Christian Microenterprise Development: An Introduction

The past decade has seen a remarkable growth in mission in countries in the 10/40 window. Dynamic mission groups are always searching for authentic approaches to enable them to serve communities with integrity and remain faithful to the biblical message. Of the various approaches attempted, one in particular that has arrested the imagination and enthusiasm of many mission organizations is Microenterprise Development (MED). Recent surveys suggest that in excess of 1,200 different Christian organization are currently implementing MED in the two-thirds world. Alas, many of these efforts begin with little understanding of the basic fundamentals of creating a credit culture, with the discipline and knowledge of the best practices required. The objective of this handbook is to provide information to help Christian MED practitioners and donors better understand how to apply Christian MED in ways that build Christ’s kingdom. The book draws from literature on secular MED and undertakes eight case studies of Christian MED programs from around the world. It then compares the findings from both to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Christian MED.