Today Carol Bremer-Bennett begins her first day as the U.S. Director of World Renew today, joining Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, Canada Director, in leading the bi-national organization’s development and disaster response ministry among communities of hunger and poverty in North America and over 35 countries worldwide.
Today Carol Bremer-Bennett begins her first day as the U.S. Director of World Renew today, joining Ida Kaastra Mutoigo, Canada Director, in leading the bi-national organization’s development and disaster response ministry among communities of hunger and poverty in North America and over 35 countries worldwide.
“I am honored to take on the U.S. directorship at World Renew, with great joy and hope for the work that the organization accomplishes,” Bremer-Bennett says. “World Renew is a life-changing organization, showing compassion and alleviating poverty by caring for the orphaned, widowed, displaced, hungry, and neediest people of the world.”
"I am honored to take on the U.S. directorship at World Renew, with great joy and hope for the work that the organization accomplishes."
Bremer-Bennett assumes the U.S. director position after the retirement of Andrew Ryskamp on June 30, 2015. Ryskamp oversaw the operations of the organization as U.S. Director for 17 years, moving from an Agronomist position in Asia to Regional Director to Director of Diaconal Ministries in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, office. He will return to the organization briefly to assist with Bremer-Bennett’s transition.
Bremer-Bennett was offered the position by an Executive Search Committee, on approval from the organization’s Joint Ministry Council. Her appointment was then ratified by the Board of Trustees and Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Her education includes undergraduate degrees in education and political science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a graduate degree in educational leadership from Western New Mexico University.
Bremer-Bennett’s extensive experience in Christian ministry includes more than 20 years of organizational leadership, leadership development, and administration in a variety of teaching, principal, superintendent, and director positions in the Rehoboth, New Mexico, private 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.
As World Renew Director U.S., Bremer-Bennett will provide overall direction to the organization, perform its executive and administrative functions, and support the U.S. Board and US-Canada Joint Ministry Council. She is the first woman and the first Native American to lead the organization in the U.S., and the fifth individual to take the U.S. directorship since the organization’s non-profit incorporation in 1962 as the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.
“Carol has a deep passion for justice and addressing poverty as well as a wealth of practical experience in approaching its root causes in the North American context,” says U.S. Board Chair Jodi Cole Meyer. “We are excited by her heart for empowering people and continuing World Renew’s amazing work.”