Word & Deed North America

Upcoming Dinners

2009-10-21T09:21:00.008-05:00

The Word & Deed fall dinner tour features four dinners with keynote speaker, Rev. Ken Herfst, a missionary in Guatemala and three dinners featuring Missy Christie de Acosta who oversees projects in Colombia. You can still reserve a seat but time is running out. Please call 866.391.5728 (USA) or 877.375.9673 (Canada).

November 27, 2009: London, Ontario--Missy Christie de Acosta
Doors open at 6:30 pm, Dinner starts at 7:00 pm
West Park Church. 955 Gainsborough Rd. London, ON
For directions, click here. Then click on "Get Directions", at upper left.

Fall 2009 Magazine

2009-10-20T20:20:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the Fall issue of Word & Deed magazine. Just click on the picture and follow the links.

Flooding in the Philippines

2009-10-09T12:47:00.006-05:00

Many of you have read or heard about the floods in the Philippines. Word & Deed is partnering with Woord en Daad (Word & Deed Holland) to support a project with AMG Philippines that will bring food and clothing to 4,700 families.

Typhoon Ondoy (international codename: Ketsana) hit the central part of Luzon island, including Metro Manila on September 26, 2009, and induced the heaviest rains in more than 40 years. The rains are so heavy that at least three dams were forced to release water (to preserve the integrity of the structures, according to officials) that further quickened the rise of flood levels. Huge portions of the metropolis as well as Rizal, Laguna, and Bulacan provinces were soon submerged and people were caught totally unaware. Thousands of vehicles and commuters were stranded in the highways. River systems like the Marikina swelled quickly and carried houses and people and everything else.

Donations for this project should be designated as "Philippines Flood Recovery". You can donate online by selecting your country's flag on the right or click on "Contact Us", above right, to find our office addresses.

John Calvin Christian School Project in Colombia Begins!

2009-08-27T10:59:00.007-05:00

Please join in thanking the Lord that He has provided the $346,000 required to begin phase 1 of the John Calvin Christian School project in Barranquilla, Colombia.

We are now raising funds for phase 2 ($287,500), which is scheduled to begin next summer (2010).

Click here to view a presentation on the John Calvin Christian School (including descriptions, funding goals etc.). This presentation will be updated with pictures as the project progresses. The below picture shows part of the existing structure being torn down to make way for the new structure.

Home Run!

2009-07-03T14:07:00.003-05:00

The recent Alberta softball tournament raised over $28,000!!

Congratulations to all the organizers, teams, volunteers and sponsors. The funds will make a significant contribution to the John Calvin School building in Colombia. May the Lord use this project to glorify His Name in Colombia.

Click here to see a slideshow of the tournament. If you have pictures, please send them to publicrelations@wordanddeed.org.

Bike-a-thon video clip and Ecuador update

2009-06-30T16:17:00.003-05:00

See a video clip of the Niagara Bike-a-thon by clicking here. Press pause on the video and wait a few seconds if it freezes while you are playing it.

Fred Jonkman tells us about a recent journey to an indigenous church in Ecuador to provide a Sunday School workshop. Click here.

Niagara Bike-a-thon 2009

2009-06-18T12:21:00.009-05:00

With over 390 riders and numerous volunteers, the Niagara bike-a-thon "river of orange" was once again a huge success. The t-shirts brought lots of attention, questions and even a few donations from tourists. So far, donations received are close to $47,000 with pending donations expected to raise the total to close to $50,000. Word & Deed extends a hearty thank you to the organizers, volunteers, participants and donors. Many thanks as well to the Niagara Water Technologies (Culligan Water) for their generous donation of water bottles again this year. Proceeds were for the Nakakela HIV/AIDS Hospice in South Africa. Click here to read the latest updates from Sonja Miskin.

Summer 2009 Magazine

2009-06-13T15:51:00.003-05:00

Take a look at the Summer issue of Word & Deed magazine. Just click on the picture and follow the links.

Events

2009-06-08T05:30:00.001-05:00

Business Group Meetings in British Colombia
Meetings for Chilliwack and Abbotsford/Langley are scheduled for June 11 and June 15 respectively. Click here for more details.

Lake-to-Lake (Niagara) Bike-a-thon - a huge success!
On a beautiful June day, over 390 riders raised over $49,000 for the Nakekela Clinic in South Africa. The organizing committee did a masterful job. Word & Deed thanks all the many volunteers who made the day a huge success. We hope to have some video clips available in a few days. Those still collecting money please forward your donations to Word & Deed using the address found by clicking "contact us" on the upper right of this web page.

Softball Tournament in Alberta
On June 20, the Lord willing, the Alberta Softball Tournament will take place. There is still time to join or form a team. Please click here for details.

Updates from South Africa

2009-05-06T14:35:00.002-05:00

Click here to read two recent updates from South Africa.

Congratulations!

2009-04-20T07:31:00.008-05:00

Ninety-two students from Rehoboth Christian School, Oxford Reformed Christian School and Jordan Christian School (all in south western Ontario) took part in a 24 hour hunger awareness campaign to raise funds for John Calvin Christian School in Barranquilla, Colombia. Well over $14,000 was raised to pay for the salaries of two of the teachers there!

Word & Deed extends a hearty thank you to all the participating students, Rehoboth student council for organizing the activities, the team of chaperones who sacrificed a lot of sleep and to all the generous donors.

Two teachers also played a pivotol role - Mr. Dick Naves as even organizer, and Mrs. Sarah Vlietstra - thanks very much both of you!

Cazuca, Colombia - note from a student

2009-04-14T14:44:00.003-05:00

Jessica Marcela Gómez Naranjo(sponsor student at Altos de Cazuca School)

11th Grade

I have lived in the neighborhood El Arroyo for seven years now. Few days ago, a landslide took place around my block. Many houses were destroyed and the authorities requested me and my family to leave. We had to leave as soon as they asked us to; we had to take out all our belongings at 1:00 a.m. and we had to sleep on the street that night. The following day, we moved into another house located in the same neighborhood, we left our things there and sleep in an improvised shelter with many more people, while the relocation problem is solved.

Thank God we have received many blessings. I want to thank CDA (Word & Deed's partner) for being with us during these hard times, for all your help and support and for all the assistance they have provided us with. At this moment, thank God, my family and I are very good and we are closer than ever as a family!

I never thought we would receive so much support and solidarity. To me, it is very rewarding to know that my family and I are not alone.

On behalf of my family, I want to thank you with all my heart!

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU!

Spring Magazine

2009-04-07T10:49:00.004-05:00

Take a look at the most recent magazine! Click on the picture above to read articles.

Colombia - collapsing homes

2009-04-02T09:12:00.009-05:00

Over 47 homes have collapsed near the CDA Christian school in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Zone of Altos de Cazuca just outside Bogota, Colombia. There are another 140 homes at risk. A number of the families affected have sponsor children in our school (jointly supported with Word and Deed Holland). Word & Deed North America has sent $10,000 in emergency funding to purchase beds, blankets, tents, food, personal care products as well as health care (a health brigade is also being organized).

The cause of the multiple dwelling collapse was apparently the cumulative affect of rain water, ground water and sewage slowly undermining the homes, perched on steep hills and cliffs, and causing them to collapse down the hillside.

Please pray for the families and the CDA workers. If you can support this recovery effort please send donations with "Cazuca Recovery Project" on the memo line or donate by clicking on your country's flag on the right of the screen.

Click here to find out more about our projects in Colombia.

Below is a picture taken near the school in February.

Upcoming Events

2009-03-06T09:46:00.003-05:00

For more details click on "Upcoming Fund-Raising Events" to the right of the screen.

Choir Concert - Friday, April 24th, 8pm
The 130 Voice Hosanna Choir presents in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with the Heritage Voices Choir.

Choir Concert - Friday, May 1, 8pm
The Heritage Voices Choir presents in Hamilton, Ontario along with the Hosanna Choir.

55 KM Bike-a-thon - Saturday, June 6, 10am
The third annual Niagara bike-a-thon.

Baseball Tournaments - being planned for Lethbridge, Alberta and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bringing Hope to Myanmar

2009-02-05T18:45:00.006-05:00

United Reformed Churches in Myanmar By Dr. Moses Ngunhlei Thang

Galilee Church Members

On behalf of the United Reformed Churches in Myanmar, on the far side of the sea, I bring you very warm greetings in the name of our common Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Moses Ngunhlei Thang. Among other things, I am president of the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Fellowship in Myanmar. This fellowship was organized on September 24, 2005, with ten Reformed and Presbyterian denominations.

Church Board Members

Galilee Church plot of land dedication

The two first missionaries with Galilee church building

If you read the accompanying fact box about our churches, you will notice that we established a seminary in 2002. A church was built beside it. In February 2005, both of the buildings were burnt down in a fire caused by an electrical fault. There was no one inside the buildings when they were on fire, but of course everything in the buildings was lost. The church members have been worshiping at the pastor's house since then.

By the grace of the Lord the wind blew toward a big pond on the other side of the road and it prevented the fire from hitting the surrounding houses. We were then given permission to build on the two plots again, and started reconstruction work with our limited resources. It was while the building was under construction that the cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, and the whole building swayed.

Galilee Kindergarten

Kindergarten Children

And now through the contributions from our churches members and some friends, the reconstruction work has been started. We are indebted to all friends who have helped us in this project through gifts, prayer supports, and with down payments. God willing, the first phase of the project will be completed by the end of November 2008.

When Nargis hit Myanmar, all 60 families from the four churches in Yangon classis suffered a lot. But with help from friends (including you) the relief committee was able to make a relief distribution three times. That helped make our lives easier in the midst of difficulties. The Galilee church building, the North Okkla church building, and some of the houses of our churches’ members were reconstructed. The Covenant Theological Seminary kitchen and dormitory is also reconstructed.Dormitory and kitchen reconstructed

Grace Orphanage Home

In spite of these blessings, there are things for which we still need your prayer and financial support (Editor’s note: Word & Deed is in the process of financially supporting these projects):

1. Grace Mission Center (to complete the center, which was damaged by Nargis)Grace Mission Reconstruction

2. Galilee tube-well (for purified drinking water project)
3. Kathahniyin drinking water (Ayerawaddy Division, Delta Region)

We are in the care of His grace.

Deacons with relief distribution

Church family in their home

Relief to a blind family in their rebuilt house

Dr. Moses Ngunhlei Thang is the pastor at Grace United Reformed Church in Yangon, and chairman of the Interim Committee of the United Reformed Churches in Myanmar.

The United Reformed Churches in Myanmar

Pastor Moses began the Urban and Rural Ministry among Slums in April 1993 to reach the ‘unreached’ and plant the Reformed Churches in Myanmar

The denomination now has a membership of about 1500 believers in 20 churches and three preaching stations.

There are 18 pastors.

The first Synod assembly was held in March 1995.

The church adheres to the infallible, inspired Word of God and the Three Forms of Unity.

The URCM has four mission fields within Myanmar.

They operate several children’s homes, sheltering a total of 62 children.

Publishes a quarterly magazine, Thutak Muril (The Outlook).

Established Covenant Theological Seminary in 2002 in Yangon, Myanmar with 23 students.

Atheist declares that Africa needs God

2008-12-29T18:56:00.003-05:00

Matthew Parris, an atheist, recently returned from Africa and writes:

...[As] a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

He implies that the west cannot help Africa without using the only means of changing man's heart - the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ - to which we can only say, "Amen".

Read the whole article.

Bundles of Love

2008-11-25T11:11:00.007-05:00

If we think back to our childhood at Christmas, most of us knew we were going to receive a gift because Mom and Dad had gone shopping. The gifts were then wrapped, and we had to wait to open them. This is a reality for most North American children. However, this is not the case for most children living in developing countries. These children have very little idea of the joy and meaning of Christmas.

The sponsorship program helps children receive physical and spiritual help. During Christmas time in the Christian schools, children hear the gospel news of the birth of Jesus Christ-God’s gift to sinners. The children in the program also receive a Bundle of Love. These bundles contain things that the children are in need of. This could mean new school uniform, new shoes, or something else they may need for the coming school year. The bundles also include a toy that is fitting for the child’s age and situation. Things that we take for granted, to these children, are gifts they could never imagine!

By giving a Bundle of Love you are, in a very simple way, teaching the children about love expressed through gift giving.

Bundles of Love are $18(CND & US)

Will you join us in showing God’s love to these special children?

Project Descriptions

2008-11-24T11:12:00.001-05:00

Project descriptions for each country Word & Deed is partnering in can be found by clicking on the country you are interested in below:

Latin America:
Colombia
Ecuador
Guatemala
Nicaragua

Africa:
Malawi
Nigeria
South Africa

Use the drop down box on the right to read articles and updates on projects in each country.

Manuel Kamnkhwani 2008 tour highlights

2008-11-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

Now including pictures from the dinner in Pompton Plains, NJ.
Please click here for information on remaining events in the tour.

Fall 2008 Magazine

2008-11-13T10:03:00.000-05:00

The Fall 2008 Magazine is now online, take a look by clicking on the following link:
Fall Magazine

Update

2008-10-08T08:39:00.005-05:00

A bridge is inaugurated in Guatemala (click the back arrow to return here).

The Auction in Grand Rapids was very successful, raising $16,000 for the Maranatha School in Nicaragua. The Lord is good!

Thursday, October 9, marks the opening evening of a five dinner Word & Deed dinner tour featuring Manuel Kamnkhwani, project director in Malawi.

The dinners will be in:
Copetown, Ontario - October 9
Jordan, Ontario - October 11
Chilliwack, BC - October 17
Grand Rapids, MI - October 28
Pompton Plains, New Jersey - November 7
London, Ontario - November 12

Click here for more information on the dinners.

Presentations by Manuel Kamnkhwani will also be made at:
Calgary United Reformed Church, AB - October 15 (7:30 pm)
Anaheim United Reformed Church, CA - October 19 (am)
Chino United Reformed Church, CA - October 19 (pm)
Escondido Presbyterian Church in America, CA - October 26 (am)
Escondido United Reformed Church, CA - October 26 (pm)
Chatham Free Reformed Church - November 1(7pm)

With more locations to come ...

All the Lord willing.

Cyclone Nargisin Myanmar/Burma: Repression & Relief

2008-09-11T09:27:00.003-05:00

By Rick Postma

What is the difference between a cyclone, a typhoon and a hurricane?

While these terms are often used interchangeably, a cyclone usually refers to a storm originating in the southern Pacific. Typhoons, on the other hand, normally originate in the western Pacific and hurricanes in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific oceans.

As I wrote this article, the eyes of the world were bedazzled by the opening program of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The recent massive earthquake in China and devastating cyclone Nargis, which tore through nearby Myanmar (Burma), were already receding memories. While the repressive regimes in both countries have come under criticism from the Western world and the United Nations, they have learned to simply wait it out.

Admittedly, China was quick to open her doors to a large flow of international aid. But the military government in Myanmar did all it could to keep supplies from reaching victims of the cyclone. The U.S. Aircraft Carrier Essex, equipped with helicopters, tons of water and food, and a host of willing helpers, waited for three weeks off the coast of Myanmar for approval that never came. The same story was played out again and again. It is estimated that 140,000 people died and two million people were seriously impacted by the cyclone. After allowing limited aid into their country, Myanmar’s leaders now claim no more aid is needed.

We are therefore thankful to report that we have established contact with Rev. Moses Thang of the United Reformed Churches (URC) of Myanmar. The URC of Myanmar consists of 2000 members in 20 churches. This denomination does not have official church relations with the United Reformed Churches of North America, but did attempt to send a delegate to 2007 Synod in Chicago. At that time, the delegate’s visa application was denied. These churches are able to function with little interference from the government and Word & Deed was given permission to include their names in our updates. At the time of this article $5,000 in funding has been sent with more planned for the near future. We are, however, taking a careful, step-by-step approach. Communication continues to be slow, at least from a western perspective.

The URC of Myanmar has established an Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Committee with Rev. Moses as the chairman. Two other pastors, three elders, and one deacon comprise the committee, with three different churches represented. We are very pleased to see this and can tell from the communications that have been received that these brothers have responded to the disaster in a very organized and prudent fashion.

The money is being used to repair homes, churches and wells. Other funds have been used to provide food, water, and medical supplies. A major project (approximately $60,000) Word & Deed is considering, is the need to rebuild a church-seminary facility which was completely destroyed by the cyclone. Additional funds for wells and home repairs are also needed. Representatives from the United Reformed Churches in North America and the Reformed Church of New Zealand have visited the churches in Myanmar over the past four years and are able to give a positive recommendation on their behalf.

Pray for the churches in Myanmar as the members rebuild their homes, lives, and churches. Pray that their efforts to minister to the needs of their neighbors, which they need to do carefully given the repressive government of Myanmar, will also be blessed to the salvation of sinners. While we witness from afar yet another horrible consequence of our rebellion against God, may He mercifully use it to bring eternal hope to millions of children of Adam and Eve in Myanmar.

Rick Postma is the director of public relations for Word & Deed Ministries.

Upcoming Events

2008-09-02T15:40:00.002-05:00

See the Fund-Raising webpage for information on the latest events.

Or you can click on the below links.

The Fall Dinner Tour in 5 North American Cities highlighting our projects in Malawi.

The Grand Rapids, MI, Auction with proceeds for Maranatha School in Nicaragua.

Niagara Business Group Chapter Launch

2008-07-18T15:09:00.014-05:00

The Niagara Business Group chapter was launched recently in a very rustic setting.

There was a noon session (above) and an evening session with over 24 businesses in attendance. A number couldn't make it that day and hope to join the near future. The group pledged $45,000 to the John Calvin Christian School project in Colombia. Two other business groups (Hamilton South & Calgary) have also chosen to support this project.

Below are some pictures. Links for further information are found at the bottom of this post (page down).

Here are the members who came for the evening session.

Lawrence and Sharon, members of the group, very kinded hosted our sessions in their rustic barn.

The Niagara Business chapter is the 7th Word & Deed business group to form.

A heartfelt thank you to all those who helped coordinate the launch (John & Jacqueline, Jake, Lawrence & Sharon) and to all the people who took time out of very busy schedules to attend.

Click here to read more about Word & Deed Business Groups

Click here to read more about John Calvin Christian School

Click the "back arrow" on your browser to return here once you have read the article(s).