What is Micro-Enterprise Development? 
 
Micro-enterprise development (MED) is an inclusive term used to describe the tools used to grow a very small business. Many times these very small business are the only means individuals in developing countries have to support themselves. Business such as fish stands, vegetable stands, shoe repair and cosmetology are used as a source of income. One of the tools of MED is microfinance. Microfinance is lending very small loans to individuals and business owners so that they can grow their business.

For example, an owner of a fruit stand may not be able to afford to buy meat to expand her business (and diversify). Being very poor (living on $1000-$5000/year), she most likely does not qualify for an institutional loan because she is not a good credit risk. To grow her business, she needs someone to believe in her and set up the appropriate accountability for her to repay her loans. Once a group of similar individuals is assimilated, they can begin the process of building the funds.

With the proper controls, everyone contributes to a fund. After the fund grows to a certain amount, this can be lent to one member of the group with interest. The principle and interest is then paid to the general fund for the group to lend to another member. Regular meetings are established so those individuals are held accountable for their loans.

This has been proven to be very effective throughout the world. Micro lending is has a repayment rate in the range of 95%-98%. Large microfinance and MED organizations exist but many times, in an effort to become sustainable themselves, are forced to give loans to the "upper poor". This still leaves the middle and lower poor without the financial means to pull themselves out of poverty.

How do the lower poor obtain financing in order to sustain themselves and possibly work themselves out of poverty? It is through a combination of individuals who will support with their time, treasures, and talents. People like you, who are interested enough in serving the poor that you will give of yourselves to see that others can survive. It is through individuals who will live in community with the poor to love them and to display through their actions and life that Jesus is as concerned for the poor and neglected today as He was 2000 years ago. In short, it is those who will commit to walk with the poor.

What is Development and How is the Gospel Related? 
Development - 1. to build up or expand 2. to make stronger or more effective; strengthen.

The term we are using is usually follows the word "relief" and is usually a little more intangible. Development in this sense is to assist those who envision a better life and desire to change their way of life with the tools and knowledge to do just that. God's desire is for all men of all nation to fully glorify Him in every activity of everyday. That involves serving others and, what people do most in life, work.

In the beginning of the world, God established four key relationships. They are man's relationship to God, man to self, man to man and man to nature (Genesis 1:26-30). This was established and referred to as the Hebrew word Shalom, or the way things are to be. Therefore, the "good news", or gospel, is then reconciliation back to the way things were created to be. This means restoring people to live the way God desired and to work to sustain themselves. (A very important verse is found in Genesis 2:15 where God designates man to work before sin enters the picture, establishing it as the way man is supposed to function in the world.)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of reconciliation (Romans 5:11). God is reconciling all things to Himself and has entrusted us to the ministry of reconciliation. Conciliate is defined as "to win over; soothe the anger of" and re- is "back, returning to a previous state." To reconcile is therefore to minister to people by moving their relationships back into the friendship which was once enjoyed. For a Christian development worker, the ministry not only comes with interacting verbally with those around to share the spoken gospel of Jesus and the reconciliation God has extended to us through Him, but also to restore others to the way God has desired them to live, being able to provide for themselves and worship God through work.

One aspect we like about this ministry is that through our interactions with the people we are serving, we are going to be sharing Christ not only in word, but also in deed. We will be working with and through the local evangelical churches as part of their outreach program to the local community. We are praying now that as we serve others and minister as Jesus did that the Peruvians will be drawn to Jesus and desire to make Him the Lord of their lives.

Our main desire is that God is glorified through this, that people will see our good works and praise the Lord. We want to be a small part of a very large picture God is painting and are looking for others who would like to join us in our ministry.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ behalf: be reconciled to God."
-2 Cor. 5:18-20