Word & Deed Business Groups

Niagara Business Group

2010-09-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

The Niagara Business Group met in September 2010. There was both a noon and an evening session to handle the now close to 50 businesses in the group.

The completion of phase 1 for John Calvin Christian School and the funding of phase 2 was celebrated with a new video.

The group agreed to support the new Palabra Christian School building in Guatemala with 50% of their donations and to support both the Behavioral Change Program for young people in Malawi (25% of donations) as well as the home for abused girls in Colombia (25% of donations).

Below is a picture of one of the classes at La Palabra Chrisitan School (current facility).

Business Group Meetings in British Columbia

2010-06-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Abbotsford/Langley and Chilliwack business groups had their annual meetings in June, 2010. Both groups decided to complete funding of the John Calvin Christian School in Colombia and then to designate remaining funds to 2 projects: The expansion of 2 Christian schools in Nigeria (with a combined 2,000 students) and a youth program in Malawi which equips 1500 youth per year with a biblical view of marriage, parenting and sexuality.

Above is the Abbotsford/Langley Business Group (a number are missing).

Here is the Chilliwack Business Group.

The Chilliwack business group organized a dinner and round of mini-golf at Tap-ins situated in beautiful Cultis Lake.

Business Group meeting in British Columbia

2010-06-10T08:32:00.000-07:00

Recently completed Phase 1 (John Calvin Christian School). From trip taken in late May, 2010. This project partially funded by both BC Business Groups.

Join us for Business Group meetings in British Columbia!

Business Group of Abbotsford/Langley
On Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 8 p.m., we hope to have our second annual Abbotsford/Langley business group meeting at Darvonda Nurseries, 6690 216 Street, Langley. Click here for directions.
To find out more about Word & Deed business groups, click here.
Anyone interested is welcome.

Business Group of Chilliwack
On Thursday, June 17, 2010, we hope to have our third annual business group meeting. The meeting will include a round of mini-golf at scenic Tap-Ins on Cultus Lake, a catered dinner and presentation. Please RSVP to attend the mini-golf or dinner (Corney Les: 604-795-6938). The meeting will take place at 7:30 pm at the Chilliwack Free Reformed Church on 45471 YALE RD. Click here for directions to the church. Anyone interested is welcome.

Business Group meetings in Alberta - you are invited!

2010-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

The third annual meetings are being held for all four Alberta Business Groups at the end of April. Updates on projects which have been selected will be provided and new projects to support, where applicable, will be chosen.

In all cases, new members are warmly welcomed to join us. Please contact Rick Postma for more information publicrelations@wordanddeed.org or 877.375.9673.

Business Group of Southern Alberta
On Monday, April 26, 2010, we hope to have our third annual business group meeting at the Vanee Livestock Truck Wash (3716 9 Avenue North Lethbridge, AB) at 7:30pm, the Lord willing. Click here for a map.

Business Group of Calgary, Alberta
On Tuesday, April 27, 2010, we hope to have our third annual business group meeting at the Free Reformed church building at 7pm, the Lord willing. The address is 6167 6 St SE, Calgary and it is near the Blackfoot Inn. Click here for directions.

Business Group of Edmonton, Alberta
On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, we hope to have our third annual business group meeting at the Edmonton ORC (URCNA) building, 11610 95A St NW, at 8 pm, the Lord willing. Click here for a map.

Business Group of Central Alberta
On Thursday, April 29, 2010, we hope to have our third business group meeting at the Parkland Reformed Church at 7:30pm, the Lord willing. Click here for a map.

Changing Lives

2009-10-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

By Rick Postma

The Word & Deed Business Group initiative continues to flourish under the blessing of the Lord. Since the Business Group of Southern Alberta was launched in December of 2007, 11 additional groups have been formed and over $650,000 donated in support of various projects in Africa and Latin America.

New Groups
In June a new group was started in the Abbotsford area of British Colombia with $57,000 pledged to be split between a home rebuilding project in Nicaragua and the John Calvin Christian School building project. This group was masterfully organized by Ineke Floris who is the group coordinator.

Also in June, Jeff Postma took an innovative approach and invited the sub-trades of his company, Postma Construction, to form a business group. Many did and $27,000 was pledged to support the John Calvin Christian School building project and Health Brigades in Colombia.

How does it work?
The business group program provides an opportunity for business people (you need not own your own business) to form a local group, to choose a project, to give an anonymous pledge towards the project and to have representatives of the group visit the project once it is completed. Updates are provided to the group periodically and the group meets once a year to hear about the project and to choose a new project for the next year.

If I join, what would be expected of me?
You will be asked to attend an annual meeting of your group. A goal of $1500 per member per year is set, but lesser amounts are also gratefully accepted. Some are in a position to give more. Others are in a position to give more in some years and less in others.

What kinds of projects are being supported?
Business Groups are given several options to choose from. A number of the groups are supporting the John Calvin Christian School building in Barranquilla, Colombia (a major project that is also receiving support from fundraisers, churches and individuals). Other projects chosen by business groups include micro-loans in Colombia, a multi-purpose building for the orphan program in Malawi, well-cleaning and agricultural projects in Nicaragua, and the Health Brigades and School of Practical Ministries project in Colombia.

How can I join or find out more?
If there is a business group in your area, you will be most welcome to join. If not, then you may be able to help form one. In either case and to find out more, contact Rick Postma: 877.375.9673, publicrelations@wordanddeed.org

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

Niagara Business Group - 2nd Annual Meeting

2009-10-09T09:09:00.001-07:00

The Word & Deed Business Group met on September 24th for their 2nd annual meeting. There was both a noon and an evening session. For the noon session, all the chairs were filled with 32 group members in attendance.

The meetings took place in a very beautiful rustic barn at the home of Lawrence and Sharon Overbeeke. Attendees received an update on the projects they supported over the past year, learned about the other business groups and were given some networking time.

The group pledged over $57,000 the second phase of the John Calvin Christian School in Colombia.

Business Groups in British Colombia

2009-05-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

Business Group of Chilliwack
On Thursday, June 11, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. we hope to have our second annual business group meeting at the Chilliwack Cattle Company at 47749 Prairie Central Rd. in Chilliwack. We will be using a board room above the machine shop. Click here for directions.

Business Group of Abbotsford/Langley
On Monday, June 15, 2009 at 8 p.m., we hope to launch the Abbotsford/Langley business group at Darvonda Nurseries, 6690 216 Street, Langley. Click here for directions.
To find out more about Word & Deed business groups, click here.
Anyone interested is welcome.

Business Group meetings in Alberta

2009-05-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting with the four business groups of Alberta: Southern Alberta, Calgary, Central Alberta and Edmonton. Below are some pictures of the Southern Alberta group meeting. If you are interested in joining a group, or a starting one, please contact Rick Postma at 877.375.9673.

Here are some pictures of the meetings.

The Business Group of Southern Alberta is funding the micro-business development project in Colombia.

After the meeting, there is time to get to know one another.

Here is a picture of the Business Group of Central Alberta (with several members unable to make the meeting). This business group is funding a large multi-purpose hall for the Nkhoma Orphan project in Malawi.

Here is the Edmonton Business Group (several members were unable to make the meeting). This group is sponsoring the John Calvin Christian School in Colombia. A project which will begin in July with phase 1, the Lord willing.

I neglected to get a picture of the Calgary business group meeting. Below is a picture of the Calgary group, taken in 2009. This group is raising funds for the John Calvin Christian School in Colombia.

Business Group Annual meetings in Alberta

2009-04-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

The second annual meetings are being held for all four Alberta Business Groups at the end of April. Updates on projects which have been selected will be provided and new projects to support, where applicable, will be chosen.

In all cases, new members are warmly welcomed to join us. Please contact Rick Postma for more information publicrelations@wordanddeed.org or 877.375.9673.

Business Group of Southern Alberta
On Monday, April 27, 2009, we hope to have our second annual business group meeting at the Vanee Livestock Truck Wash (3716 9 Avenue North Lethbridge, AB) at 7:30pm, the Lord willing. Click here for a map.

Business Group of Calgary, Alberta
On Tuesday, April 28, 2009, we hope to have our second annual business group meeting at the Free Reformed church building at 7pm, the Lord willing. The address is 6167 6 St SE, Calgary and it is near the Blackfoot Inn. Click here for directions.

Business Group of Edmonton, Alberta
On Wednesday, April 29, 2009, we hope to have our second annual business group meeting at the Edmonton ORC (URCNA) building, 11610 95A St NW, at 8 pm, the Lord willing. Click here for a map.

Business Group of Central Alberta
On Thursday, April 30, 2009, we hope to have our second annual business group meeting at the Morningside Community Hall on Hwy 2A between Lacombe and Ponoka at 7:30pm, the Lord willing.

Sheffield Business Group

2009-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

The Sheffield Business Group was launched in February. The group chose to complete the funding needed for two orphan buildings in Malawi and to allocate remaining funding to home-rebuilding and agricultural projects in Nicaragua. New members are welcome to join the group!

Business Groups

2008-06-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

Maximizing Your Donation Impact - by Rick Postma

It is a sad reality that most of the money given to the developing world gets stolen before it can reach the intended recipient. The money that does get through is often used in a way that either doesn’t help at all or actually makes matters worse. By means of a grassroots network of indigenous Christian partners in the developing world, Word & Deed is able to ensure that any donations you make are in fact delivered to the intended recipients in the way that best meets their needs.

There are a number of ways that you can plug into this efficient and effective means of bringing hope to precious individuals in the developing world. One way is to become part of a local Word & Deed business group.

Word & Deed is setting up a number of regional business groups across North America, following the example of Woord en Daad in The Netherlands, where this approach has been used with great success over the past few years. As a member of this group, you will be able to pool your donation with that of other members to support a sizeable project. It further provides an opportunity to connect and identify with that project. From afar, you can watch it make a life-changing impact on countless lives. There will also be an opportunity for members of your group to periodically visit the projects your group supports.

The First Business Group
In December of 2007, the Word & Deed Business Group of Southern Alberta was launched. The members of this group pledged $28,000 and chose to support a micro-loans project in Colombia (budget of $40,000) that will provide small loans to a total of 126 families over three years to start their own businesses. Unfortunately, I didn’t remember to take a picture until I saw the tail lights of the last member drive away. Coordinators: Hank Arnoldussen 403.553.3311; John Van Hierden 403.327.9941 Dave Van Pelt 403.345.5175

Subsequent Groups
In April of 2008, several more groups were launched.

The Hamilton South Chapter met on April 9, at the Rehoboth United Reformed Church, and chose to support the new three-year John Calvin Christian school building project in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 2008. The fund-raising goal for this large project is $308,000 for each of 2008, 2009 and 2010. Actual construction will begin in 2009, the Lord willing. Numerous fund-raising activities (choirs, hunger awareness campaigns, etc.), churches and business groups will be needed to successfully complete this project. Coordinator: John Langendoen 905.679.8937

The Calgary, Alberta Chapter met on April 14 at the Blackfoot Inn and selected the John Calvin Christian School as well for which $38,000 was pledged with more to come. Coordinators: Edwin Kamphuis 403.281.6990; Don Fraser 403.239.9191; Lydia Vandenberg 403.668.9729

The Central Alberta Chapter met at Wolf Creek Inn near Ponoka on April 15 and selected a large multi-purpose building for the Nkhoma orphan care project in central Malawi as the project they will fund. This project has a budget of $74,000 and will involve a great deal of volunteer labor from the local people. Coordinator: John Lindemulder 403.783.8443

The Edmonton Chapter met at the Orthodox Reformed Church of Edmonton on April 16 and selected the Medical Clinic project in Barranquilla, Colombia. They hope to raise $50,000 for this project, which involves restoring an existing but shut-down (due to government corruption and neglect) medical clinic. The project will require an estimated $172,000 in operating costs for the first year, decreasing to zero over three years as small fees are charged to those who can afford it. Coordinator: Tom DeGraaf 780.469.9264

The Chilliwack Chapter met at the Chilliwack Free Reformed Church on Thursday, April 17 and selected two projects to support. First, they will fund the $30,000 home rebuilding project in Nicaragua (supplying wood for rebuilding 100 homes, with families providing the labor) and then remaining funds will go towards operating the Girls’ Home in Colombia. Coordinators: Corney Les 604.795.6938 ; Allan Les 604.799.3222 ; Dick Westeringh 604.823.6081

Each of these groups is looking to expand their numbers, so if you live in the area, please contact the representative. If you would like to help start a group in your area, please call me. New groups are being established in the Hamilton and St. Catharines areas in June, the Lord willing.

Here is how it works …

Local businessmen and women with a desire to make a major difference in the lives of needy people in the developing world are asked to join the local Word & Deed Business Group Chapter. Prospective members are asked to commit to a $1500 donation per year but lesser amounts are also gratefully accepted. Some will be in a position to give more.

A business group launch is held, at which a Word & Deed representative gives a presentation providing a brief overview of Word & Deed – mission, strategy, areas of emphasis (using indigenous Christians to run our projects, for example). A selection of projects is then reviewed.

All are asked to write on a slip of paper how much they would be willing to donate (they could also write a check at that point). The Word & Deed representative tallies the amounts so that the total amount of funding is known.
The group discusses which project they’d like to support. A vote is held to determine the final selection. The group may take on a whole project or part of one.

Periodic updates are provided to the group as the project progresses.

Every few years, one or two members of the group visit one of the projects they’ve been supporting. This travel is self-funded. These members are then in a position to bring back a first-hand account of the project to their fellow group members.

The following year, the group chooses another project or continues to fund the current one (for example, operational costs).

Please call 877.375.9673 or email me at publicrelations@wordanddeed.org to find out how to join an existing group or how to start a new one in your area.

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