Abounding Service

04/24/2026

“It was a slice of Heaven,” reflected Grace Community Church leadership where the Celebration of Life was held. On Saturday, we honored the life and legacy of the founder of Abounding Service, Gary De Velder. ❤

Over 200 people participated, representing generations of families, multiple eras, and global cultures from his long arc of life and impact.

Many shared, “I learned so much about Gary, I had no idea!” (If you haven’t seen them yet, here is his obituary and remarkable pictures: https://aboundingservice.org/gary/ )

We heard how Gary found joy in each day. We certainly saw it in the faces of his students and Encouragers on Saturday (even the ones who weren’t in this picture)! They displayed 75 heartfelt cards answering, “Teacher Gary is ____ for me.”

We reflected on what Gary loved, including all kinds of music, from classical, to jazz, to K-Pop! 😀

In class, Gary and I joyfully helped our refugee and immigrant friends pronounce words to the rhythm of early American jazz. This fun exercise is super helpful for pronunciation of American English!

Connecting to joy and jazz, I want to invite you to something Dad would love.

There’s a unique performance coming up this Friday, April 24 at 7pm at the Jazzbird Lounge of the Ravenscroft.

Gary would appreciate this music — and would especially love how all the ticket proceeds will be donated to Abounding Service in support of his legacy! What a blessing from our good friends at Music Serving the Word!

This benefit concert is an honor for Abounding Service and an honor to Gary.

If you’re in town and would love take part in Gary’s legacy as you enjoy the swinging music of Ray Brown, please meet me there!

Chris Ross and the Corner Pocket Quartet
Performing the music of the Ray Brown Trio
Friday, April 24 7-9pm
Jazzbird Lounge at the Ravenscroft in Scottsdale
https://theravenscroft.com/event/jazzbird-nights-chris-ross-corner-pocket-quartet/

Back in English class the past two days, we've had a special time together as our refugee and immigrant friends and Encouragers shared what they learned at Gary's Celebration of Life.

Many shared who they will choose to be because of Gary. Their shares included, “a teacher, reach out to help others, be a good man in my life, a learner, helper” and many more, all from the heart.

You, me, all of us together. We are his legacy of love and service.

It's an honor to serve together with you,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

04/16/2026

❤ Please come this Saturday to Gary's Memorial Service / Celebration of Life. April 18 at 10am. We would love to see you there as we remember and honor Gary, the founder of Abounding Service, together.

Please wear your traditional clothes, especially if you are from another country!

Service details, Gary's obituary, and some amazing photos from his life are in this link: https://aboundingservice.org/gary/

Gary's service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am in the Student Center of Grace Community Church (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).

(Gary’s personal request is that, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abounding Service in his memory. https://aboundingservice.org/donate/ )

To be clear, you are his legacy. You, me, all of us — with people we may never meet, expanding the ripples of impact we may never see.

Together with you, we continue Gary’s vision of empowering the marginalized to serve others. You, me, all of us — we are his legacy.

You are an honor to him,

Derek

04/13/2026

Gary's Celebration of Life / Memorial Service is this Saturday, April 18 at 10am. ❤️ Service details, Gary's obituary, and some amazing photos from his life are in the link.

Please join us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Gary De Velder, Saturday, April 18 at 10am in the Student Center of Grace Community Church (the building farthest east on the campus) 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282.

04/04/2026

We wish you a blessed Easter! It's an honor to serve together with you.

At this time, we also look toward the memorial service / celebration of life for the beloved founder of Abounding Service — my father, Gary De Velder.

I would love to see you there as we remember and honor Dad together. Please wear your traditional clothes, especially if you are from another country!

Gary's service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am in the Student Center of Grace Community Church (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).

(Dad’s personal request is that, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abounding Service in his memory.)

To be clear, you are his legacy. You, me, all of us — with people we may never meet, expanding the ripples of impact we may never see.

Together with you, we continue Gary’s vision of empowering the marginalized to serve others. You, me, all of us — we are his legacy.

You are an honor to Dad,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

03/07/2026

Derek DeVelder from Abounding Service, here. I have something very difficult to share with you. Gary De Velder recently passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at age 83. I know this may be a shock. It certainly was for us.

Gary — my father, and the founder of Abounding Service had been on a long cancer journey, taking chemo every two weeks for seven years in order to keep the aggressive colon cancer at bay. It spread from his colon to the bladder, then eventually his liver.

Dad collapsed at home and died Thursday morning, January 29. I saw him at the hospital and he looked peaceful.

We lost a lion. My stepmom, Cindy, lost her husband. Her family, my family, and the community of Abounding Service — we are all grieving, partly because we were “supposed to” have more time. A few more months, questions, conversations.

Through that grief, we see how Gary faithfully served Jesus, deeply loved others, and lived his mission with those he loved right up until the very end. Then he died quickly and peacefully.

Board Vice Chair Rafiki Niyonzima (Rwanda) asked our board of directors and us: “What is your mission? We want to serve the Lord in our mission right until the end!” Gary did exactly that.

On Monday, January 26, Dad taught both English classes and looked good. On Tuesday, he participated in our online Zoom class and blessed a woman in Afghanistan as he poured into her and the whole class. On Wednesday, he sent out the homework for the next day, and on Thursday morning he died.

Dad is absolutely beloved by our volunteer Encouragers and refugee / immigrant friends.

Marvin (Congo) “He is my Papa! Teacher Gary is the Papa of Abounding Service!”

Thi (Vietnam) “He looks like my father. He was my father.”

To honor Gary’s life and legacy (you’re his legacy), will you please join us at his memorial service / celebration of life?

The service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am at Grace Community Church in the Student Center (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282)

Dad’s personal request is that, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abounding Service in his memory.
aboundingservice.org/donate

To be clear, you are his legacy. You, me, all of us — with people we may never meet, expanding the ripples of impact we may never see.

As Gary’s legacy, Abounding Service is continuing to press ahead, bringing refugees, immigrants, and Americans together.

Together with you, we continue Gary’s vision of empowering the marginalized to serve others. You, me, all of us — we are his legacy.

You are an honor to Dad,

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Abounding Service
Executive Director
AboundingService.org

P.S. To honor Gary’s life and legacy (you’re his legacy), will you please join us at his memorial service / celebration of life?

The service will be Saturday, April 18 at 10am at Grace Community Church in the Student Center (the building farthest east on the campus, 1200 E Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282).

12/31/2025

✨Sada (Congo) is a light to those around her while volunteering to serve those in need. ❤ Pictured on the right, packing Thanksgiving dinners with the Saturday morning class!
✨Sada went from forced displacement to proudly swearing the Oath of Allegiance as a new American citizen.

From receiving resettlement help to giving with dignity by volunteering to serve people in need.

From family growing apart to speaking English into the lives of her children, bridging that gap.

From being resettled to proudly owning her own home.

As we say about you in class, “Friends make it free!” Will you make English classes (now with stress management) free for refugee and immigrant friends like Sada and change the trajectory of entire families — for generations?

https://aboundingservice.org/donate/ (2x matched by Dec 31!)

It's an honor to serve together with you!

07/04/2025

What a special Independence Day for Thi and Minh (Vietnam) who "loud and proud" swore the Oath of Allegiance as new American citizens this spring! ❤ Presiding Judge Eileen Willet exhorted the 74 new Americans to “Contribute your gifts for all in America!” 🤲 Of course, Thi and Minh have _long been contributing_ their gifts such as volunteering to pack Thanksgiving dinners, serving Arizonans in need (pictured).

03/11/2025

Thi (Vietnam) just swore the Oath 🗽 + brought people together!

As we share deep sorrows amid the heartbreaking shutdown of the U.S. refugee resettlement program and sweeping immigration policy changes, there are moments of pure joy we want to bring to you.

Friday morning filled our hearts as Thi swore the Oath of Allegiance as a proud, new American citizen. She was joined by 73 candidates for citizenship from 24 countries who were celebrated by well over 200 friends and family members.

The court clerk asked for three volunteers from the new citizens to share their gratitude by speaking to the entire room of nearly 300 people. Guess who immediately raised her hand?

Yes! Thi confidently addressed the room with enthusiasm and gratitude. Thi thanked you — through Abounding Service. You made a real difference that you can see in this short video, above!

Presiding Judge Eileen Willet exhorted the 74 new Americans to “Contribute your gifts for all in America!”

Thi has long been contributing her gifts including volunteering to pack Thanksgiving dinners, serving Arizonans in need.

As we move forward together into this uncharted territory, know that we are passionate about, and will continue to bring people together, refugees/immigrants and Americans alike, changing the trajectories of entire families.

We do this together!

It's an honor to journey together with you.

Derek

Derek DeVelder
Executive Director, Abounding Service
AboundingService.org

P.S. Will you Connect the Welcome? When you give monthly, you will be a Connector of Welcome for refugees through consistent English and relationships, especially for such a time as this. https://aboundingservice.org/donate/

P.P.S. Do you pay Arizona state taxes? Thanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, you can donate (up to $938 for couples filing jointly or $470 for singles by April 15) to qualifying charities like Abounding Service and get it right back on your AZ tax return.
This way, you can help refugees at no extra cost to you. It's free and effective. https://aboundingservice.org/taxcredit/

01/06/2025

Yes!! 😃 In-person English classes started back up and we return Tuesday evenings at 6:55pm to our weekly, online ♥ What's Working Workshop! You're invited to our fun, online gathering where refugees, immigrants, and American friends all participate in — from anywhere! https://aboundingservice.org/tellmemore/

Tusinge (Congo) ~ “Meeting more people from different countries, we become one community”

Kenny (U.S.) “Thank you for the peace I find here.”

Theint (Burma) ~ “What I like most about this workshop is that I feel like I am spending my time meaningfully.”

12/26/2024

❤ Omary (Congo) takes us all to Christmas! In the Tuesday night online "What's Working Workshop," the question was, "How do you celebrate Christmas? — In your previous country and here?"

Omary started us off with: "I talk about the birth of Jesus with my children. They don't hear about it in school and I want them to know Jesus."

After Omary (circled) spoke at length, several of our refugee friends such as Lumai (Burma), Ageta (Ethiopia), and Kethia (Congo) shared their rich and meaningful cultural celebrations of the birth of Jesus.

Their shares were deeply authentic, yet safe for people in class who celebrate this season differently from them.

It's more than words for Omary and so many refugees. They live it.

This time of year, many of us celebrate the birth of Jesus.

We see the outpouring of His love in the lives of refugee friends, in volunteer Encouragers, and in you.

However you celebrate this season, we want to share that love with you this Christmas!

Just like you share it with us!