We spent the morning at the Cabrera branch in Manila, seeing CCT’s many ministries in action. CCT’s strategic emphasis is to build a broad set of programs and services on the foundation of their microfinance branch network. CCT has 145 branches across the Philippines, providing a great backbone for broadening their ministry. The Cabrera community center is a great example of this transformation:
- CCT manages a preschool located next to the center, where children of clients can get a head start academically before beginning school and learn about Christ and Christian values.
- There are “clean and green” pushcarts, which community members can rent. The government of the Philippines has incentives to keep the city clean, and community members can rent a cart, collect recyclable materials from around the city, and sell them to recycling centers.
- A lack of clean water is a significant issue in Manila, and at the Cabrera center there is a water treatment station that purifies and bottles water in either 5-gallon or 500ml bottles. CCT helps community members become water dealers, selling the water to the dealers who then sell it throughout the community.
Microfinance typically allows entrepreneurs to turn their gifts and livelihoods into small businesses. CCT’s community centers go a step deeper and help community members develop livelihoods, which over time can give them greater financial security and confidence. These additional ministries are truly complementary with their microfinance programs, all for the sake of transforming the communities for the glory of God.
It has been a great trip so far. Being in community here with the CCT staff and the other participants in the leadership conference has been a tremendous blessing.
Thanks for reading!
