Generosity in Tough Times
One person gives freely yet gains even more;
another withholds unduly but comes to poverty.
PROVERBS 11:24
When we’re dealing with our own business challenges, it’s hard to think about generosity. But that is exactly what one Kingdom Builder has done in the past several months.
Some of you may know of our partnership with Ron Pedemonte who founded BlessBack Business Academy in 2015. BlessBack provides training and micro-financing to over 60 entrepreneurs in Nicaragua, a country where 70% live below the poverty line and where business owners face many challenges.
When COVID-19 struck, these BlessBack businesses were slammed especially hard. The Nicaraguan government didn’t provide any economic protection, safety/hygiene information, or testing. Fear spread, and the marketplace plummeted.
Many of the BlessBack business owners were looking at closing their doors and defaulting on their loans, until Ron and the BlessBack staff implemented two creative and generous ideas.
Loan Forgiveness
At first, BlessBack Business Academy suspended loan payment requirements for their owners. Then they began raising money for a Loan Forgiveness Program to help 19 owners who still carried outstanding loans. If you are interested getting involved, click here to connect with Ron and determine where the current needs are.
Virtual Coaching
The Business Academy also developed a way to remotely coach each of the 66 owners through this tough time. Using WhatsApp video calls, the coaches have given a lot of extra one-on-one time to each owner, asking a battery of diagnostic questions, helping assess problems, and helping adapt individual business models to the new reality.
Where might God be calling us to go above and beyond even during the pandemic?
For Kingdom Builders, this can be a time of spreading God’s grace. If you have other inspiring Kingdom Builder stories, let us know in the comments section below.