May 2024 Prayer update

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2).

At HOPE International, we recognize that the source of any good fruit in our lives is Christ within us. As we work from a posture of abiding in Christ, we praise the Lord for bringing transformation in the families we serve. This month, join us in prayer for those we serve and the HOPE network as we remain planted firmly in Christ.

Week 1

Tomorrow Clubs, a global ministry founded through HOPE International that provides the Gospel and discipleship to children, is seeking formal registration as a legal entity in Zimbabwe, where HOPE also has a savings group program. Unfortunately, the registration has been placed on hold due to administrative reasons. Pray that the registration can be approved and children can experience the hope of the Gospel and discipleship.

We praise God that Diaconía, HOPE’s microfinance partner in Paraguay, has served 7,200 people—97% of whom are female—since their founding in 2011. To support the spiritual growth of those they serve, they work with volunteer chaplain leaders. Every entrepreneur who accesses a loan from Diaconía is supported by both a loan officer and a chaplain who is trained in Christian discipleship and counseling. Diaconía plans to launch a Christian counseling certification program and will train 25 more chaplains this year. Pray for successful trainings and that many more entrepreneurs can be encouraged holistically.

Praise God that multiple church facilitators in Haiti have finished their training to create savings groups with our church partners! Pray that many underserved men and women will join the new savings groups and for members’ safety while they meet, as the country continues to experience prevalent gang violence. Pray that the Spirit would bring conviction and repentance in the hearts of those perpetrating violence—and that leaders would be humble and bold in building peace. And pray for wisdom for HOPE as we seek to serve our church partners well.

Week 2

Before joining the Amahoro (“peace”) savings group in Burundi, Laudine Mapendo says she felt like a different person. “Life was hard as a refugee, and I had no hope for the future.” However, once Mapendo joined the savings group, she worshipped and prayed with her group and took out loans from the group to purchase kitchen supplies and a tax ID number for her restaurant. Since investing in her business, she’s hired two people from her community and is now mentoring other refugees in her camp. Pray that more refugees would join savings groups, start businesses, and uplift their communities.

Around the world, many smaller Christian microfinance institutions share our Kingdom-minded mission, and through our new Microfinance Accelerator Program (MAP), we support them through training, consulting, and small grants. We praise God that our first MAP partner in South Asia* now offers Christ-centered financial services to 2,355 women, many of whom are survivors of human trafficking and widows within a marginalized people group. Pray for more women to join the program and to experience holistic transformation.

Our biannual Celebrating HOPE event will be on May 31, and we eagerly anticipate hosting many HOPE leaders and partners from over 20 countries who will share with HOPE supporters what God is doing across the HOPE network! Pray that the Lord will draw the hearts of all attendees closer to Him and bless our gathering together as we work to equip more families with the tools they need to break out of poverty.

Week 3

After joining Urwego Finance, HOPE’s microfinance institution in Rwanda, Aisha Rukundo and her husband took out their first $100 (U.S.) loan to invest in a small shop. Aisha became a Christian through the financial literacy trainings she received at her group loan meetings. “I thought nothing would change my religion [Islam],” Aisha shared. “My husband asked me to become a Christian. But I would still refuse. From the time I joined Urwego’s group lending ... my life has never been the same.” Pray that more men and women can experience spiritual transformation through HOPE-network microfinance institutions.

Throughout the HOPE network, we regularly monitor the quality of our programs, ensuring our partners and those we serve are being listened to and receiving the best services. Pray for efficiency and productive collaboration as we refresh manuals for our global staff and conduct feedback interviews. Pray that as we listen, we will respond with creativity and wisdom to meet challenges and improve how we work.

In 2017, Yisser Flores used an $800 (U.S.) loan from Esperanza, HOPE’s microfinance institution in the Dominican Republic, to open a day care out of her apartment. Yisser dreamed of having a school in her community, and after further planning, help from her entire family, and finally meeting the legal requirements, she opened a school that now supports over 400 students! Pray that Yisser can continue to expand her school and invest in her community and students.

Week 4

We praise God that through HOPE Zimbabwe’s partnership with Foundations for Farming—a biblically based agricultural training program—240 members of the Doma community have been trained on farming practices. With good rains, many farmers have successfully increased their crop yields! Now, as HOPE’s local church partner starts savings groups, new members will have savings from their harvest surplus. Pray for these new savings groups, that they would start strong and see the possibilities of savings and learning God’s Word together.

This year, Diaconía, our microfinance partner in Paraguay, aims to expand to six rural regions to reach more marginalized families in need of the Gospel message and financial services. They also plan to hire seven new loan officers to meet this need. Pray for wisdom in this expansion within Paraguay and for the Lord to lead Diaconía in the hiring process.

We praise God that last year, microfinance institutions in the HOPE-network served 1,000 small-and-medium-enterprise (SME) owners and disbursed $11.5 million in loans! We also praise God that at year-end, more than 4,600 people were employed by SMEs served by HOPE and our partners. Pray that God will continue to bless these business owners as they seek to hire even more people and meet the needs of their communities.

Week 5

With increasing gang violence, an unstable government, and over 70% of the population living on less than $3.10 (U.S.) per day (United Nations), Haiti is living in “one of the darkest days in our history as a nation,” according to our HOPE Haiti country director, Ricot St. Paulin. Still, Ricot and our local staff are hopeful. We celebrate that since we started the savings group program in Haiti, we’ve seen 875 churches equipped and over 46,000 people served through 2,488 savings groups. Pray for continued safety and for the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of HOPE staff, partners, and Haitian families.

Continue to pray for HOPE Ukraine staff and the business owners and farmers they serve. We praise God that despite Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, HOPE Ukraine has disbursed $3.1M in loans, many going to entrepreneurs who employ others in their communities. Last October, we held a retreat to help these entrepreneurs build a vision for their businesses’ culture. We’re also working with Invest Credit, HOPE’s microfinance partner in Moldova, to invest in business owners who hire Ukrainian refugees. Pray for wisdom for both Ukrainian and Moldovan business owners as they seek to show God’s love to their employees and customers.

Although Timothy Tembo received training in early childhood education, he couldn’t find a job in Zambia. But once he joined a savings group through one of HOPE Zambia’s church partners, he partnered with an individual from his group and started a school that met in his home. The school began with 15 kids, and as it began to outgrow their space, he used a loan from his savings group to invest in a larger building, which now accommodates over 60 children! Pray that more savings group members in Zambia will now be equipped to invest in their communities and transform children’s lives.

*Name and location withheld for security

Each month, we send out a list of prayer requests from around the world to a group of dedicated supporters who partner with us through faithful prayer. Will you join us?