Diaconia, HOPE International and TBG!
Diaconía is a Christ-centered microfinance organization located in Paraguay, South America that presented to Barnabas in 2016. Their mission is to promote the holistic development of women and men using biblical principles and Christian values. Launched in 2011 with 34 clients, Diaconía provides access to small loans, savings services, and training that create opportunity for growth and business success, as well as financial literacy and vocational training.
Fast forward after discussions with both boards, multiple visits and zoom calls. In 2018 Diaconia became a partner in the HOPE International network! Diaconía is HOPE’s fifth microfinance partner, with Paraguay being the16th country in the HOPE network.
“By partnering with HOPE International, Diaconía will now be better equipped to implement best practices for Christ-centered microfinance,” shared Judah Mooney, president of Diaconía. “Working together, we believe we can grow to reach more Paraguayan families living in poverty and provide them the opportunity to holistically flourish.”
We are grateful to The Barnabas Group for providing the forum that connected two great organizations, and for the ongoing communication that we are able to foster amongst Barnabas members.
Since 2018, Diaconia has expanded their services from 3,500 to over 4,300 clients opening a new branch office in 2019, and then COVID hit. As a network, all of HOPE International’s programs and partners have been impacted by the pandemic. HOPE assembled a crisis management team to oversee the response and to develop plans that would enable each partner to reach out to their constituents and church partners. This outreach effort -- connecting by phone to each of our programs and partners -- reached 11,000 clients globally in 4 weeks, resulting in concrete steps forward as we boldly depended on God to supply what was needed. During these calls, we ascertained client needs, and prayed with them. Some loan recipients, as a result of these calls, recommitted their lives to Christ or made a first-time profession of faith.
HOPE International and Diaconia then reached out with grace periods for loan repayment, and the offer of new loans to help in the rebuilding of their businesses. Hear directly from Judah Mooney in this short 1:16 second video. Now more than ever we need the prayer support of Barnabas partners for the clients who have all been impacted in some way by COVID.
