This is why I have been partnering with small business owners around the world through Kiva.org since 2006. I love the change that is possible through small sacrifice of making a loan to the least of these who are working so diligently to improve their living conditions. I also love how this elevates the role of human responsibility to one another–reducing separation–, while decreasing the importance of the role of government in making change around the world possible.

The picture above is the Abdul Kabbia Group, a group of young entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone working to pull themselves and their family from poverty by creating a clothing business. They call their group “God is with us.” I have the privilege through Kiva.org to partner with a number of other individuals from around the world to provide this group with a micro-loan to help enhance their business.

My first loan through Kiva was in December of 2006 and I’ve seen the site grow with more an more new lenders joining the ranks. In fact, some of the stats this week: nearly 14,000 lenders made a loan with over $897,000 dispersed… there was a loan made every 23 seconds! With each passing loan I am more and more excited about what can happen around the world when a few band together to help others change their lives economically.

I’ve written about Kiva in the past and have even seen a few of you join in to “change the world one loan at a time.” I can’t think of a better way to help people I’ll never meet rise up out of poverty and hopefully connect in someway to the Kingdom of God.