New World Renew Canada Director Has Heart for Unity, Partnerships

Peter Timmerman, a former Southern Africa team leader with World Renew who continued his international development work with World Vision and the global literacy organization CODE, started as World Renew’s director for Canada this week. The board announced his appointment at the end of September.

Timmerman is a member and pastoral elder at New Life Christian Reformed Church in Guelph, Ont., where he has also previously served as a deacon. In an interview with The Banner he referenced his local congregation's ministry themes of flourishing and unity as an inspiration. Facing global trends of increased nationalism and reduced development funding, Timmerman sees an opportunity for World Renew, which has been a “pioneer working through local partners.”

“As experts in this area” World Renew can take advantage of a “strong turn to localization” to build up communities with collaboration.

Timmerman steps into the role after Mike White, World Renew’s chief marketing and philanthropy officer, who served as interim executive director for Canada since the end of January. He will serve as co-director of the binational agency with U.S. executive director Carol Bremer-Bennett, along with the organization’s global executive team introduced this past spring. Timmerman said he expects in that model and in a difficult time as a church to be “finding my most practical role within, seeking through the first year.”

One of the unique opportunities within Canada has been the long fruitful membership in the Canada Foodgrains Bank, a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and church-based agencies focused on ending global hunger and supported by matching government grants. World Renew was also the recipient of a $7 million+ Global Affairs Canada grant in March, which it will be administering over the next five years to support vulnerable youth in Bangladesh.

“I praise God for an opportunity to serve the global church in this way,” said Timmerman as his appointment was announced. “Alongside U.S. executive director Carol Bremer-Bennett, I will work to uphold the values of World Renew: faith, effectiveness, stewardship, and people flourishing.”