Before joining Chipulumutso (“salvation”) savings group, many men and women in Ntcheu, Malawi, could not afford essential items including food, clothing, and school fees. Unable to purchase farming supplies, producing enough crops to make a profit was difficult. They needed a solution.  

However, predatory lending practices prevalent in the area had broken trust and harmed community members in the past. “Before the savings group ministry was introduced in our area, people didn’t want anything to do with savings groups or village banks because they had a bad image,” says Rabson Msamanyada, who now leads Chipulumutso as its chair. “They were described as groups that wanted to steal from the innocent.” 

But, when 15 members of the local church congregation started Chipulumutso, their neighbors saw them praying and worshiping God together—and grew curious. News of the savings group began to spread in the community, which was about to lead to flourishing Ntcheu had never seen before!   Continue Reading…