As I have looked at all the different ways we Americans have tried to help others who are in material poverty around the world I have often asked, "Why don't we just bring them jobs?" Jobs are what most men really want, not handouts. Jobs are the reason so many leave their families and come illegally to the US. Jobs are what WE want, so why not them.
There is a growing movement or philosophy in the area of missions that recognises that bringing legitimate, self-sustaining, profit producing businesses to third world countries is one of the very best ways to alleviate poverty and, from a religious perspective, make disciples. This philosophy is referred to loosely as "Business as Missions". (BAM) (For a more in-depth view of this, please read the Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 5, which gives a really great explanation of the principles behind BAM)
Having been self employed all my life, I am passionate about small business. It is my desire, that while I am here in Honduras, that I not only help men develop small businesses in order to support their families, but that I live my own life by the same philosophy, actually modeling the things I am trying to teach, which of course is the only way to truly make disciples. Not only do I want to help men start their own business, but I want to impress on them the vision of using BAM principles themselves to help other men. Building off of one business and expanding that into the community, putting people to work, helping start other small businesses is part of that vision. The possibilities are endless. All it takes is vision, imagination, capital, good research and people who see the potential and want to work.
In order to set the stage, so to speak, to present our first applicant to Go and See Ministries' BAM Economics, I first wanted those of you who follow this blog (and others I will be emailing) to understand more about BAM philosophy. Please click on this link to go to the Economics page of our website, which gives our vision, beliefs, and an overview of the expectations and requirements for those who want to participate and apply for a micro loan.
We currently have two applicants with whom we are working. In few a days I will be posting on this site information on our first venture including; a bio of the man requesting a micro loan, an overview of the small business he wishes to start and the amount of the micro loan he is requesting. I have already vetted him, worked together with him to perform a market analysis, a profitability analysis and determine a repayment schedule that fits his expected revenue. All micro loans are administered interest free, but borrowers are required to make one additional payment at the end of the loan. We will use these payments to help make other loans.*
If, after viewing the first project, you would like to make a loan, please click on this link, read the entire page including the section concerning your loan and contact me via email or by using the "contact" button. After the loan has been administered and the business started, we will give you regular updates on loan repayment. In addition we will give you real life stories of the business and it's progress.
For those of you who are concerned about these kinds of things, we want to be very clear. BAM is not meant to compete against or replace the local church or traditional missions organizations. It is only a part of what God is doing here in Honduras. For those of you who are motivated by humanitarian reasons and not religious ones, have no fear, you will be helping to change and improve many lives with your loan. Thank you!
There is a growing movement or philosophy in the area of missions that recognises that bringing legitimate, self-sustaining, profit producing businesses to third world countries is one of the very best ways to alleviate poverty and, from a religious perspective, make disciples. This philosophy is referred to loosely as "Business as Missions". (BAM) (For a more in-depth view of this, please read the Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 5, which gives a really great explanation of the principles behind BAM)
Having been self employed all my life, I am passionate about small business. It is my desire, that while I am here in Honduras, that I not only help men develop small businesses in order to support their families, but that I live my own life by the same philosophy, actually modeling the things I am trying to teach, which of course is the only way to truly make disciples. Not only do I want to help men start their own business, but I want to impress on them the vision of using BAM principles themselves to help other men. Building off of one business and expanding that into the community, putting people to work, helping start other small businesses is part of that vision. The possibilities are endless. All it takes is vision, imagination, capital, good research and people who see the potential and want to work.
In order to set the stage, so to speak, to present our first applicant to Go and See Ministries' BAM Economics, I first wanted those of you who follow this blog (and others I will be emailing) to understand more about BAM philosophy. Please click on this link to go to the Economics page of our website, which gives our vision, beliefs, and an overview of the expectations and requirements for those who want to participate and apply for a micro loan.
If, after viewing the first project, you would like to make a loan, please click on this link, read the entire page including the section concerning your loan and contact me via email or by using the "contact" button. After the loan has been administered and the business started, we will give you regular updates on loan repayment. In addition we will give you real life stories of the business and it's progress.
For those of you who are concerned about these kinds of things, we want to be very clear. BAM is not meant to compete against or replace the local church or traditional missions organizations. It is only a part of what God is doing here in Honduras. For those of you who are motivated by humanitarian reasons and not religious ones, have no fear, you will be helping to change and improve many lives with your loan. Thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment