Resonate Missionary Still in Hospital

Volunteer missionary Rev. David Nederhood remains in the intensive care unit in a Singapore hospital following a motorcycle accident in Bali, Indonesia, on December 2. Nederhood is the interim pastor at Bukit Doa International Church, sent last August by Resonate Global Mission, the mission agency of the Christian Reformed Church.

Nederhood, 51, was returning to his home when he hit a large pothole and was thrown from his motorcycle. “Thankfully he was wearing a helmet,” said his daughter Dena Kim. “Another motorbike-rider had hit the same pothole just before David’s accident, and was pulled over at the side of the road trying to fix his tire, which had come off. This good samaritan helped to block oncoming traffic, waved down a passing car, got David to the emergency room of the nearest hospital, and contacted David’s friends in Bali and family in the U.S.

Nederhood was flown by medical emergency evacuation to Gleneagles Hospital in Singapore. Kim said his condition is stable but delicate and he is still being cared for in the ICU. “[He] cannot currently speak or walk. He is able to communicate on and off with hand symbols, and is able to stand up for a short time with the assistance of his nurses and therapists. He often shows enjoyment of hearing his loved ones’ voices by smiling and waving and of his favorite music by wiggling his toes and tapping his hands. At the moment, his biggest obstacle is being able to stay alert for prolonged periods of time. Although he still has a long way to go, he has made tremendous progress and the doctors are pleased with his progression,” she wrote in an email.

Josh Leo, communications manager for Resonate, said the agency has worked extensively with the insurance company to facilitate timely medical care and evacuation to Singapore for Nederhood. “Our South & South East Asia regional mission leader, Joyce Suh, met with [David] and his doctors,” Leo wrote in an email. “Our staff is continuing to work with the insurance company and support the family through this difficult time.”

Prior to his service in Bali, Nederhood served in churches in Oakland, Calif.

Kim said her father will eventually be moved to an inpatient rehabilitation facility, either in Singapore or in his hometown of Chicago. Kim said it “may be months” before he can return to the U.S. to be cared for by his family. He has four adult children, Joshua, Caleb, and Mary Grace in addition to Dena. He is the son of Rev. Joel and Mary Nederhood. 

Kim said the family has set up a web page to keep friends and supporters informed about Nederhood’s condition and how they can help.