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October 30, 2007
Churches and Microfinance
Microfinance is hot. The concept that people can make small loans (like $30) to people halfway around the world, and that loan, which barely buys a meal for a family of four at McDonalds, literally has the ability to change the course of their lives is amazing. The net result is their ability break out of poverty and begin to be self-sufficient.
Perhaps the leading voice in this movement is Muhammad Yunus. He wrote a NY Times bestseller recently titled Banker to the Poor. No, he is not a believer. But he is making a measurable difference in the lives of people all over the world through very small sums of money. He is giving them a second chance at life; a chance as well as a change that they could not provide on their own. (Sound familiar? It should. That's the heart of the Gospel message.)
What if you knew that the money you spent on your family vacation this year could be the principle funds that--if loaned to individual members of a particular village in small sums--could result in increased economic prosperity and the end of poverty? And In turn, you eliminated the challenges that poverty brings such as early death, poor health and nurtition, and a lack of ability to provide for the well-being of the members of this village. How would you feel?
I want to introduce this subject and begin a series of posts that I hope will encourage dialog about a way for Southern Baptists--a denomination that has championed missions from the beginning--as well as Christians all over the world to change lives by providing the Bread of Life as well as bread FOR life.
It's at least worth a coversation.
Posted by bstroup at October 30, 2007 2:08 AM
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