Bremer-Bennett Begins Job as World Renew’s U.S. Director

On her first day as the new director of U.S. operations for World Renew, Carol Bremer-Bennett offered a greeting in Navajo to staff members and others meeting in the Grand Rapids office of the Christian Reformed Church.

Bremer-Bennett, who has been working as superintendent of the Rehoboth New Mexico private school system, began her job on Wednesday, taking over from Andrew Ryskamp who retired in early in July after serving for 17 years as director of U.S. operations.

“I am thrilled to be here and among you,” said Bremer-Bennett after she spoke in Navajo.

Bremer-Bennett, who is Navajo and grew up in a Dutch household, went to school in Grand Rapids before leaving to attend graduate school at Western New Mexico University.

“It has been quite a journey to get here,” she said, speaking to people who had gathered around her in a circle of chairs. “I believe God does put these circular patterns in our life … I feel like I’m part of that circle in this place now.”

Bremer-Bennett was ratified in June with a unanimous vote by the Synod 2015 of the Christian Reformed Church to oversee the U.S. operations the denomination’s international development, disaster, and justice ministry.

Bremer-Bennett joins Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, World Renew’s Canadian Director, in providing leadership and oversight to the organization’s $38 million ministry in 35 countries around the world.

Bremer-Bennett’s appointment came after a wide-ranging executive search process that included interviews in May with the World Renew Board of Directors and the Christian Reformed Church in North America’s Board of Trustees.

Bremer-Bennett has extensive experience in Christian ministry, including more than 20 years of organizational leadership, leadership development, and administration in a variety of teaching, principal, superintendent, and director positions in the Rehoboth school system.

Her professional activities also include engagements with the Van Lunen Center for Executive Management in Christian Schools, Gates Millennium Scholarships, and the Ford Foundation.

“It is a big leap of faith for us to move here,” she said to those gathered in the circle of chairs in a conference room.

She spoke of four mountains that the Navajo people hold sacred — and that have meant a great deal to her.

But she says the mountains themselves aren’t sacred. Instead, they represent sacred ground — the presence of God.

“I feel a sense of calling and peace and that this is also holy ground,” she said. “Thank you so much for being here to welcome me.”

After she spoke, people stepped up, put their hands on her and prayed. Then Ryskamp anointed her with oil.