International (MNN) – Imagine what it would be like to work in the hot sun all day, picking coffee beans from your crop, sorting the good from the bad only to have no costumers buy them.
(Photo credit: Roey Ahram via Flickr)
For Bejo, this was a reality. Because he is a Christian, no one in his village will buy coffee beans from him, regardless of their quality. This forced Bejo to start competing in a larger market outside away from his home.
But one day, a representative from Kingdom Growers, a ministry linked to Baptist Global Response, discovered how hard Bejo was working to produce quality coffee beans. Seeing his potential, the representative was able to connect Bejo to the Kingdom Growers and support him in building a life.
Here’s how it works.
Kingdom Growers uses proven community development techniques to engage in communities and connect with farmers where coffee is produced. It’s a long-term investment to building better lives. And there are a few ways Kingdom Growers makes this happen.
For one, Kingdom Growers helps supply micro-loans to farmers to jumpstart their businesses. This is one of the ways the group helped Bejo get firm footing with his coffee bean business. In fact, Bejo began thriving and was even able to pay off the loan in one growing season.
Another way Kingdom Growers helps is by helping to develop trade in both the communities where farmers reside and outside of them. For example, farmers who participate in Kingdom Growers sell their own specified amount of beans through the ministry. Then, any coffee beans outside this amount can be sold wherever the farmers wish, whether it’s in their local market or one far away.
But the biggest thing Kingdom Growers is doing is bringing the Gospel to these communities of coffee growers. Because it’s a long-term ministry, Kingdom Growers is able to walk alongside people, build relationships, and share the Gospel with individuals who may or may not have ever heard it.
Would you pray?
Pray for these farmers, and others in the community, to be lifted up by God and come to know Jesus as their Lord and savior. Pray that God would continue to use BGR and Kingdom Growers to change lives both physically and spiritually. And pray that people, like Bejo, would be able to provide for themselves, their families, and experience the incredible love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Want to tangibly help?
