ASJ Mourns Loss Of Board President Pete Harkema

February 5, 2018

With great sadness, the staff and board of ASJ (formerly known as AJS) mourn the loss of Pete Harkema, our board President, our capital campaign director, and our dear friend.

Pete joined the ASJ-US board in 2009 and was elected board president in 2011. He served faithfully until his death on February 3rd at age 70.

Pete’s visionary outlook and strategic mind was an influence to many different organizations during his life. Throughout his decades of experience, Pete nurtured a desire to pursue justice, advance the Kingdom of God, and redeem Creation from brokenness. He first learned about ASJ when his son, Peter, spent a year working with ASJ in Honduras. But Pete soon came to love Honduras in his own right.

“He was a dear friend, tireless, and loving,” said Carlos Hernández, co-founder and director of ASJ-Honduras, “He truly loved this country and the work we are doing here.”

Pete brought wisdom and a keen mind to the board, and thoughtful leadership during a time where it was much needed.

“Pete was board president during a time of great growth and change on the board,” remembered Rick Bandstra, Volunteer Executive Director of ASJ, “He always handled the process remarkably well, letting every voice be heard, and finding ways to build consensus and move forward.”

This leadership was particularly felt during ASJ’s process of planning and fundraising for a new office in Honduras. Pete volunteered as the Director of the Capital Campaign, dedicating hours to strategy meetings and planning.

“It was a double effort, both as President of the Board and Chair of the Capital Campaign, but he wanted to do it, and he did it so well,” said Rick. “Without his good work, we never would have been able to raise the money we needed.”

Pete’s dream was to see the ASJ staff in a secure, safe, accommodating building, and while he was not able to see the building completed, he was able to speak at a dedication ceremony for the land where the office will be built.

“This building will be more than an office space for ASJ,” Pete told the audience at the ceremony, “It will be a symbol of our hope that through our prayers, our dreams, and our work, we can bring about a more just society here in Honduras,”

We will miss Pete’s vision, humor, warmth, and wisdom on the board. But in our building, our programs, and our work, the legacy of his leadership will not soon be forgotten.

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Earlier this month, The Banner published a story written by Our Shared Ministr y by Karina Guevara and Elmer Salinas . The authors showcase the work that ASJ-Honduras is doing to help and support students in Honduras. Karina and Elmer tell the story of Genesis Garcia, an 8-year-old, whose family struggles to find consistent jobs. "Genesis Garcia Baquedano is 8 years old and lives with her older brother, Anderson, and their parents in Honduras. Her parents work hard to support their family. Genesis’s father is a painter who struggles to find consistent work, and her mother is a street vendor who spends long hours away from home." According to Karina and Elmer, although Genesis is a good student, she was struggling with reading, writing, and math. This is where the ASJ-Hondurans' program, Strong Communities , comes to be a blessing. "Through God’s grace, Genesis and her family were able to join the Strong Communities program facilitated by World Renew’s local partner, Association for a More Just Society (ASJ, because the Spanish translation is Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa). Through the program, Genesis attended academic support sessions, where she impressed her tutors with her perseverance and enthusiasm. Now, Genesis’s teachers praise the program for the significant progress Genesis has been making at school." We are blessed to be able to help kids like Genesis and her family to be able to achieve their dreams and goals. You can read the full story HERE and learn more about the ASJ-Honduras Strong communities program HERE