Fresh Start Microloans

Several years ago nine members of Evergreen, our sister congregation, organized Fresh Start Microloans, working with our Mission to the World teams and with Joy to the World Ministries to help Malawians start sustaining businesses. Working with the church and supplying adequate training and accountability are priorities of Fresh Start. (During the holidays Evergreen joins our community in relieving the needs of our neighbors and fellow church members throughout the world. This past Thanksgiving Day 2011, Evergreen collected $1,800.00 for Eirene Ministries in Guadalajara, supplying dental and medical services to the poor, a school for the children of the pueblo, Santa Ana Tepetitlan, and an orphanage in Camichines. One time gifts and holiday generosity are important in expressing the love of Christ Jesus. The organizers of Fresh Start dreamed of creating a different expression of God’s solidarity with the poor.) Fresh Start allows us to help sustain families in Malawi year round, for a lifetime through loaning $200.00 or less to an approved candidate proposing the start up of a business that will provide for his family as he/she works diligently. (As the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “If a man does not work, he shall not eat.” Michael Dougherty of Reconciliation (you know, our rock ‘n roll guitarist) has created a new look for Fresh Start on the web. Link to our new site and share it with your friends.