about the projects

about the projects

As church members it is our duty to take care of people around us, to help them. This is the same for us as a local church, and as church denomi­nation: to support those around us who do not have a helper. That is why our churches support diaconal projects (use the button back to see an overview of our projects).

At the same time we are called to summon each other to indeed take care of those around us, and to encourage each other to do so.

churches help churches help

Church aid work encom­passes helping churches or church members to fulfil their diaconal duty within society. For example, a local church can help another local church to start doing diaconal activities. That is why deputies diaconia mainly support projects in which the local church is involved. In this way we can support church members who are concerned for those in need.

In this context it is indis­pen­sable that you would like to build up a relati­onship with the church or church member you are involved with. This is how our support becomes more intense, better. Deputies deaconry would appre­ciate if a local church in the Nether­lands would like to connect itself with a specific project. Please let us know when your congre­gation is interested in doing so, or if you would like some more infor­mation about it.

We can help others. We, on the other hand, can learn a lot from others at the same time. From the people we support. And from the (local) churches who help the people of the project (in their environment). We have something to share. But they also have things to share!

In other words: you could say that we are equipping each other, practicing justice and mercy, and working on reciprocity.

who receives our support?

Whoever looks to what is required and needed, will easily notice that those people who probably fall between two stools are those who truly need our support. In many countries women and disabled children are the target groups of our projects. As a church we should conti­nually have an eye on them, since especially those people can teach us a lot. For example their way of expressing thanks­giving and how they deal with diffi­culties are things that show us new insights.

themes

The areas in which support is needed the most, are often education, health care, employment and food security. Self-reliance is the first priority in any project, since offering help always means to respect the other and helping him or her to stand on his or her own two feet.

Another priority of deputies is a sustai­nable way of living. We gladly support projects which contribute to maintain Gods creation.