for the PyH team consisting of agricultural trainers, microloan instructors, and administrators. The focus of the project shifted from not only agriculture support and plot demonstrations to instead changing the mindset of the local communities in areas such as family relationships, a biblical view of work, and a proper understanding of God’s character.

In 2017, the first local Reformed church was planted in the town of Puerto Cabezas due to the ongoing teaching of MINTS and the connection with the Christian school families.

Certain families in the agricultural training program began to take increased ownership of their crops, families were strengthened, and a mindset of self-sustainability began to take root. To encourage local leadership, 15 Christian university and college students were sponsored and started to meet more regularly to discuss Christian leadership skills.

In 2020, two Category 5 hurricanes hit within two weeks of each other, leaving more damage than Hurricane Felix in 2007. PyH, now a matured partner, assisted us in supplying immediate food needs, road clearing, well restoration, crop replanting, and minor home rebuilding. The local church accompanied the relief and rebuilding efforts of PyH. Agricultural training continued with 300 participants, now focused on the principles of development from a biblical perspective.

In 2021, as the ten-year local agricultural initiative comes to a close in the eight rural communities, a slow exit process is now being implemented. Ongoing discussions and strategic planning have focused on potential future projects to bring the Gospel to river villages, instruction in coffee growth for a number of interested families, and a microloan program for small businesses in the town of Puerto Cabezas. Discussions are being held as we assess the needs, the local assets, and the future resources that will need to be implemented in the coming years. Indeed, the harvest is plentiful! W&D Scott Dekorte works for Word & Deed as the Project Manager for Nicaragua. He also works in the Public Relations department.

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>MalaWi By heidi pronk

Evidence

of

Fruit

When we first assumed responsibility for the orphan care centers in Malawi from Dr. Timothy and Dorothy Monsma in 2004, the programs were still in their infancy. Over the last number of years, many changes have occurred – some centers are flourishing, others have closed, some have graduated many students, others eventually lost contact with the little ones they once cared for.

Whatever the outcome, we trust that the seeds of God’s Word planted in these children over the last two decades will bear eternal fruit.

It is particularly rewarding when we can see evidence of this fruit. One such testimony is that of Sekerani Sikalioti, the Program Manager of Thandizo Orphan Care. For many years, Nkhoma Orphan Care (the predecessor of Thandizo) supported Sekerani’s single mother by helping pay for the secondary education of both Sekerani and his brother.

They also provided biblical instruction, maize, school supplies, blankets, and other basic necessities at a time when his mother struggled just to get food on the table. He was able to graduate from high school and then secured a scholarship to technical school. After working for a couple of years for Escom, a utility company, he felt the call to return to his roots and give back to the community which blessed him as a child.

For the last few years, he has been overseeing the orphan care work in the Nkhoma area, ensuring that children like him have the opportunities he was given. Sekerani is married and the father of a little girl and now sees how God has used all things for good in his life.

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Sekerani

Just 40 kilometers down the road from Nkhoma is another one of our original orphan care centers—Lizulu Orphan Care in Dedza. On September 5, 2021, Lizulu Orphan Care was the scene of great excitement as it hosted its first-ever wedding when two former orphans got married there! The happy bride and groom posed for photos with children currently in the program, and the children in return sang and danced at the celebration. Kondwani Kamphale and Lucy Singano first met as beneficiaries in the orphan care program. Kondwani is now employed by the government as an agricultural field advisor, and Lucy works for a company in Blantyre. By God’s grace, the love shown to these two as children when they were in great need has now found expression in the loving beginning of a new covenant family.

Kondwani Kamphale and Lucy Singano

Praise God with us for His great faithfulness to these young adults!

Also, please continue to pray that the children currently in the program will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord to become a new generation of faithful Christ-followers. W&D Heidi Pronk is the Administrator for Word & Deed in the US and the Project Manager for Malawi and South Africa.

“

Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all.

“

Thomas Brooks

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>from

the

board

By corney les

Confidence Amid Challenges At Word & Deed Ministries, we recently held our annual policy day to review the activities, programs, and direction of Word & Deed. Many reports were shared describing how relief efforts were helping people in multiple countries affected by typhoons, political turmoil, flooding, earthquakes, and COVID-19. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been provided to help with the relief efforts and share the Word of God. We are so grateful that the Lord has inclined the hearts of our donors to continue to provide prayerful and monetary support so this work can continue—indeed, that it could grow into other areas of the world where the needy required help. These are certainly challenging times we live in, yet it is exciting to witness the Word of God reaching people throughout the world. Pray that the work may continue in bringing His Word and in providing help where needed.

Even in these challenging times we can have confidence!

In biblical history we see Sennacherib ruled Assyria from the capital city of Nineveh, which was the largest city in the world at the time. He was formidable and ruthless, a military ruler bent on collecting nations. Nebuchadnezzar II, the ruler of the Babylonian Empire, surpassed him. He made Babylon even larger and greater than Nineveh. Nothing like it had ever been seen. Yet Cyrus surpassed them both, creating the world’s largest empire through merciless force. When Cyrus’s

vast army marched, the ground shook for miles.

Of these great kings and ancient empires, God declares in Isaiah 40:15, “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.”

Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar II, and Cyrus had all been great in their time. Rome and her emperors had been great.

The barbarian armies were a great threat. All, however, were a drop in the bucket in the eyes of the Lord. Not one of these great rulers and not one of these empires could compare to God and His Kingdom. Only ruins remain where these nations once stood.

Today, we may get discouraged by all we see around us. It is easy to despair when evil seems to prosper, and it is easy to become overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change and the increasing challenges facing Christians and the Church. But we can learn from those who have gone before us to have a proper perspective. We must look beyond the temporal and finite and look to our eternal God, to His eternal Word, and toward His eternal Kingdom. We are not called to cower in the face of our circumstances, but to stand tall in our confidence in God. W&D Corney Les is the Chairman of Word & Deed Canada and attends the Heritage Reformed Church in Chilliwack, BC.

Check Out Our New Website Word & Deed has a new online presence! Find us online at wordanddeed.org. Our new website includes resources on how schools, churches, business owners, and individuals can get involved in the global work of Word & Deed. We are thankful for the professional assistance of Rocket Digital, a Word & Deed Business Group member from Ancaster, ON.

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PrayerRequestS

1 2 3 4 5

Praise God for the Board of Directors of Word & Deed

Ministries with many diverse skills and backgrounds.

Pray that the alumni of the various Word & Deed sponsorship programs would walk in God’s ways and find in Him hope for this life and eternity.

Praise the Lord for many faithful Christian teachers around the world who care for their students and bring them the Word of God. Praise God for the many years spent working with hundreds of families in Nicaragua, and pray for the Lord’s blessing as new initiatives begin.

Praise God for the marriage of Kondwani and Lucy in Malawi, and pray that their marriage would bring glory to the Lord.

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SPONSORSHIP Cristo es la Luz After-School Sponsorship Program

>>

i

Nayeli

Yulissa

Merlyn

Maria

Hayron

Gudiel

Female 7 years old

Female 13 years old

Female 6 years old

Female 5 years old

Male 5 years old

Male 5 years old

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The Cristo es la Luz Sponsorship Program in Guatemala is an after-school program (ASP) ministering to needy children in the community. They recently expanded the program in Cubulco to a larger location in Chicuxtin (10 minutes from Cubulco). Previously there were 50 children enrolled in the program, which operates three days a week at the center in Cubulco. With the larger facility, an additional 50 children now have the opportunity to enroll in the ASP. If you are interested in sponsoring one of these new students at $38 CAD / $35 USD, visit the sponsorship page on our new website at wordanddeed.org or contact Kara at office@wordanddeed.org or by calling 1-877-375-9673.

Fredy Male 11 years old

Damary Female 9 years old

Andy Male 9 years old

“

No pen, no words, no image can express to you the loveliness of my only Lord Jesus.

Samuel Rutherford

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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

Meditation 1. What does Dr. Beeke mention that the Puritans were grounded in?

What example does this set for a ministry such as Word & Deed and for each of us in our individual lives?

Ecuador 1. How does Jordy think his life would be different today if it he hadn’t had the opportunity to join the after-school project in Quininde?

Guatemala 1. Describe the impact (both temporal and eternal) that being sponsored to attend La Palabra Christian School made in the lives of both Keneth and Shalém.

Nicaragua 1. What are some of the challenges that Palabra y Hecho has had to work through over the past 15 years?

2. Why has changing the heart also been important to the local team as they train farmers?

Malawi 1. What did Nkhoma Orphan Care provide for Sekerani and his family? Reflect on how you’ve taken some of these necessities for granted and pray for those who go without.

2. Reflect on the Lord’s providential leading in Kondwani and Lucy’s lives in bringing them together as husband and wife through Lizulu Orphan Care. What are some of the ways the Lord has led you in your life?

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.