Entrepreneurs Thrive in Cameroon

RCE Director Dr. John Mulford traveled to Cameroon in January with Patrice Tsague and Tyrone Grigsby of Nehemiah Project International Ministries (NPIM), meeting kingdom entrepreneurs who are impacting their families and communities. RCE and NPIM are working on plans to collaborate and provide ongoing mentoring and training for businesspeople in Cameroon.

Mulford visited about 20 businesses started by graduates of the Nehemiah Project entrepreneurship training, including graphic design, investment banking, soap-making and yogurt-making businesses (picture at left), a beauty spa, private schools, and many more.
View slide show.

Growing Business in Ghana

Dorothy Eyiah is resourceful. But she had no idea how she was going to support her AIDS-stricken sister and family when she brought them into her home in Ghana. She started praying, and met some women who were part of an Opportunity International Trust Group. The Trust Group helped her grow her small ice business, and provided financing, training, and support.

Now Dorothy employs nine people from her village. She started a second business selling cookies and funded a third business growing pineapples, which she hopes to expand. These businesses provide enough money to support her ailing sister, her nieces and her grandnephew. "God has been so good to me," she says.

Full story from Opportunity International.

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Market for Community Transformation, Liberia

In Foster Town, Liberia, the community market is doing well. The new market superintendant has submitted a budget, is cracking down on inefficiency and some in-house corruption, and for the first time the market is actually making money for its parent--the Foster Town Association for Community Transformation (FACT), which constructed the major community market place last year.

At the market, a hundred women can come and sell food, clothing, and other products--plus have a central place to simply connect.
From the blog of The Reeds in Liberia.

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Perimeter Church and Jholdas

"Our first meeting with the students occured on Tuesday evening to get an update from each of the business owners. Maria has used half of her money to purchase inventory for her store... [and] shared with us her challenge of needing protection from the rain for her products. Edson is being challenged with competitors having lower prices, but not offering the same quality. Doris has been very successful starting her hair salon, was profitable in her first month, and offers beatification clinics to draw more customers. Finally, Luis is hard at work completing his camera modifications that are needed to start filming.

"We spent the evening listening to their progress and taking notes. We also learned of the kingdom impact that these companies are having already. We heard about two professions of faith, both from a customer and employee. We are encouraged with their progress."

The next round of training in Guatemala City is planned for Feb 5 – 11th 2008, which will be Jholdas Phase 1 training.
Read more stories of the trip to Guatemala, Nov. 2007.

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Empowering Afghan Women in the Marketplace

A new MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) program aims to empower women farmers in Afghanistan by integrating them more fully into the horticultural value chain. The project will work with some 2,250 women in Parwan province and impact 10,000 or more family members.

Innovative training and marketing models will be employed (while building on community networks) to strengthen commercial linkages for crops and increase income. MEDA will help rural women find suitable supplies, financial services and markets, and provide training in production, marketing and management. By contributing in visibly direct ways, these women will gain greater respect and status.
Read more.

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Ministering in the City

The ultimate challenge of Jesus’ ministry was to go to the city, the city of Jerusalem. This city, which was the center of education, religion, and politics, was also the place where corruption and crimes abounded. Yet, Jesus went there anyway. Following Jesus to the city was a risky business. Many would-be followers dropped out when they saw this ultimate danger.

What will it require of us to move to the city? I ask this question whenever I find myself wanting to settle down in the comfort of material well-being. God may not ask us to physically move to the city, but God does require that we reach out to hurting people with the gospel, wherever they might be.
- Kyungsig Samuel Lee (Korean Family Devotions)

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Upcoming Events

A historic business conference is being held with American and Arab business leaders, entrepreneurs and educators in North Africa, May 8-10, 2008. Read more at the Business as Mission Network, or go to the conference website.

Partners Worldwide will host an International Business Conference, October 2-4, 2008 in Muskegon Michigan. Come and meet with dynamic businesspeople from around the world in the ultimate faith journey of business. Learn how your business knowledge and experience can make a difference, creating jobs and transforming lives.
Read more.

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Pray for Kenya

In a span of a little bit over a month, after what began as a peaceful election process on December 27, 2007, over 1,000 people have died while close to 300,000 have been displaced from their homes in the nation of Kenya. Thousands of business have been destroyed and the transportation system paralyzed, leading to shortages of food, fuel and other essential commodities.

With international help and the prayers of many around the world, the country is slowly returning to normalcy. But it will take a long time to restore broken relationships and trust between communities, the dwindling economy, and a fragile security system.

Read full blog post and prayer requests, by RCE's Jeremiah Koshal.

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