Our Work
Microfinance consists of the three main financial services listed below. The myriad of banks, insurance companies and investment institutions upon which we rely are not available to the poor. As a result they pay enormous interest rates to loan sharks (as much as 360% a year) and often have no access to opportunities for savings, investments or insurance.
1. Lending ~ issuing micro-loans to low income folks who want to start or expand a small business, or who need the lump-sum of money for a one time expenditure such as school fees, medical bills, etc.
2. Savings ~ providing safe and convenient means to save money. Although the lending aspect is more well-known, savings is more universally needed and is a more effective strategy for alleviating the vulnerabilities of poverty. This is an area of growing emphasis in our work in Haiti and the DR, as well as with other Hope programs around the world.
3. Insurance ~ micro-insurance products for events such as death expenses are a helpful tool for many people. As of yet, Hope does very little with insurance.
Christian microfinance aims to serve the poor excellently with financial service programs while infusing our activities with Christian witness. We work with clients of any or no religious background with no strings attached, but are open about our motivation to serve in Jesus’ name and to invite others to follow him. We also seek to work with churches in various ways: church members provide business training, pastors lead Bible studies, we offer a loan for churches to buy and operate commercial water purification systems, churches send clients our way, etc.
What is Christian Microfinance?
1. Give thanks for the opportunity to work in the DR and Haiti.
2. That our loan programs would be effective in alleviating poverty.
3. That God would be glorified in our efforts.
Financial Support:
Thank you to the many folks who are supporting this work! If you would like to join in please do so. You can give online at this URL or you can mail a check with our name in the memo line to:
Hope International
227 Granite Run Drive
Suite 250
Lancaster, PA 17601
Organization:
Position:
Program Advisor ~ Andy
Hope Liaison ~ Marie
Email: awilliams@hopeinternational.org
New Horizons
After 11 years in New England for Andy and 8 for Marie, we’re excited to move to a new place and enter together into work that combines our business/non-profit backgrounds (including undergrad degrees for both of us) with our desire to serve our Heavenly Father and share Jesus’ good news with others.
We have lived or worked in Latin America and speak some Spanish (but need some work on that ~ we’ll spend the first 6 weeks improving our Spanish) and have been involved in Christian microfinance for the last 5+ years.
We are blessed to have the opportunity to work with such an excellent and well-respected organization as Hope International. They have a dedicated and Christ-centered staff with programs/partners in many of the most broken places around the globe.
The partner we will work with, Esperanza International, is operated by Dominican and Haitian Christians. Their website is www.esperanza.org
Hannah & I with Pedro, Director of Microfinance at Esperanza
Pictures above: The first picture is of a loan recipient with her family. She runs a small convenience stand. The second photo is of the sales window of a church-run water purification system purchased through a program with Esperanza. The church sells the water and uses the profits to support their ministry and programs in the community. The third picture is of a craftsman who has used a loan to strengthen his business.
Co-authored by our friend Peter Greer, president of Hope International, this book discusses microfinance and employment based approaches to poverty reduction. Both authors have substantial experience in Christian economic development.
