CMF Holistic Development Mar 16 2015 News from Burkina Faso, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador

“The best-tasting kettle corn in Burkina Faso!” 

Missionary surprised by success of new microbusiness

“I started making kettle corn here and everyone seemed to like it,” said Tom. “So I began to think about the possibilities of selling it to supplement income for friends who were struggling. I thought it would be a great way to integrate biblical teaching on stewardship of time and resources.”

Market Testing

Tom began market testing his kettle corn by giving 15 bags to his friends and asking them to try and sell it.

“They came back the next day and had sold all 15 bags,” he said. “So we calculated the costs to produce each bag and our sales price. Then we held a meeting with those interested in trying to make and sell it. We prayed and talked about doing everything with excellence and keeping our workspaces clean. Then I went over each step in how to make it, using all local resources.”

About six people in Bobo-Dioulasso are participating in the project, and another three women in Sindou are just getting their businesses started.

“Unlike planting a garden or raising livestock, selling popcorn is something people can do and get instant gratification and reward,” said Tom. “They didn’t have to wait for months before starting to earn a little bit of income.”

Success!

Tom plans to continue this successful project to help people supplement their incomes and encourage them to see themselves not as victims of poverty, but as people of value who can do something with the hands God gave them.

“The most surprising thing about this project, for me, is how well it has worked!” said Tom. “I’ve looked into many such projects and I just wasn’t sure if selling kettle corn was going to work. But after starting it in October, I’ve already been reimbursed the start-up costs of oil, popcorn kernels, the kettle and charcoal. One of my friends has used his profits to buy a bicycle and another friend is using his to rent a home.”

And the big question: How does the kettle corn taste?

“I’m a bit biased,” said Tom, “but I believe we have the best-tasting kettle corn in Burkina Faso!”

New Christian uses CHE to transform lives in Brazil 

Antonio Remigio da Silva, Jr., is a well-educated, upper-class attorney and businessman, but his life was on a downward spiral as his third marriage came to an end several years ago. Tarcisio Curingo, the pastor of the CMF partner church in Pianco, Brazil, reached out to Antonio with counseling help. Through a year-long process, Antonio accepted Christ, but that was just the beginning of the story.

Transformation plan

“Pastor Curingo got Antonio involved in the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training that was being held in Pianco at that time,” said Steve Palich, CMF’s Director of Ministry Center Development. “People in the community decided that their biggest problem was the disease, smell, insects and other things associated with the local dump they live by. Antonio heard about the dump problem and decided that this was the opportunity he was looking for to fully commit his life to Christ and transform lives and the community.”

Over a period of many months, Antonio developed a business plan to create the region’s first sanitary landfill. He worked with the government to assist in the relocation of the landfill to his own land, out of the city and into the countryside. Then he resigned from his well-paying career to pursue what he feels God asked him to do.

One year later

Now, a year later, operations are in full swing at the new landfill, which Antonio has named “The Owner is the Lord.”

“They do recycling there, also, and provide jobs for 72 people, about half of whom live in the old neighborhood where the dump used to be,” said Steve. “He pays the employees about three times the minimum wage and has bettered their working conditions. The landfill near town has closed, which got rid of the diseases, smells, insects and other things that come with a dump in a neighborhood.”

Many of the people of Pianco now have jobs with dignity and are learning teamwork and skills while providing for their families. And the children from the neighborhood are now attending school instead of “playing” in the dump.

“My greatest satisfaction has always been to work, and now to see the 72 people who work here receiving wages and living a happy life,” said Antonio. “I am very happy I can bring happiness to so many people.”

CMF expands ministry in South America

New partnership developed in Peru and Ecuador

A new partnership is leading CMF into a church-planting and Community Health Evangelism (CHE) ministry in two new countries in South America.

Team Expansion missionaries Mike and Danell Bukta have been working in Peru and Ecuador for the past seven years with Project New Hope. Their focus has been on building relationships in the urban, working poor neighborhoods in Trujillo, Peru, and Santo Domingo, Ecuador.

“The PNH board approached CMF about taking a leadership role in the ministry,” said Steve Palich, CMF’s Director of Ministry Center Development. “They asked us to help the Buktas develop CHE and local leaders, as well as to promote the project in the U.S.”

Community development needed

The need for community development in these two cities is enormous, according to Steve.

“There is some unemployment, but high under employment,” he said. “There is drug use, abuse of children and spouses, crime, and many family relational problems.”

There is also a real lack of community.

“Most of the neighbors in the barrios where PNH works will tell you that the prevalent mindset of the people is, ‘What’s yours is mine, if I can take it,’ ” said Steve. “PNH seeks to help the community members meet one another’s physical and spiritual needs to the extent that the community will think, ‘What’s mine is yours if you need it; and if you need more, I will try to get it for you.’ ”
 

Holistic church planting

“The goal of the ministry is to develop a holistic church planting movement where local leaders are trained, physical and spiritual needs are met, the community is developed and people come to know Jesus,” added Steve.

There were 11 baptisms this year in the four churches planted in Peru, and 41 baptisms and two new churches planted in Ecuador, but many additional people have been touched by the transformational message of Jesus Christ.

“Forty people attended a CHE training event during the last week in January,” reports Steve. “Mike Bukta said that they all went home energized, ready to implement CHE in their neighborhoods.”