Manuel Kamnkhwani 2008 tour highlights

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

Fall 2008 Magazine

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

Update

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

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

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

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).

Recent Updates

Welcome! Please note that this website is really a series of blogs, one for each country supported by Word & Deed. Blogs for various countries can be selected by clicking the drop down menu on the right or by clicking on the underlined phrases below.

Visit the Malawi blog to see some pictures of the girls who are currently there on short term mission trip and follow the link to their blog. There are also pictures and updates concerning several building projects there. (Click on "Malawi Blog" above).

Visit the Guatemala blog to see pictures of the recent Guatemala Mission team as well as several updates.

The Summer issue of the magazine is now online.