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HOPE Intl

Apr 9 2025

HOPE Intl

 News
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Data from Rwandan savings groups shows strong impact

It’s been 17 years since HOPE International began partnering with churches in Rwanda to bring savings groups to families living in poverty. Over that time, we’ve partnered with more than 2,900 churches to serve more than 720,000 savings group members!  We thank God for the opportunity to serve so many men and women with our Rwandan church partners.

At the same time, we know the need is still great. Today, of the 13 million people in Rwanda, 40% of the population still lives on less than $2.90 a day (World Bank). 

To better reach more families and ensure we’re serving our current savings group members well, we regularly sit down with people we serve to hear from them. In 2022, we interviewed 312 savings group members served by HOPE Rwanda—and the results were encouraging!   Continue Reading…

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HOPE Intl

Dec 27 2024

HOPE Intl

 News Staff / Travels
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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.

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HOPE Intl

Dec 23 2024

HOPE Intl

 News Stories we love
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Top 5 stories of 2024

There’s so much we’re grateful for as we reflect on 2024. From bringing more hearts to saving faith to empowering Ukrainian IDPs and members of Zimbabwe’s isolated Doma community, God has done incredible things across the HOPE International network.

Of the stories we shared last year, the HOPE community loved these five the most. May these top five stories of 2024 encourage you today—and prompt you to praise God for all He’s done!

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HOPE Intl

Mar 6 2024

HOPE Intl

 Spiritual Integration
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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…

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HOPE Intl

Jun 28 2022

HOPE Intl

 Stories we love
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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
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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…

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