I Just Did the Coolest Thing!

[Ron]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

Sherri that is great. Better than Oprah.

Amen.

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I saw a story on this about a year ago and the idea sounds great. These are REAL loans (that are expected to be repaid) and although they are also considered very risky, the repayment %'s have been pretty good so far.

WAY TO GO, SHERRI!

I saw the same story and I was very impressed with the results.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Jeanie

Wow, I am glad someone thought to do something like this.

Gives people hope! I think this is something Keith and I would like to look into as well.

I sent an invite to Keith's email.

[CC1]

I also have read news stories about this concept. It seems like a very good idea but since it requires internet access and the know how to use it I would be afraid it would be rip to be abused by scam artists like the ones behind the Nigerian internet scams.

I wonder if they have a way to police it and make sure the loan applicants are legit.

[simplyme]

Originally Posted by CC1

I also have read news stories about this concept. It seems like a very good idea but since it requires internet access and the know how to use it I would be afraid it would be rip to be abused by scam artists like the ones behind the Nigerian internet scams.

I wonder if they have a way to police it and make sure the loan applicants are legit.

Yeah I'm just skeptical enough to be concerned that the REAL people needing this $ might not get it., scam artists abound globally.
AND while its being done over there, & I agree its a marvelous idea, why not here in the U.S.? I don't KNOW of any such services, here, that don't require good credit, collateral, etc., for even mature chrisitan folks.
STILL if it works it works., not a bad concept. Helping people can come in many forms., "giving" can, as well.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by simplyme

Yeah I'm just skeptical enough to be concerned that the REAL people needing this $ might not get it., scam artists abound globally.
AND while its being done over there, & I agree its a marvelous idea, why not here in the U.S.? I don't KNOW of any such services, here, that don't require good credit, collateral, etc., for even mature chrisitan folks.
STILL if it works it works., not a bad concept. Helping people can come in many forms., "giving" can, as well.

One of the articles I read was about such a service for here. The scary thing is that it is geared toward small business people who are not credit worthy enough to get conventional loans. I would feel a lot better about giving a small loan that was small enough it could be considered a donation if things went south to a small business person in Africa rather than the sums of money small business people in America need and who were not credit worthy enough to get it on their own.

[A_PoMo]

Yeah, that's why I like Rob Bell's approach. As I understand it his church does this as a ministry from their church which allows them to screen applicants and the like. I could be wrong about that, but that's how I understood it when I heard the podcast from their church. I think they look at it as a donation more than an investment. I don't want to put words in her mouth, but I think that's what Sherri is doing too. It's the joy of giving directly to someone you'd not normally be able to bless and not just giving them a fish but helping them learn to fish. That's hecka cool if you ask me.

[Sister Alvear]

Sherri, that is awesome...Even if the money never returns God will send it back to you in many ways helping his little ones...Thank you for being so much like the early christians. They were always ready to help others...Wish the world was full of people like you that have hearts that have been touched by God.

[Sister Alvear]

Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.
(Psalms 41:1 - 3)

[Sister Alvear]

Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
(Job 29:12 - 13)