“Barn Raising”
When we lived in the heart of Amish country, we regularly visited several farms to buy our food. One day as we approached a farm stand, smoke was billowing out of the old farmhouse. A kitchen fire quickly escalated out of control into a fire that consumed the whole house. After the firemen extinguished the fire, the hard work of cleaning up and rebuilding began.
The next day, the whole Amish community was there clearing the rubble and rebuilding the home. Day after day the community put aside their own desires and sacrificially gave their time, money and resources to help the one in need. Within mere weeks, the family had a new home.
As we strive to live like the early church in our daily lives, we remembered the powerful testimony of this community coming together like the early Christians for a “barn raising” to bless this family.
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” Acts 4:32-35
For this next step in our ministry, God has led us to make our home base here in New Hampshire near Camp Berea. We will be helping with maintenance, hospitality, communication and discipling seasonal staff.
Once we get established here and have several projects underway, there will be some flexibility to still do itinerant ministry in the off-season. We long to serve in France every year again once the pandemic travel restrictions subside.
In September, we bought land and are in the beginning stages of building a home right across the street from camp.
However, because of our low income over the last 7 years that we’ve been missionaries, the bank is requiring a high down payment for the construction to bring our mortgage into a range they’ll finance.
Since we’re so passionate about what God has called us to and we’re committed to living without unnecessary debt, we’ve invested all of the donations we’ve received plus most of our savings into ministry-related expenses. God has been faithful in providing for our daily needs through many avenues. He provided our truck and trailer at a fraction of their value and we trust Him to continue to provide.
We’ve previously always served as unpaid volunteers, usually paying our own way to help. Camp Berea started supporting us in part this spring, however, we will need to continue to look to God to provide for the remainder of our financial needs through the generosity of the people He moves to partner with us. All means of support will be a huge blessing since we have previously had to do freelance work in addition to ministry to cover most of our living expenses.
As of November 2021, we have invested all of the designated gifts toward this into the land (purchase and development with some set aside for the construction down payment) but we still need to raise a substantial amount for the down payment on the house by the end of December. Would you consider if the Lord may be leading you to partner in our ministry and “barn raising” project through prayer and/or financial support? Many hands can make light work!
Here’s a video we put together that tells more about our role here and vision:
Ways to Help
Pray
For God’s miraculous provision of housing.
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Ways to Give
Fast & Easy Ways to Give (Not Tax-Deductible):
The following methods are fast and reliable. They are not tax-deductible for you, but we report all donations as income.
Venmo
PayPal
Monthly Giving can be set up through our PayPal donate link.
Individual Gifts can be given through our PayPal donate link.
Tax-Deductible Ways to Give
1. Give through Christian Worker’s Fellowship by check or online via your bank
Mail a check or set up a recurring gift through your bank’s monthly bill-pay.
Make checks or bill-pay payable to:
Christian Worker’s Fellowship
P.O. Box 12347
Kansas City, KS 66112
Phone: 816-694-1004
Please attach a separate note stating that it is intended for David VanDuzer or write account #1885 on the check.
Monthly Giving:
1. To set up monthly giving, go to your bank’s website or app and navigate to bill pay.
2. Click “add recipient.”
3. Enter the name, address and phone number listed above for Christian Worker’s Fellowship.
4. Click “make a payment,” then enter the amount, select “recurring,” then select “monthly”
5. IMPORTANT! Email staff@christianworkersfellowship.org to let them know the gift is intended for David or Rachel VanDuzer
*CWF will send you a receipt for your gift. They write us a check for funds received on the 15th and 30th of each month and then we receive it about 7-10 days after that and we try to thank donors promptly.
2. Give Online (Individual or Monthly Gifts) via Assembly Care Ministries
Visit Assembly Care Ministries at donorbox.org/assemblycare and choose “Commended Workers”, then enter David or Rachel VanDuzer in the name/need you wish to give to.
You will be emailed a receipt for your records promptly from Assembly Care Ministries, however it may take several weeks for us to receive and acknowledge the gift. Please contact us to let us know how much and when you gave as they only disclose the donor’s name after we request it but they will not disclose the amount they gave.