Many times in business our best intentions to incorporate our Christian faith in practical ways fall prey to the “tyranny of the urgent”, deluges of minutia, the challenges of tight cash flow, people issues, family responsibilities, and our struggle for the right balance in doing life.  For years, Seattle Drip sponsored orphans in coffee producing countries thru Compassion International, an incredible ministry that supports orphans thru a holistic Christian approach.  We have many letters and notes from precious kids over the years that went unanswered however due to the long list of priorities that took the place of even a short note of encouragement, I’m ashamed to say.  Realizing this, while still burdened by the injustices and inequities, particularly in Africa and other parts of the world, our heart’s desire has been to somehow make an impact in some way – in a way that could somehow create the “flywheel effect”, essentially meaning “teach people to fish” versus “giving them a fish”.

At the Willowcreek Leadership Summit in August 2009 (my personal annual pilgrimage), I was introduced to Micro-Finance thru Jessica Jackley, founder of KIVA.org and Richard Stearns of World Vision, organizations both of which provide a vehicle for individuals and businesses to make small loans to entrepreneurs in third world countries.  This was finally what I had been looking for.  Richard Stearns of World Vision gives real life examples of transformed lives and communities in his wonderful book, The Hole in Our Gospel, where opportunities to start businesses ranging from a recreation center that was started with a loan for a ping pong table to a small “conglomerate” started by a thirty year old man named Roderick, of Zambia.  Roderick’s story was heartbreaking.  He and his wife lost a child, one of several, to malaria and had no income, health care, or opportunities but they were hard working people.  the one possession they owned was an old hair dryer, so they started a hair cutting business to earn money.  Instead of World Vision’s giving of things or food, they gave them a small loan for bolts of cloth to sell to women who made their family’s clothing.  A couple of years later, Roderick and his wife had paid back their loan and started a second store and hired their first employee.  They were then connected to the power grid and Roderick started a welding business and started charging batteries for a fee.  Next he started a “Cel Tel” business where phones “with minutes” could be purchased and leveraged it to start the community’s first “theatre” with a loan for a dvd player and satellite dish.  Upon becoming a believing Christian, he played the “Jesus Film” in the middle of the day to about 10 viewers per showing.  Upon World Vision’s subsequent visit and loan review, Roderick was asked what he was going to do with his newfound wealth after the establishment of now eleven businesses.  His response after thinking a moment:  ”God has been good to us, and with His continued blessings I hope to build a school for the orphans.  Pray that God will allow me to do this.”

This is one story of many that I am aware of between World Vision and Kiva where hope was given to people in a country very short on hope.  In a place where the concept of entrepreneurship is non-existent, we have the potential of changing lives thru partnerships with organizations like World Vision and Kiva by making loans as small as $25 that can be the catalyst for change not only in a family’s life, but an entire community.  With the benefit of World Vision’s and Kiva’s proficiency in underwriting and monitoring the loans and thru World Vision’s “Mentoring Program”, these hard working and honorable people are honoring their financial commitments with an astounding loan default rate of 1.5%.  That’s right, the repayment rate of the loans extended has averaged 98.5%  Might we have something to learn as a country from this?

So here’s the proposition.  Seattle Drip has partnered with World Vision and Kiva in establishing the “Seattle Drip Lending Team” at each organization with the purpose of providing Micro-Loans to borrowers of your choice inviting our friends, customers, supporters, and partners in joining us in making micro-loans in any denomination, ranging from $25 to as much as anyone would want to give, thru these two vehicles.  Attached are videos to show you how these programs work and how simple it is to make an impact.  I hope you will watch these videos and join us in offering hope to people in these sometimes very corrupt countries that could eventually overcome the suppressors that take their hope away.

Join us and may God Bless!