We want to introduce you to a creative new way to alleviate poverty and empower hard work within the poorest communities of our world. It’s called microfinance, and simply put it’s giving small loans to people in great need. These small loans are enabling families to fund small businesses in their villages and communities. The average loan is only $100 and the initial loan is paid back in full 99.6% of the time within just six months. That small loan is then shared with a new family for continued transformation and so on and so on. This little idea is changing families all across the world, and through Never Ending Hope, we all have the opportunity to join this eternal story of restoration.
Jesus tells the story in Luke 19 about a master giving talents to 3 servants to take care of while he is away. When he returns, he wants to know how each person responded. The first servant had a 100% return on the money, the next had a 50% return, but the last servant did nothing. There was great responsibility given to each person, and each made a decision of what to do with that responsibility. We all dream of what we would do in that situation. How would we respond?
The work of HOPE International is exponentially turning those small gifts into changed lives over and over again. We would like to invite you to join us by creatively turning something small into something significant. We’ve been entrusted with the same responsibility as the servants in the parable in Luke. Now, you have the opportunity to help us give loans to people in need, giving them a chance to make their creative ideas come to life.
Learn more about Microfinance.
A COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
This is a great project to do as a small group, church community, family, or youth group! We have many stories of individuals taking on the challenge and doing what they can in their sphere of influence to earn $100 for Never Ending Hope. This is a great way to teach your children what it means to do work hard and be generous with what they have. Consider leading a youth group project as well! Ask your students to come up with creative ways to earn $100 in their own towns, schools and neighborhoods. Let’s join in the entrepreneurial work, as we intentionally form community and earn $100 for an important cause!
IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED
We know you are bursting with ideas. Here are some of ours. Feel free to steal any of these ideas or pursue the thoughts that instantly flood your mind.
Sell 10 books on Amazon
Wash 10 friends’ cars
Bake 50 cupcakes and sell them for $2 each
Mow 10 lawns
Have a garage/yard sale
Sell your gift cards
Challenge your friends to a $10 match Facebook campaign
Sell the bike you never ride
Put a Google ad on your blog and click on it 400 times
Make a lemonade stand. Seriously.
Print photos that you have taken and sell them
Challenge 10 friends to cut Netflix for one month with you
Cook a meal with a cover charge for friends
Throw a party for a cause
Create an art auction with kids’ art that you’ve framed
Sell your frequent flyer miles to a friend
Turn your car into a taxi for one night
Sell off some of your old baseball cards
Clean houses
Sell 10 more books on Amazon
Sell some super sweet stuff on eBay or Craigslist
Rake your neighbors’ leaves
Offer to babysit for a small group at your church for a couple weekends
Recycle aluminum cans (states may vary)
Sell something homemade on Etsy
Make 5 fun t-shirts with iron-on letters and sell them for $20 each
Empty out your change jar and add it up
Buy bottled water and sell it on street corners or at parks
Create gourmet popcorn, package it, and sell it
Create and sell jewelry
Give lessons in something you excel at (guitar, cooking, golf)
Build a dog house and sell it
