Fall 2024

Fall2024

30 CELEBRATING

YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F W O R D & D E E D A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E F O R M E D R E L I E F M I N I S T R Y

Foreword

BY RICK POSTMA

Lessons Learned Over 30 Years This year we celebrate our 30th anniversary.

It has been the best of times: What a privilege to walk beside our dear partners in dependence on the Lord together with the prayers and financial support of our sacrificial, loving, and encouraging supporters—you! The Church of Christ is growing in the developing world!

It has been the worst of times: Over the years there have been numerous disasters (see list on page 9). Many died, many suffered, but many have also heard the Gospel for the first time, in the midst of great trials, and have received the precious and incomparable gift of eternal life.

Along the way, we have learned a great many lessons, some of them the hard way, including the need to rely on God’s wisdom and not our own. Quite regularly, we receive requests to share what we have learned. Here are some highlights: Some prospective developing world partners are very good at requesting support when their intentions aren’t honorable. Look before you leap—visit whenever possible, develop a relationship, and speak with others who know them before you provide any funding.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this kind of work is easy. It isn’t.

If you don’t have the time needed to dedicate to it, perhaps it is best to say “no” to the request. Well over onethird of our staff time (nine staff) is spent walking beside our partners (with fairly detailed project agreements and reporting, regular calls, visits, etc.) while avoiding micromanagement.

Avoid creating dependency. Try to provide one-time funding only. If you

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provide ongoing funding, discuss an exit strategy from the outset. Ensure that local workers are paid on a local scale and that buildings are designed in such a way that they can be supported by local funding, or you will have a very difficult time ending your support without very hard feelings and a failed project.

Cultural differences are both enriching (we’ve learned a great deal from our partners) and challenging. We Westerners tend to be direct and goaloriented while many of our partners tend to be indirect and relationship-oriented.

Assuming everyone thinks and communicates the same as you do will inevitably lead to misunderstandings, offense, and, possibly, project failure.

A local person who can bring Western money into a community faces the temptation of being almost worshiped as a patron or “big-man.” Ensure that there isn’t just one person leading the charge. There must be a respected and capable local board overseeing the work.

In this issue of the magazine we hear from various people who provide a birdseye view of our partners’ work in Malawi, Costa Rica, and Guatemala while also highlighting a God who loves to answer prayer.

Wherever people are working together, there are challenges, including here in North America. At the same time, we thank the Lord for the privilege of working together in this way connecting you, our faithful and generous supporters, with our diligent partners as we prayerfully strive to be a means to the extension of God’s Kingdom. To Him be all the glory!

W&D

2024 Word & Deed staff.

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

WORD&DEED

Meditation

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

BY PASTOR C. PRONK

2024 ANNIVERSARY EDITION 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. Director of Projects John Otten Director of Public Relations Rick Postma Director Heidi Pronk Support Staff Scott Dekorte, Scott Koopman, 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 – Emeritus 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.

Giving Beyond Ability This Meditation first appeared in the Spring 2009 edition of the Word & Deed magazine.

The economic downturn we are experiencing these days will likely have a bearing on the amount people will give to charitable organizations. We need to realize, however, that God’s command to remember the poor remains in force at all times, during good years as well as bad. Maybe the time will come when we will no longer have the luxury of giving from our abundance but must learn to give beyond our ability (2 Cor. 8:3).

record straight. If anyone should charge us with neglect in this area, I hope we can say that we have remembered the poor and needy in their affliction.

But even more is required of us; we are to give cheerfully and with compassion and sympathy. A biblical example of someone who gave in this way is Job. We know him as a model of patience under extreme suffering. But he also serves as a model of sympathy for the poor. Before calamity struck Job, he was known as someone who truly cared for people in need.

That’s why it was so cruel of Eliphaz, one of Job’s so-called friends, to insinuate that his suffering was partly due to the fact that he had neglected his duty with respect to the needy. “You have not given the weary water to drink,” Eliphaz charged, “and you have withheld bread from the hungry” (Job 22:7). This was slander, and Job, deeply offended and grieved, had to defend himself against this false accusation: “If I have kept the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail. . . if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering . . . then let my arm fall from my shoulder, let my arm be torn from the socket” (Job 31:16–22). Job was not boasting, but merely setting the

If even worldly people can show sympathy when they encounter misery, should we do less? Should we not excel in caring for the poor and needy wherever they live, in our own neighborhoods and cities or in distant countries?

Yet it is not enough if we can prove to have done our duty here.

We also need to examine our consciences as to whether our charity proceeded from a loving and sympathetic heart. Job could say, “Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?” (Job 30:25).

Such care, born from love to God and our neighbor, brings rich rewards to the one who gives as well as the one who receives.

Showing sympathy is the best way to secure God’s comfort in our own afflictions. “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble” (Ps. 41:1).

Of course, self-interest, though allowed, must not be our main motive for sharing with others what God has given us.

It is God’s plain command to do so. As Paul exhorts us: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” W&D Pastor C. Pronk is an emeritus pastor in the Free Reformed Churches and was one of Word & Deed’s founding board members.

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Costa Rica

BY JUAN CARLOS RAMIREZ

The Lord Will Provide

Costa Rica

Costa Rica benefits from the tourism industry and is more stable than many neighboring countries; however, there remain large gaps between the rich and the poor. Costa Rica has had many migrants come from other countries and the majority of these end up in shantytowns that struggle with poverty, crime, drugs, violence, gangs, and poor family conditions. A large portion of the population is nominally Roman Catholic.

When I first became involved with Education Plus in 1998 as a volunteer, I had no idea what I was getting into. As the months went by, I became more and more involved until it became clear that it would be more opportune to work full-time for them.

Although it has not been easy over the last 30 years, God has always taken care of us. The story of Education Plus has been the story of God’s providence and

Girls’ camp.

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care. Part of that providence came in 2017 through the children’s office in Costa Rica. They were interested in supporting our camp program. But, one year later, they decided not to help us anymore because we were a Christian organization. There are a lot of local businesses who do not like to support an organization like ours who are so openly Christian. Despite this, God provided the resources to continue with the program from other local organizations. God has

Boys’ Bible study.

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The impact of Word & Deed’s support has been significant. We can now concentrate more time on working in the communities, playing sports with the children, hosting Bible clubs, visiting families, and providing food relief and spiritual guidance for children and their families.

always taken care of us. I was introduced to Word & Deed in 2017 and I had some good and transparent conversations with them. At that time, Word & Deed was clear in that they were not looking for new partners, but they still asked for information to get to know us.

It wasn’t until more than a year later that Word & Deed, through many additional conversations, confirmed us as their partner.

The same day that we were notified of their support, we were in a meeting talking about whether or not we would be able to continue the work of Education Plus. There was no money to maintain the operation and none of the solutions seemed viable. The news of Word & Deed’s partnership brought to mind the text from Isaiah 65:24: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

Sports program.

Since we became partners with Word & Deed, we have had closer relationships with the Reformed churches in Costa Rica. In addition, the teachings of the Bible clubs and the continuous training of our work team have been strengthened with material from the Reformed churches. We have learned over the years that God will always provide for our needs, mainly through the support of His people. W&D Juan Carlos is the Director of Education Plus in Costa Rica.

Bible club.

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Guatemala

BY SHANELLE POSTMA

Finding Purpose in Rural Guatemala Guatemala Guatemala is an incredibly diverse country with 23 different language groups. Climate conditions can range from steamy, hot, coastal weather to frigid, cold, mountain weather where temperatures regularly drop below the freezing mark. Like many Latin American countries, it is also a country marked by violence and poverty. The presence of ruthless drug cartels has led to extortion, corruption, kidnapping, and many violent deaths in this country.

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Out of all my childhood birthdays, I think I remember most clearly the summer I turned ten. That year, my dad’s geographically dispersed presentation schedule had turned into a wonderful excuse for our family to journey across the continent. Along the way, we were warmly welcomed into many homes and churches, and my brother and I quickly adapted to our new identity as “the Word & Deed guy’s kids.” I must have heard my dad speak more than a dozen times over the course of those three weeks, and by the end of the trip I could recite the organization’s three core pillars forwards, backwards, and upside down. Yet, even as a

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ten-year-old, I was deeply touched by the many stories of people whose lives were being transformed.

Fast-forward ten years, and I somehow found myself spending my university days reading textbooks about how to maximize profit margins and increase quarterly earnings. I was studying business, not counseling, missions, or even nursing. How could this be used for Kingdom impact?

After a few years’ delay due to unforeseen circumstances (namely, a pandemic), our long-awaited trip to Guatemala was

scheduled for April 22, 2024. I stuffed my carry-on to capacity and set off for Guatemala City alongside my dad and our new friends, Craig and Sadie Haan from Ponoka, Alberta. With an entire country to cover in less than six days, our itinerary was no joke. Plus, it was my first time tagging along on one of my dad’s work trips, and he really couldn’t have me thinking he’s just on vacation half the time. Having heard so much about this place over the years, I couldn’t help but pepper Alex and Ruth, our wonderful project guides, leaders of AMG Guatemala, with a million questions.

business that I found myself truly questioning this theory—why work so hard to fix the issue or resolve the customer complaint when it will never be the last? Why build a hospital or send relief when the poor and sick will always be with us?

Drawing on past experience, my dad wisely included “EXPECT DELAYS” in a prominent place on the trip itinerary.

During one especially extended drive, Craig and I got talking business. I was curious: how does he find purpose in his work as an owner of a precast concrete construction company? Through our conversations, I was reminded that As our trusty Ford cargo van carried it’s less about what you do and more us across the countryside, a recurring about the why and how it’s done. While theme began to emerge. A visit to people in the developing world may the beautiful La Palabra Christian seem more dependent on God due to School, where we were greeted with overt physical needs, our perceived sweet smiles and endless hugs, was “choice” to trust the results of our starkly contrasted with a stop at the work to God is simply an illusion. Yes, neighborhood dump, where many business would be void of purpose of the children’s parents spend their without God. But, apart from a Gospeldays collecting and selling recycling centered focus, so would the work scraps to feed their families. A tour of organizations like Word & Deed. of the recently reconstructed Cubulco Instead, it’s the Christ-like mentorship hospital, where thousands of people of counselors coming alongside hurting receive care they couldn’t otherwise teenagers returning home from Camp afford, ended in a visit from Sadie’s Craig Haan, Rick Postma, Shanelle Postma, Ruth Rodriguez (AMG Chief Field Officer), Canaan, the biblical truths shared by sponsor child, whose village in the Sadie Haan and Aura Morales (AMG Hospital Admin Manager) enjoying their time faithful teachers at La Palabra, and the mountains was at risk of being together in Guatemala. fervent prayers of doctors and nurses overtaken by a forest fire. A trip to the serene Camp Canaan, where kids get to over patients at the Cubulco hospital. It’s the grace of God at work through these escape the hustle of city life, was followed by a sobering discussion about the acts of faith that gives Word & Deed’s efforts eternal significance. And it’s by long-term effects of parental neglect on countless children across the country. this same grace that Genesis, our dear sponsor child, and I could pray through Throughout the trip I kept finding myself amazed at how much work had been our tears that we would one day see each other again, with the full confidence done and simultaneously overwhelmed at how much was left to do. Having lived that we will. W&D my whole life in a Western cultural context, my tendency is to think that if I work hard enough, I can solve any problem. It wasn’t until I started studying

Shanelle Postma is the daughter of Rick and Diane Postma and she works as a general manager for Cara & Co, a silicone craft-supply company in Brantford, ON. 2024 ANNIVERSARY EDITION I WORD&DEED

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Word & Deed’s Global Impact Map “And whatever you do, in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...” (Colossians 3:17a).

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Disaster Relief Over the Years

• • • •The • •following • • • • are • • some • • •examples • • • • of • •the• disaster • • • relief • • • projects • • • • that • • Word • • • &• Deed • • •has • been • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • involved in over the years.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2005—SRI LANKA: Word & Deed responds to relief 2015—NEPAL: After a severe earthquake, Word

partnership with the Mwanza Bible Institute.

227,000 people and destroyed the homes of millions.

disrupts economies worldwide. As a result, over $1,000,000 CAD / $750,000 USD in food and medical relief is sent to almost all Word & Deed partners.

• • • •needs • • after • • a• tsunami • • • •in •Sri•Lanka • • and • • India • • killed • • • • •& •Deed • •partners • • • with • • the • •Evangelical • • • • Presbyterian • • • • • • •2020 • • •—VARIOUS • • • • •COUNTRIES: • • • • • •COVID-19 • • • • • • • • • • Church of Nepal to distribute food to 300 families, rebuild two churches, and construct 50 new homes.

2017—MIDDLE EAST: In response to the

refugee crisis in the Middle East, Word & Deed sent funds to assist the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches in meeting the food crisis for up to 400 refugee families each month.

2017—TANZANIA: Word & Deed responds to

drought in Tanzania by providing bags of corn, rice, and beans to 870 families, inaugurating a

2023—TURKEY: Turkey suffers the effects of a

7.8 magnitude earthquake. Word & Deed collects over $745,000 CAD / $550,000 USD to be distributed through indigenous churches.

2024—VARIOUS COUNTRIES: Unrest is rampant in many parts of the world. Word & Deed sends relief funds to partners in Haiti, Armenia, Turkey, Kenya, Malawi, and several countries in Asia.

Disaster relief in Nicaragua.

2007—NICARAGUA: Hurricane Felix hits the coast

of Nicaragua, resulting in Word & Deed helping with relief efforts. This was the beginning of our partnership with Palabra y Hechos Nicaragua.

2010—HAITI: An earthquake kills 230,000 people

and displaces thousands more. Word & Deed helps fund the rebuilding of homes. The following year, Adoration Christian Centre merges with Word & Deed.

2013

—THE PHILIPPINES: Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines where we, alongside the Reformed Congregationalist Churches, distributed items such as clothing, food, Bibles, tents, and body bags.

Food relief in the Philippines.

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Malawi

BY HEIDI PRONK

Answering the Call Malawi is a beautiful country with rolling hills, brilliant skies, and sparkling lakes. However, as is so often the case in the developing world, this beauty is only skin deep. Millions of orphans have lost one or both parents to the HIV/ AIDS virus and many others are abandoned. Although Malawi is considered a largely Christian nation, polygamy, unconcerned fathers, witchcraft, and prostitution have all left their mark on this country.

Our history of project engagement in Malawi is a beautiful example of the way in which God connects people all over the world to serve His global church. In late 2002, the US board was contacted by Dr. Timothy and Dorothy Monsma from California. They had served as missionaries to Malawi for two years while Dr. Monsma taught at African Bible College (ABC) in Lilongwe. Dr. Monsma was also the director of Cities for Christ Worldwide, which raised support for the African Orphan Fund, a project that included several village-based orphan care centers in Malawi. Serious conversations began in January 2003 as the Monsmas started thinking about retirement and how to transition the care of the projects to others. Those discussions were followed by a trip to Malawi by Word & Deed representatives in September 2003, and we officially took over the projects from Cities for Christ Worldwide in October 2003, committing $46,000 USD for six orphan care centers for the first year.

This entrance into Malawi was also the driving force behind the first joint working agreement between Word & Deed Canada and Word & Deed USA. This agreement eventually led to the fully functional integration of operations between the US and Canada as it is today.

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Malawi

One of Dr. Monsma’s students at ABC was Everton Kamangire, the founder and director of Lizulu Orphan Care Program (LOCP). The Spring 2006 edition of the Word & Deed magazine featured an article on the daily life of an orphan in Lizulu. At that time, LOCP was caring for about 300 children in their community. Almost 20 years later, many of the same leaders are still involved and their reach has extended to 550 children. On the day I am writing this article, we received a video showing one of the orphans who graduated from LOCP being ordained as a pastor in the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). It has been such a blessing to see the many orphans who have gone on to lead productive, God-honoring lives after receiving care and instruction through the orphan program.

Another one of Dr. Monsma’s students was Manuel Kamnkhwani, who went on to study at Westminster Seminary in California and currently serves as the director of Logos Ministries in Malawi. Logos started in 2005 with a vision for strengthening lay leaders in the CCAP churches. Though this program got off to a slow start, it has now been fully embraced by churches of many denominations in Malawi and the demand is more than Logos can meet. There are over 50 groups in three regions studying toward a basic certificate in theology. The graduating class of 2023–2024 had 805 graduates who had completed either a certificate or a diploma program. And

2023 Financial Recap Word & Deed is committed to being good stewards of the finances entrusted to us. Though we are structured as two different legal entities (Canada and the US), we function as one team supporting the same projects and look at our finances from a combined perspective.

In 2023, Word & Deed North America supporters donated a total of $10,967,000 CAD / $8,225,000 USD. Donations are allocated as follows:

Projects: 92% Partners: 88% These are the funds that go directly to our partners and the projects that they operate.

W&D Oversight: 4% As we work alongside our indigenous partners, Word & Deed’s staff have these important tasks:

Logos recently hired one of its alumni to lead their diploma program into the future.

I have been traveling to Malawi since 2009 and since then so many things have changed. The country overall is much more developed—there are flush toilets at almost every project now, thankfully! The airport has been upgraded and many people have a cell phone. Yet many things have not changed. There are still orphans who are being raised by elderly grandparents or older siblings, still too many teen pregnancies, HIV continues to decimate the middle generation, and the churches are still starving for substantive teaching and preaching. Yet through the years, we can recount many stories of souls saved, lives transformed, and the Lord’s intervention. We are so thankful that God has used the fledgling efforts of those early years, the larger yet still limited efforts of today, and that He can multiply it all for His great glory.

In 2006, after his first visit to Malawi, Rick Postma remarked, “In a world that has become a global village, may we respond with faithfulness, generosity, and gladness to the responsibility that God has given us in answering the plaintive calls of the orphans in Malawi.” That call still comes today, and by God’s grace, we will continue to answer it. W&D Heidi Pronk lives in Hudsonville, MI, and is Word & Deed’s Malawi Project Manager as well as the Administrator for Word & Deed USA.

• Establish key partnerships and steward resources wisely • Ensure regular accountability and trust (agreements, reporting, regular calls, visiting) • Plan strategically with partners and build local leadership capacity • Leverage and share 30 years of experience

Overhead: 8% Promotion: 4% These are donor-facing expenses related to staff organizing and leading annual Business Group meetings and fundraisers, putting together and giving presentations at churches and schools, donor visits, maintaining our online presence, and creating printed and digital media.

Administration: 4% This category includes the handling of financials, legal and HR-related matters, expenses related to our office building (including utility bills), and any other miscellaneous items.

We are grateful for the way in which you entrust us with your donations! If you ever have any questions about how we distribute the funds that we receive, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

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“I am the mother of Angelie and Angel who are students in the program. I remember hearing about this program when I was a child, so in 2019 I asked if my daughter Angelie could join it.

I like that the main objective at the program is for children to learn about God. My daughter has made it a point to pray and teaches us how to pray at home. In 2022 I enrolled my son Angel. Since then, I have seen how he has become healthier because of the regular food he receives. He also socializes more. I am very grateful for this program, because I can see how it has helped my life through the adult Bible teachings. I also no longer have to worry about buying school shoes or completing homework. My husband and I are very grateful to God for blessing us with this program.”

$43 CAD/$35 USD will help to

Solarzano Cortez Familia

Are you interested in making a world of difference in the life of a child and their family? Here is a testimony from a parent of students who are part of the Sponsorship Program in Ecuador:

Angelie Solaranzo Cortez

Sponsorship>

Angel Solaranzo Cortez

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provide a child with the following: • Biblical instruction • Christian education or access to a Christian after-school program • A nutritionally supplemented diet • Clothing, medical care, counseling for parents, and emergency assistance where needed For more information, visit our website at wordanddeed.org/child-sponsorship or email Laurenne at office@wordanddeed.org 2024 ANNIVERSARY EDITION I WORD&DEED

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Answered Prayer

BY KARA LUITING

An Integral Role in Word & Deed’s Ministry Prayer has always played an integral role in Word & Deed’s ministry. Board meetings, staff meetings, and calls with our partners often begin with a prayer for wisdom and guidance. In early 2020 we were flooded with prayer requests from partners and donors alike. It was at this time that we felt burdened to add an intentional prayer time into our daily staff schedule. Since then, we have kept a list of prayer requests and our staff members take turns leading in prayer. It has been a rewarding experience for us as we acknowledge our dependence on the Lord and pray for partners and donors.

We would like to share some very clear examples of how the Lord has answered our prayers. Our hope is that this will encourage you to continue on steadfastly in prayer, for the glory of the Lord and for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Over the last few years, we have received an influx of prayer requests for the safety of our partners in countries that have been taken over by gangs, military groups, and other hostile forces. Here are some examples of prayer requests that we received from Ecuador: 07.31.2023: “Pray for Quininde, Ecuador, as the riots are out of control. The area is on government lockdown and schools are closed.”

12.12.2023: “The violence in Quininde is continuing and people are being threatened and killed every day.”

Today, we are grateful to report that the violence in Ecuador has largely decreased, the after-school programs are operating normally, and the Lord has spared the lives of all of the staff and children in the programs. We have been offering similar prayers of deliverance for the country of Haiti over the last couple of years and in this case too, the Lord has been gracious in sparing life.

We also receive regular prayer requests for health and

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DONOR APPRECIATION 11.21.2023 “I just talked to a wonderful older lady on the phone who prays for Word & Deed every day and regularly makes donations. It was a really encouraging phone call.”

deliverance from physical ailments. One such request came to us from one of our partners: 04.11.2024: “The wife of a pastor has become quite ill over the past month and will require major surgery. They request our prayers that all will go well.”

07.08.2024: “The pastor’s wife whom we prayed for some weeks ago who was very ill has come back with clear tests. Her doctor asked what other doctor she had been seeing, and her reply was that their other doctor was God. The doctor then admitted that her God had healed her.”

Another common topic of prayer is for protection while traveling. Every year Word & Deed staff members travel thousands of miles around the world—sometimes into very remote areas with less than ideal travel itineraries. In all of our 30 years of travel, we are grateful to be able to look back and acknowledge that the Lord has graciously spared us.

We also thank the Lord for your regular prayers on behalf of us and our partners and for the ways in which you, in obedience to the Lord’s direction, have been used by God as an answer to our prayers. This was especially true in the early days of COVID-19 when we were very unsure of whether or not we would have the means to support the growing needs of our partners.

We petitioned the Lord for wisdom and provision and were subsequently humbled and overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness through your generosity.

Over the years we have had to lean on the Lord for His blessing over Word & Deed, our partners, donors, and beneficiaries. Below, you can read some of the prayers of thanksgiving that have resulted from this practice. Praise the Lord for His continued and undeserved goodness to us and our partners! W&D Kara Luiting works in Word & Deed’s St. Thomas office in a public relations support role.

Prayers OF Thanksgiving COSTA RICA 01.09.2024 Give thanks for the first Education Plus adult Bible study in a shantytown last night—16 adults participated!

KENYA 11.22.2022 We received permission from the Kenyan government to import the container of dried food from the Gleaners!

03.22.2023 Pray that the container from the Gleaners can ship out to Kenya this week. It is being held up because of needed paperwork.

KENYA

NICARAGUA

12.07.2024 Over 1.2 million servings of dried food were sent off yesterday to our partner in Kenya, thanks to the Niagara Christian Gleaners! Thankful to see it go out after a year of paperwork and patience!

03.21.2024 The container has arrived in Kenya and distribution will begin soon!

ARMENIA 04.10.2024 Thanksgiving that we can help with beds, food, and hygiene kits for the Armenian refugees, and pray that the people will be provided for, hear the Gospel and thank God for these provisions.

ARMENIA

COLOMBIA 05.06.2024 Thanksgiving for the eight new hires at Conviventia for the Family Protection Team who are fitting well into their roles in the last two months. They are very thankful for God’s leading. Please pray for one chaplain position that still needs to be filled.

08.13.2024 Thankfulness that Conviventia found a male chaplain to work for the Family Protection Program in Colombia.

HAITI 05.22.2024 Please give thanks for the food distribution in Haiti. Adoration was able to help 524 people!

NICARAGUA 04.19.2023 An estimated 3,000 organizations have been closed by the Nicaraguan government in the past two years. We give thanks that all papers for continued charity status for Palabra Y Hecho were in order with the Nicaraguan government for this year. We are just waiting for the final paper now.

SOUTH AFRICA 08.15.2024 During a special week of prayer and fasting, one of the students at Muskawenkosi Christian Academy requested prayer for peace in school, for men to stop abusing women, and for God to clean our hearts and spirit. The principal of MCA asks that we pray for the Lord to take over the school.

TANZANIA 01.02.2024 Thanks can be made for the progress made with HONESTA’s Hope Royal Modern School in Mwanza; the construction project is nearing completion and the plan is to start classes on January 8th, DV.

2024 ANNIVERSARY EDITION I WORD&DEED

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NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID GRAND RAPIDS, MI PERMIT #1 P. O. Box 157, Hudsonville, MI 49426 USA

Word & Deed USA

Annual Dinner Tour 2024 Come and join us for our Annual Dinner Tour. This year, we’ll be stopping in 16 different locations! To reserve your spot at one of these events, visit our website at wordanddeed.org/events.

TOUR A Speaker: Pastor Yonson Dethan Reformasi (Children of Light) was founded in 1998

by Pastor Yonson Dethan and his fellow community and church leaders in West Timor, Indonesia. Today, Reformasi offers grades K–12 in several Reformed schools throughout Indonesia. In 2023, Pastor Dethan was also instrumental in Reformasi assuming responsibility for a university in West Timor. Among many other responsibilities, he also hosts a weekly YouTube program that seeks to educate Indonesians in a Reformed worldview.

Wellington, ON – Thursday, October 3 (Dessert Evening) Grand Rapids, ON – Friday, October 4 (URC Missions Evening) Sioux Falls, SD – Saturday, October 5 Escondido, CA – Monday, October 7 Lynden, WA – Wednesday, October 9 (Dessert Evening)

TOUR B Speaker: Juan Carlos Ramirez Juan Carlos Ramirez is the Director of Education Plus in Costa Rica.

Word & Deed is blessed to partner with this ministry which works to provide weekly Bible classes, school supplies, family visits, and camps for children in three shantytowns in San Jose.

Lethbridge, AB – Wednesday, October 16 Calgary, AB – Thursday, October 17 Neerlandia, AB – Friday, October 18 Edmonton, AB – Saturday, October 19 TOUR C Speaker: Dr. Brian Devries Dr. Devries is the Principal and Senior Lecturer at Mukhanyo Theological College (MTC) in South Africa. He is a minister of the Reformed Churches of Africa, sent to South Africa in 2005 by the Heritage Reformed Congregations of North America. As principal of MTC, he oversees the Distance Learning Program that Word & Deed has helped to fund for the last 15 years.

London, ON – Wednesday, November 13 Hamilton, ON – Friday, November 8 Jordan, ON – Saturday, November 9 Chilliwack, BC – Friday, November 15 Oxford, ON – Monday, November 11 Abbotsford, BC – Saturday, November 16