Church Planting Through Micro-Finance
Is it possible to meet the felt needs of a people (employment, economic) along with the real needs of the people (spiritual) to see a new church started? Hope Eternal Asia is seeking to answer that question and our beta test is being done in the community of Somosa, in the town of Tabogon in northern Cebu.
SCOFA (Somosa Community Farmers Association) is a savings group and a cooperative made up of 70 members (30 original members and 40 associate members) that has been in existence for 5 years. They have already saved $5405 among themselves, from which individual families can receive a loan for their own specific needs, or for starting their own micro business (i.e., making and selling soap or laundry detergent). The accountability for repaying the loan is done through the whole savings group.
The objectives of SCOFA are the following:
To establish a community-based grocery store offering complete and affordable household and food products.
To create employment opportunities within the locality.
To promote community development by sourcing goods from local farmers and suppliers whenever possible.
To ensure sustainability and profitability for continuous operations.
To provide lending services so that members do not have to go to a loan shark.
The target market are the members of the association, local families, students, employees and nearby residents.
The grocery/convenience store will be offering the following products:
· Basic commodities: rice, sugar, cooking oil, canned goods
· Meat, poultry
· Dairy and soft drinks
· Toiletries and cleaning supplies
· School and household items
By providing a loan of $2000, Hope Eternal Asia is supplementing what the savings group has already saved and providing opportunities for them to expand their grocery store both in space and in goods and products offered. The business is expected to achieve break-even within 5 months of operation and generate sustainable profit thereafter.
How does starting a church fit into this? Every week when the savings group meets, there is a Bible study that takes place. By applying the Bible to their life situations (business, marriage, family, work, community) and giving them Biblical principles to live by, the prayer is that many will come into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and desire to be part of a new church plant in the area. There are currently 5 baptized believers in this area. There are already property and some funds available for putting up a basic chapel when the time is right.
By providing essential goods and services to the community, it reduces travel costs for residents and promotes local economic growth. With proper management and sustainable practices, this project will become a profitable and community-centered enterprise. Along with that, we are praying that an evangelical church will rise as a lighthouse to the community.