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News Staff / Travels

fellow, fellowship, intern, internship, microfinance, spiritual integration

From bean candles to book editing: lessons from my journey with HOPE

By Savannah Jeffery, 2024 Executive Writing Intern (pictured above, top left)

If you look closely in one of Peter Greer’s early books, there’s a picture of me and my sister, proudly holding little glass jars filled with beans and a small shallow candle nestled in the center. When we snapped that photo at our church’s Christmas market, I didn’t know much about what HOPE International did. Little did I know that following my sophomore year at Wheaton, I’d be interning with HOPE, helping Peter write more books! From making bean candles as a child to now interning with HOPE’s executive team, here are some lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey with HOPE.

HOPE Intl

Dec 23 2024

HOPE Intl

News Stories we love

discipleship, Doma, dreams, IDPs, photography, Rwanda, savings groups, single mother, spiritual integration, Top 5, Ukraine, Zimbabwe

Why integrate discipleship and financial services?

By Dan Williams, Vice President of Integrated Strategy

This post was originally published in 2018 and has been updated for 2024.

The flight attendant came on the intercom announcing our final descent into Rwanda. Giving up on my attempt to nap, I began gathering my things in preparation for landing, ensuring that my seatback was in the upright position, my tray table stowed, and my carry-on under the seat in front of me. Fully prepared for landing, I noticed my row companion taking out his earbuds, so I began conversing with him for the first time. An eager short-term mission trip participant, this was his first visit to Rwanda.

“What brings you to Rwanda?” he asked.

“I work for a Christ-centered development network called HOPE International,” I said. “We have a microfinance program and a savings group ministry here in Rwanda.” Continue Reading…

HOPE Intl

Jun 28 2022

HOPE Intl

Stories we love

Congo, discipleship, furniture production, mentoring, microfinance, prayer, spiritual integration, Thurman, workshop, youth

Ghislaine reached out to “lost youth”⁠—and it transformed her, too

For years, a group of young people has built a reputation for contributing to violent attacks in Brazzaville, the Republic of Congo’s capital. “These young people sow terror in the city,” says Ghislaine Matondo, who lives in the city with her husband, mother, and sister. Yet little has been done to address the danger, she explains: “Juvenile delinquency in our neighborhoods is a sensitive matter [to which] even politicians do not dare give concrete answers.”

In 2020, Ghislaine took out her fifth loan from HOPE Congo to start a new venture: Merci pour la Bénédiction (“grateful for the blessing”), a business manufacturing sofas. But she says that the Lord gave her more than a new business idea; He also gave her a vision to address the challenge of gang violence in her community. Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Feb 12 2020

HOPE Intl

News Spiritual Integration

holistic development, Kingdom work, material poverty, spiritual integration

Why understanding material poverty matters

Material poverty is a complicated reality, with many causes and perhaps just as many proposed solutions. According to the World Bank, just over 1 in 10 people lived in extreme poverty in 2013, categorized as living under $1.90 a day. While this number is falling, it still represents 767 million people.

Those living in material poverty face many challenges: lack of basic resources like food, shelter, and money; corrupt social systems; poor education; and limited access to health care.

But those who haven’t experienced poverty often overlook one of its most profound impacts: hopelessness and shame. Material poverty can compound the brokenness that exists in our relationships with each other, with God, with ourselves, and with the rest of creation. Material poverty says to those in its grasp: You are not worthy. Continue Reading…

HOPE Intl

Sep 20 2018

HOPE Intl

Spiritual Integration

discipleship, flourishing, spiritual integration, Spiritual integration series

Week 7: The essential element of flourishing

By Dan Williams, Director of Spiritual Integration

A weekly series from HOPE’s director of spiritual integration

Over the past six weeks, we’ve wrestled with the idea of integrating discipleship—intentionally creating opportunities where hearts can be transformed and developing the means for that transformation to be expressed. As we conclude this series, what I want to suggest is that discipleship is essential for true flourishing.

When we talk about flourishing, it’s important to think holistically—spiritually, materially, personally, and socially. If we only think about flourishing in the silos of our life, we will experience progress in these areas but miss the whole-person transformation we were created for.

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Archives For spiritual integration

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From bean candles to book editing: lessons from my journey with HOPE

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Top 5 stories of 2024

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Why integrate discipleship and financial services?

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Ghislaine reached out to “lost youth”⁠—and it transformed her, too

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Why understanding material poverty matters

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HOPE Intl

Week 7: The essential element of flourishing

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