Winter 2024/25

Winter2024/25

CELEBRATING

30 YEARS OF GOD’S

INSIDE

FAITHFULNESS

Haiti

The Blessing of Adoration’s Special Education Program

Colombia A Family’s Love for the One True God

Education

Word & Deed’s Three Areas of Emphasis

Indonesia

Encouraging Initiatives in Rural Indonesia

Chairman’s Message

Growing Our Impact by Organizing a Fundraiser

Sponsorship Sponsor a Child Today!

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

Foreword

BY RICK POSTMA

Gaining the Whole World, but Losing Your Soul

Cover Photo: Children playing in rural Colombia.

What do you think about Elon Musk? I find him fascinating and agree with him at least on some points such as the need for more children and freedom of speech. You can’t have freedom of worship without freedom of speech. However, Elon Musk believes that the earth will likely become uninhabitable by human beings in the not too distant future and mankind needs to be ready. His answer is to turn man, as he read in many science fiction novels in his youth, into an inter-planetary species.

First stop, Mars.

prescribed path to recovery wrong as well. Ultimately, we live in a moral universe created by a holy God who cannot overlook sin and remain holy. All mankind whoever lived will one day face the wrath of God and the only way to avoid this is to be covered in the blood of the God-man, Jesus Christ.

Our problem is sin, our only solution is Christ. To paraphrase G.K. Chesterton, sin runs through every man’s heart. Going to Mars won’t help at all.

The need for the Gospel message to go to our neighbors both near and afar is urgent. In the The world has learned to take Elon seriously. meditation, Pastor Carlos Figueroa tells us how From battery-operated Tesla vehicles (one of the showing compassion to our neighbors, imitating most highly valued companies in the world), to Christ, is a wonderful means of doing just that. Kara SpaceX and landing booster rockets back on their Luiting’s article on the Special Education program in platforms for reuse, he has, almost single-handedly, Haiti echoes not only the blessing of children but out-performed any combination of his also the obligation to value them as precious image competitors. While his predictions are bearers of God. Heidi Pronk reminds us of typically off by a number of years, how Word & Deed’s three areas of emphasis he does get it done. His current shape the work we do with our partners prediction for humans living on and Kasper Van Veen provides us with Mars is 2029. an example of how that is being worked out in an update on Christian School The Lord has blessed Elon with an construction projects in Indonesia. By amazing set of talents. Who knows God’s grace, may we all strive to imitate if He will allow him to set up a the God-man Jesus Christ as we fulfill our community on Mars? Sadly, while Elon calling to love God and love our neighbor has “progressed” from being an atheist and may we be a means to the to a “cultural Christian,” he doesn’t extension of His Kingdom profess Christ and is perhaps for His glory. And may one of the strongest living the Lord have mercy examples of the verse, on Elon Musk so “For what profit is it to that he might gain a man if he gains the What do you think eternal life and whole world, and loses about Elon Musk? be a powerful his own soul?” (Matthew witness for Him. 16:26).

W&D Elon is right in that mankind will Rick Postma is inevitably experience the Director of a day of disaster. But Public Relations he gets the diagnosis for Word & Deed wrong and therefore the Ministries

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

WINTER 2024/25 Editor Rick Postma Assistant Editors Scott Koopman, Kara Luiting Graphic Design Knor Graphic Design Solutions Copy Editors Shelly Crites, Hanna Korvemaker, 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. Executive Team John Otten, Rick Postma, Heidi Pronk Staff Scott Dekorte, Scott Koopman, John Kottelenberg, Kara Luiting, Dave Vander Meer, Kasper Van Veen, Nikki Veurink, Laurenne Wattel Canadian Board of Directors Chairman – John Jagersma Vice-Chairman – John Vangameren Secretary – Dave Wielinga Treasurer – Henry de Waal Wilf Bout, Clarence Jonker, Corney Les, James Neven, Paul Wagenaar, Lyle Ypma USA Board of Directors President – Paul Beezhold Vice President - Jay Van Voorst Secretary – Harry Kooistra Treasurer – Karen Vander Sloot Eric Brandt, Pastor Adrian Dieleman, Martin Faasse, Eric Greendyk, Paul Laman, Pete Vander Stel Advisory Committee Mr. Jim Beeke –

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

Pastor Richard Bout –

URCNA Missions Coordinator

Dr. Arjan de Visser –

Emeritus Professor of Ministry and Mission, Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary Pastor Danny Hyde – Pastor, Oceanside United Reformed Church

Pastor Mark Vander Hart –

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

Pastor Frank Van Dalen –

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.

Meditation

BY PASTOR CARLOS FIGUEROA

What It Means to Love Your Neighbor

In Luke 10:29, a lawyer, in order to justify himself, asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus answered him with the parable of the Good Samaritan, which also ends with a question: “‘So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?’ And he said, ‘He who showed mercy on him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36–37). The lawyer clearly recognized that his neighbor was the Samaritan, and we recognize that the Samaritan is a Jesus figure, who out of love takes pity on us through his grace to save us.

Through His work we have been wrapped in that undeserved grace and at the same time we receive Jesus’s invitation to, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

This attitude of mercy and compassion should lead us, as recipients of Jesus’s care, to fulfill the command to love our neighbor by helping others, His presence within us compelling us to act like Him. In this call to love our neighbor, we recognize the indispensable characteristic of compassion, the characteristic that Jesus exemplified to us so clearly through His death, and a deep understanding of the condition of our souls. The Greek word for compassion is

“sympatheia,” which means “to suffer together.”

It consists of perceiving the anguish of others and making it our own. This does not mean that we assume individual responsibility of our neighbor’s suffering, but by sharing in their suffering, we help to alleviate their burden.

Compassion is also the ability to feel close to the pain and needs of others, accompanied by the desire to help alleviate their suffering. It is this concern for someone that motivates us to be supportive. The evidence of being someone’s neighbor, a good neighbor, is the manifestation of God’s love through your actions toward them.

In conclusion, the need, pain, and suffering in the world, in families, and in individuals should motivate us, as Christians, to serve them and to love them well. We are instruments in the hands of the Creator to bring the good news of salvation, so that our neighbors recover their identity (guiding them to discover God’s purpose), practicing humility, and at the same time, being aware of our own weakness and the immense compassion that God has shown to us. W&D Carlos Figueroa is the chaplain at our partner organization Conviventia in Colombia and the director of the Family Protection Program and Leadership Training Program.

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Haiti

BY KARA LUITING

The Blessings of Adoration’s Special Education Program Haiti shares an island with the Dominican Republic and is located in the Caribbean. Haiti is a volatile country that, in recent years especially, suffers from gang rioting and government instability. This rioting has shut down Adoration Christian School on many occasions, for months at a time. Although there doesn’t seem to be a resolution to the unrest in sight, Adoration continues to do what they can for the people that they serve in their community.

If you walk into Adoration Christian School on an average school day, you will notice many things that are similar to other schools in Haiti. Well-dressed students in uniforms will be playing on the playground, there will likely be a soccer game on the go, and little girls with bows in their combed-back hair will be sitting in circles chatting and giggling with each other. Yes, there are several things that make Adoration Christian School similar to other schools in Haiti, but there are also things that make this school stand out. In fact, there is one thing in particular, aside from a highly respected Christian education model, that makes them especially unique: their Special Education Program.

Adoration is very proud to offer this unique opportunity to students with special needs—the inclusion of this program in their offerings is something that very few schools in Haiti can boast.

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HAITI

In fact, since many schools in Haiti are not equipped to educate children with special needs, parents of these students are often referred to expensive institutions where their children will receive a sub-par education. It is common for children who are mentally and physically challenged to be ostracized by their community and many of these children lack the opportunity to go to school altogether. In the formative years of Adoration Christian School, the Board of Directors recognized these challenges and made the inclusion of special needs students a priority in their school. Students who are enrolled in the Special Needs Program receive a specialized education, similar to the way some students in North America receive Individual Learning Plans. Each student is helped to achieve the highest level of academic achievement that is possible for them, but the main goal of the three specially trained teachers in this class is to ensure that each and every student feels loved and valued.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this program is the way in which the special needs students integrate so seamlessly into the life of the school. They participate in all of the same contests, chapel sessions, and recreation programs that the rest of the students in the school do. They are a big part of the Adoration Christian School family and as the school’s director remarked in a recent conversation, “If we didn’t have them with us, Adoration would miss them greatly.”

This school year, 23 students with special needs, ranging in age from 6–18, have been welcomed into Adoration. These students have entered the school with a range of needs and gifts. Some are verbal, some are not, and some need more help with their studies than others. Each and every one of them have unique gifts and talents that they are encouraged to lean into and share with the rest of the student body.

GENERATIONAL BY IN

IMPACT GIVING YOUR WILL

Your will is your final act of stewardship and care, a means to purposefully allocate your resources to support the people and causes you hold dear. By including charitable giving in your will, you model a legacy of generosity to your loved ones, and you help ensure that Word & Deed Ministries continues to have an impact well beyond your lifetime.

Yes, there are many things that make Adoration Christian School similar to other schools in Haiti, but stop for a minute and take one last look before you leave the school yard. You’ll notice a playground full of students who may not all have the same physical or mental capabilities, but you will also notice something that many other schools in Haiti have failed to recognize—the fact that all children are created in the image of God and for His glory. What a beautiful opportunity that Adoration Christian School has to shine the light of love and worth on all of the children in their community, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.

We have an opportunity for you to sponsor Adoration’s Special Education Class. For $43 CAD/$35 USD per month, you can help cover the cost related to one student in this class. The students in the Special Education Program all receive a Christian education that is unique to each of their needs, a school uniform, a nutritious meal once per day, school supplies, medical and dental care when needed, and emergency assistance in a crisis. The Class Sponsorship model will keep you informed about the progress and activities of this class on a quarterly basis. At the beginning of each school year, you will also receive an updated class photo of Adoration’s Special Education Class. If you are interested in supporting this class or have any questions related to sponsoring them, please email Laurenne at office@wordanddeed.org or call her at 1-877-375-9673. Thank you for your generosity! W&D

To learn more about this or other ways to give, visit our website: wordanddeed.org/get-involved/ planned-giving-canada/

Kara Luiting works at Word & Deed’s office in St. Thomas, ON, in a Public Relations support role.

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Colombia

BY SCOTT DEKORTE

A Family’s Love for the One True God This article originally appeared in the latest issue of the Open Doors magazine—a publication of the Free Reformed Churches, geared toward children.

COLOMBIA

Colombia is a country that is plagued by extreme poverty and violence that is initiated by drug cartels, gangs, and rebel groups. Our partner, Conviventia, operates four Christian schools on the outskirts of major cities where many internally displaced families have fled from the violence of the big cities.

From the schools, the Family Protection Program counsels families of students in crisis with the help of a chaplain, a social worker and a psychologist.

The protection program has a team located in Bogota, Cartagena, and in the northern desert of Colombia where the team is dedicated to assisting the indigenous Wayuu people. In this area, 95% of families do not have a father figure in the home.

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Imagine a place where you’d never need your winter coat, where “snow” is only something you would read about in a book. The hot sun blazes all year long and running away from sandstorms with your friends is a normal activity. In the northern part of Colombia there is a desert called “La Guajira” (la gwa-heer-ra). A group of people called the Wayuu (Wah-You) have called this desert home for thousands of years. The Wayuu speak a language called Wayuunaiki and are known for their beautiful basket weaving and for raising goats.

Alejandra is a 14-year-old girl who lives near a small school in the Guajira desert.

She wears a long, baby-pink dress as her school uniform which contrasts with her thick black hair tied tight into a ponytail. After school she works hard to help around the house by cooking and sweeping. Alejandra’s mother teaches her the important

Alejandra (top left) with her grandmother, mother, and two of her siblings.

skill of weaving “Mochilas” (Spanish for backpack) which the family can sell to make money. She lives in a house of mud walls that protect from the harsh wind that carries the dust across the land. One tree spreads out offering shady protection from the burning sun, while cacti make a fence around the property. For Alejandra’s town, finding fresh water to drink is one of the greatest challenges. The nearby ocean is undrinkable salt water and rain in the desert is rare. Thankfully, last year a well was dug deep into the ground and now provides clean drinking water for her family and neighbors.

As the oldest daughter, Alejandra assists her mother in caring for her three younger brothers. But there is something special about her family. Do you want to guess what it is? Alejandra’s father, Fernando, loves God. Because he loves God, he loves his family too. He works hard in the hot sun to build a house that protects them from harsh desert weather. He helps to carry water from the well and to care for their herd of goats. More importantly, he brings the family to church and regularly prays with them. Very few of Alejandra’s friends have a father like hers!

Alejandra prays, “Jesus, you are the only Savior of my home!” This is an incredible prayer because most of her Wayuu neighbors believe in many false gods. The most popular false god “Maleiwa” is the god who created the earth and is responsible for sending rain on the desert. Other false gods make people sick or give them dreams, but Alejandra knows they are not real gods! She knows from the Bible that Jesus is the true and only God. He alone is Creator and the Savior of sinners through the blood of His cross (see Colossians 1).

Trip Recap

BY CLARENCE JONKER

In August 2024, I had the privilege of traveling to Colombia with Scott Dekorte as a newly appointed board member with Word & Deed. The purpose of our visit was to listen to ongoing needs, follow up on projects where support has been committed, and strengthen relationships between Word & Deed and Conviventia—an organization Word & Deed has partnered with since 1994. Our trip spanned one week and led us through multiple cities and vastly different regions of the country. Colombia is a country similar in size to Ontario, but very fragmented due to dense rainforests, deserts, and challenging topography.

The country also suffers from political and economic hardships. Even with these challenges, I was able to witness that Conviventia has been richly blessed with committed staff and programs throughout the country. Staff are actively involved in administering before-school meal programs, supporting broken families, and training practical life skills. Provisions and supports are in place for vulnerable families and children. Each visit to a school or church community in the various regions brought a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by that particular school or community, and clearly showed me how God continues to provide for them through trying times. May God continue to bless the work done in Colombia!

Clarence Jonker lives with his family in Winnipeg, MB, where they are members of Grace Canadian Reformed Church. He is an owner and project manager at a mechanical contracting company.

As you think about Alejandra and her family, do you realize they pray to the same God that you do? They live far away in a dry place with very little water, but where Jesus satisfies their souls. Think about these words from Psalm 63:1: “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” W&D Scott Dekorte works for Word & Deed in Public Relations and as a Project Manager.

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Education

BY HEIDI PRONK

Word & Deed’s Three Areas of Emphasis If you’ve had any exposure to Word & Deed recently, you’ve probably heard reference to our “three areas of emphasis.”

This article is intended to be a refresher on what those are and why we believe that these values reflect a biblical approach to poverty alleviation.

From the beginning, the Word & Deed board was committed to ensuring that we were true to our name—that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would take first place in our work, reflecting the Great Commission. We believe that the Bible should inform and infuse every part of what we do—from how we define the problem of poverty, to how we address poverty, and everything in between. In practice, this is evidenced by the fact that every project has a Bible teaching component.

Children in after-school programs are hearing Bible stories, learning memory verses, and singing Christian songs. In a medical clinic, it means that there is a chaplain available to meet with families in crisis and staff members who pray with the patients. Emergency food relief distributions are done through the local church so that the Gospel is shared, sufferers are prayed for, and local church members are the

visible hands and feet of Jesus. Our partners also place a high value on relationship and discipleship, reflecting the importance of connecting the deed with God’s Word.

This also highlights a second area of emphasis: our commitment to helping equip and empower indigenous leaders. Local leaders are far more qualified to lead in their own communities than Westerners because they understand the culture, context, and people far better than we can.

We provide encouragement, support, and capacity building while the local church leads. In practice, this means that project leaders come from the churches and communities that they work in. It also means that we respect the knowledge and opinions of our partners and we are also learning from them. Sometimes the best examples of this come when there is opposition in an area. Indigenous leaders understand their culture and context best and we can learn much from their wise ways.

The final area of emphasis is one that we have clarified in recent years. We want to avoid a dependency mindset and instead focus on helping people become more self-

Gospel Focus is a central part of every project that our partners operate, including the ones shown here in Haiti, Costa Rica, and Colombia.

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sufficient. However, we also recognize that we are all dependent on God’s providential care so we used the term “self-sufficiency under Christ.” In recent years, we’ve clarified this concept as “local sustainability.” We want to develop projects that are not heavily reliant on foreign funding and can operate independently on a modest scale. One example of this would be the hospital in Cubulco, Guatemala, which was started by two American missionaries over 60 years ago. At one point it was almost entirely funded by external sources. Now, however, the hospital gets almost 80% of its annual income from fees for service and assistance from the government. There is a mercy fund for those who cannot afford to pay and no one is turned away, but if all foreign funding stopped today, the hospital would still be able to serve the community. This approach takes time and different types of projects may take longer than others to reach a level of sustainability, but we believe that it honors God to recognize that all people have dignity and are created to work and to worship within their local context for the glory of God.

PRAYER

REQUESTS

While we are continuously growing in each of these areas, we have seen many blessings as a result of this approach. With God’s help and your support, we will continue to share the Gospel, encourage indigenous leaders, and move communities toward local sustainability. W&D Heidi Pronk is the Director of Operations for Word & Deed USA and also works as a Project Manager and as part of Word & Deed’s Executive Team.

Meditation

1 Pray that the Lord would help you to love your neighbors well and thank Him for the people in your life who exemplify this.

Haiti

1 Thank the Lord for the opportunity that Adoration Christian School has to operate a Special Education Program.

2 Pray that the 23 students that are enrolled in the Special Education Program this year will feel loved and valued.

Colombia

1 Thank the Lord that the Family Protection Program could be expanded to northern Colombia. Pray for a blessing on it and for the spread of the Gospel message in this area.

2 Thank the Lord for the witness of Alejandra and her family in La Guajira.

Education

1 Pray for the Word & Deed staff and partners as we strive to keep the Gospel message central to each project. Pray for wisdom and guidance for all indigenous leaders in our projects as they strive for local sustainability.

Indonesia

1 Pray that the communities of Parita, Lanu, and Sumba will be blessed

The staff at the Nakekela HIV/AIDS Clinic in South Africa are a beautiful example of indigenous leadership.

by the use of their new school buildings. Thank the Lord for the passion that these communities have to teach their children the truths of the Gospel message.

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Indonesia

BY KASPER VAN VEEN

Encouraging Initiatives in Rural Indonesia INDONESIA

Indonesia is the largest island country in the world, made up of over 17,000 different islands. It also boasts the title of being the fourth most populous country in the world with close to 274 million people living there. Indonesia is very diverse with over 700 different languages spoken throughout the country. While around 90% of the population is Islamic, there are pockets of Christianity scattered throughout the islands. Word & Deed continues to work with Reformasi to spread the good news of the Gospel.

Word & Deed is committed to three values—Gospel focus, indigenous leadership, and local sustainability. These three values remain in the forefront of all considerations, undergird the support we extend to our partners, and provide direction to our interaction with them.

Therefore, it is especially rewarding when we observe clear evidence of these values being demonstrated in our partners’ organizations and the manner in which they work.

A beautiful example of this was demonstrated in this past year by Reformasi in Indonesia. With your help, Word & Deed supported the construction of three highschool buildings in remote locations.

Gospel focus has always been paramount in Reformasi’s efforts. The teaching of Jesus Christ and His saving work is firmly embedded at all levels of the curriculum models they use, from kindergarten right through to post-secondary education. Yes, fulfilling the government requirements for education is essential, but equally so for Reformasi is that the foundation of the teaching remains Christ-centered.

Balancing these two requirements is not always easy, but recent positive feedback during a government assessment demonstrated that it is possible.

Indigenous leadership, value number two, is not only embraced in the overall

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Progress of the school construction.

Road preparation for the school construction. board and leadership structure in Reformasi by being comprised of Indonesian directors and managers, but they have also adopted the same approach when establishing satellite schools in more remote areas. These satellite schools have school boards made up of individuals from the local community: parents and friends who are committed to the education of the children in their communities. This is very similar to the covenantal model that many of our local schools use.

However, the characteristic that is most heartwarming to experience is the demonstration of local sustainability, which includes local commitment, in the remote school locations. In all three construction locations, the local leaders are working diligently to nurture relationships with local contractors, suppliers, and the local community.

There was a such a strong desire for high-school education that they started the initiative on their own and then sought out a property for a new building after a number of years in service. The community values this project to such a degree that the completion of their building was far ahead of schedule and was ready to be occupied within a few months.

They are just as driven, but their circumstances are challenging. This very remote area is stunningly beautiful, but it is almost inaccessible. Electricity has finally reached the village within the last decade and the civil infrastructure makes it difficult to transport construction equipment and supplies. To counteract their situation, they simply pull together and work harder. As a community they cleared the land and erected a basic wood and tin building in which to teach their children. When that building became too small, they built an open-air structure to teach some

Close to completion for the new school. of the grades. As they continue to grow and take on the higher grades, they now have a need for a larger, more permanent structure in which to provide stable education for their children.

In order to do so, they needed to prepare the location.

Through sheer manual effort, they cleared an access road for supplies to come in, gathered together as a community, and picked up the open-air building to move it; then with picks and shovels they dug the two-meter-deep foundations for the new building. They did all this together, as a tightly knit community, all because they value the Christ-centered education their children can receive.

It is very encouraging to see how the students also value their education. They do not desire post-secondary education in order to leave their villages to head off to bigger towns or cities. Upon completion of their education, they want to return to the villages they grew up in and help educate the next generation. They desire to do this so that they can foster the Gospel message in their communities and churches, helping to sustain the education of children in their villages.

The result is truly remarkable. Here in the remote areas of Indonesia, families are banding together to gain access to high-school education that is rooted in the Word of God. What a wonderful testimony to the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit to fulfill the hunger and thirst for His Word in the next generation. W&D Kasper Van Veen is the Project Manager of Indonesia and Haiti. He also works in Word & Deed’s Public Relations department.

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Chairman’s Message

BY PAUL BEEZHOLD

Growing Our Impact by

Organizing a Fundraiser As we reflect on the past 30 years of ministry for Word & Deed, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support, faithful prayers, and generous giving of our donors and ministry partners. The Lord has used your gifts to work mightily over these three decades to reach countless individuals and families with hope, love, and the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The support and involvement of our donors come in a variety of ways. This past year alone, we estimate that over 3,000 people supported the work of Word & Deed through attending events such as Colour Runs, Bike-a-thons, Business/Stewardship Group meetings, and regional dinners. This does not include the many who attended presentations at churches and schools across North America, so the personal interaction with our supporters is great and growing. These events take the time and effort of many volunteers and for that we give thanks.

Paris, ON, Softball Tournament

Niagara, ON, Bike-a-thon.

We are especially grateful for your faithful prayers on behalf of our partners in the many countries around the globe where our work takes us. The prayers of God’s people have been a source of strength and encouragement during the increasingly difficult challenges we face in many of the countries where our projects are found. Knowing that we have a community of believers lifting us up in prayer, whether corporately in our churches or privately in personal prayer, is a great encouragement to our organization. Please continue to hold up our partners in prayer, just like the Apostle Paul let the believers in Colossae know that they were “ceaselessly” being lifted up, writing “. . . [we] do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9).

As we celebrate our 30 years of ministry, we want to recognize not just the contributions but also the relationships we have built over the years. Your commitment to our ministry with your prayers, your time, and your financial contributions is truly a blessing worth celebrating and giving thanks to the Lord for. We look forward to building new relationships in the years to come.

Fishin’ for a Mission fundraiser in Winnipeg, MB.

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Thank you for being a vital part of our ministry for these past 30 years. Your legacy of love and generosity is felt every day, and we look forward to many more years of partnership in faith. W&D Paul Beezhold is the Board President for Word & Deed USA and attends Oak Glen United Reformed Church in Lansing, IL.

Meditation

Colombia

consider to be your neighbors? What are some ways in which you can love and serve them better?

2 What are some examples of times when people have shown the love of a neighbor to you?

that are similar to yours? What are some things that are different?

2 The fact that Alejandra’s family loves God makes them unique in their village. What are some things that her father does to show his love for God?

Impact

1 Who are some people in your life that you would

Haiti

1 What are some benefits of Adoration’s Special Education Program to both the students who are in the program and to those who are not in the program?

2 What fact, mentioned near the end of this article, have many schools in Haiti failed to recognize? Why is this important for all of us to recognize?

1 What are some aspects of Alejandra’s life

Education

1 What are Word & Deed’s three main areas of emphasis?

2 Do you agree that these three things are important? Why or why not?

Indonesia

1 How are Word & Deed’s three areas of emphasis practiced by rural schools in Indonesia?

2 What are some challenges that the community in Lanu encountered and how did they overcome these challenges?

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Sponsorship

For $43 CAD / $35 USD per month, you can provide the support needed to provide a student with: • Biblical instruction • Christian education (where available) or access to Christian after-school programs.

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• A nutritionally supplemented diet for those who need it.

• Where funding allows and where the need exists, the following are provided: clothing, medical care, dental care, nutritional counseling, basic instruction and counseling for the parent(s), or emergency assistance in a crisis.

You will receive a photo of your sponsor child, an update or greeting from your child twice per year, and the opportunity to send notes, photos, and small gifts to them.

Email Laurenne at office@wordanddeed.org for more information or sign up to sponsor a child at wordanddeed.org/child-sponsorship.

SPONSOR

A CHILD

TODAY!

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Word & Deed USA P. O. Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 USA

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