What We Do
Our strategy is simple but powerful: support small business development through training and microloans, while simultaneously sharing the hope that we have in Christ. This dual approach not only helps alleviate poverty and create jobs but also brings the message of God’s love to places where it has not yet been fully heard or embraced.
We do this by partnering with another NGO (non-government organization), Divine Business Appointments, which provides training in how to create business ideas and how to develop a business plan, primarily with the impoverished. Those businesses that are approved are then given a small loan so that they can start or expand their microenterprises. As a result, the income of the entrepreneurs goes up, helping to lift them and their families out of poverty. As the loans are repaid, the money can be lent over and over to help more people. Every effort we make is designed to empower, not create dependency, and to honor the resilience, dignity, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipino people.
Board
Brent Ralston
Brent has been a missionary in the Philippines since 1989, primarily involved in church planting and coaching Filipino church planters. He has also been involved in leadership development, Business as Mission, and overseeing short term mission teams and individuals. He handles the Philippine operations including as project coordinator, coaching, and spiritual oversight. He is married with one adult daughter. He and his wife reside in Cebu City, Philippines.
Jim Seiler
Jim has been a businessman in the States for 35+ years. Since 2015 he has had a desire to make an impact around the world in addressing the poverty issue. His platform has been business plan development and training through micro finance. He started the Divine Business Appointments company to address this and it is now operating in four countries, including the Philippines. For Hope Eternal Asia, Jim oversees operations and finance from a base in the States. He is married and resides in the state of Washington.
Mark Prochaska
Mark Prochaska is an IT executive and international entrepreneur with a passion for empowering others through business. He spent eight years living and working in the Middle East, where he launched and operated a successful company and advised others in business acquisition and market expansion. Mark’s work is deeply guided by his faith, which fuels his commitment to helping God’s image-bearers to discover their dignity and purpose through entrepreneurship, community, and sustainable economic opportunity.
Team
Henry Trocino
After 23 years as a businessman in the Philippines, Henry became a bi-vocational pastor and church planter and also teaches in various theological institutions. He is also the Manager of the Divine Business Appointments Philippines, with which we partner. Henry’s main responsibilities will be providing the entrepreneurial training, evaluating projects, and some spiritual oversight. He is married with two adult kids and resides in Cebu City, Philippines.
Christine Ralston
Chris is married to Brent and has spent most of her life in the Philippines as her parents were also missionaries here. Besides the church planting efforts, she has been involved in overseeing a child sponsorship program, and involved in ministries reaching out to ladies coming out of human trafficking, street kids ministry, and working with people in drug rehabilitation. Her roles will include project development, coach, spiritual oversight, and website manager. Chris and Brent live in Cebu City, Philippines.
Jesusa Pason
Besides being a household manager for many years, Susing has been very active in church planting activities, discipleship, and church outreach. Being a small business entrepreneur herself, she will be active as a consultant, evaluator of projects, coach, and provider of spiritual oversight. She is single and lives in Cebu City, Philippines.