Articles for tag: Microloans

KORE: Beyond Relief

By Jerry Harris KORE”s story begins with three Indian children. In 2000, Dennis and Brenda Bratton were finishing their first short-term mission trip and getting ready to head back home to Mandarin Christian Church in Jacksonville, Florida. They were standing on a missionary”s front porch, about to leave for the airport, overloaded by the experience of witnessing India”s extreme poverty firsthand. They saw three Indian children walking down the road; the children were albino, diseased, sight-impaired, malnourished, and their hair was infested. They were dressed in rags. The sight of these children was too much for the Brattons. Dennis told

Discovering Your Potential for Missions

By Jennifer Johnson Christian Missionary Fellowship plants international churches, trains national leaders, coordinates a child sponsorship program, develops campus ministries in key cities around the world, teaches Community Health Evangelism, drills wells for clean water, manages a microloan program, and more. But much of this work depends on consistently recruiting new people to serve””as interns, exchange students, and short- and long-term missionaries. Recently CMF developed a new “Is Missions for Me?” seminar designed to discover more potential recruits for its programs while resourcing and supporting local church efforts. The event is hosted by a church (although several churches can partner

Future Trends in Missions

By Mike Sweeney As we look to the future of missions, we need to think in broad categories about the current trends that appear to have a future trajectory. Many strategies will rise and fall with people”s interests, technological changes, crises, and other transient issues. But, stepping back and observing the world of missions as a whole, we can see fairly clearly that there are a few major trends that will continue to push the church in new directions as we live out the Great Commission around the world. Just as recognition of the 10/40 Window made an impact on

Pantano Christian Battles Poverty with Microloans

By Jennifer Taylor In May, Pantano Christian Church (Tucson, AZ) gave away $25,000″”and asked the recipients to give the same. The money, which the church received as a grant, was offered to members of the PCC community to involve them in a microloan program with Kiva, a nonprofit organization that helps donors provide small loans ($25 or more) to help entrepreneurs around the world escape poverty by starting small businesses. PCC members could participate in the program by committing a small amount of their own money and receiving matching funds from the church. A $12.50 donation would result in $25″”the

Evidence of Providence

  By Eddie Lowen Providence is the forseeing care and guidance of God over the creatures of earth. We can agree on that. But has it ever occurred to you that God may not want credit for some of what is attributed to him by human beings? My theology could be flawed, but I don”t imagine God will be disappointed if the next hot dog eating champion or Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl fails to credit him for their fame and success. To go further, some religious statements seem unlikely to have originated with God, despite the claims of those

economic justice

God, Guns, and Economic Apologetics

Economic justice and the church’s witness Economic justice comes into sharper focus when living in poorer neighborhoods reveals how deeply economic standing shapes daily life, church challenges, and the way believers relate to one another. This article reflects on the Bible’s attention to justice and generosity, then offers practical suggestions for both wealthy Christians and poorer churches. Economic disparities can shape trust, opportunity, and long-term stability in a community. Scripture repeatedly addresses justice, mercy, and the spiritual dangers of favoritism. Both wealthy Christians and poorer churches can take concrete steps toward healthier relationships and clearer witness. By Jim Herbst Diane,

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