Merle Burkholder and Lyndon Swarey worked to launch a program in Cadiac, Haiti in 2009. The Haiti program has been a big blessing to the Haitian group members since that time. Currently, we have over 60 staff in Haiti.
Haiti
National Staff
62
Savings Groups
604
Group Members
17,877
East Africa
National Staff
115
Savings Groups
773
Group Members
14,284
The program in East Africa began in 2013 in partnership with Amish Mennonite Aid. Lyndon Swarey started and managed the program in Kenya for the first two years. In 2015, the Joe Kuepfer family moved to Kenya and expanded the program into Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. In 2020, the Bruce Wagler family moved to Kenya to manage the program and will be joined by the Verlin Torkelson family in 2022.
Central America
National Staff
11
Savings Groups
68
Group Members
1,005
We have programs in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico. Darin Hershberger, who is based in El Salvador, launched the program in Central America in 2015. Darin has supervised the Central America program since that time.
Nepal
National Staff
20
Savings Groups
133
Group Members
1,626
Lyndon Swarey started the program in Nepal with 3 staff in
2017. Later that year Delvin Zimmerman was hired as supervisor for this program. Now
there are 11 in country staff, located mostly in South Central and South Western Nepal. We
expect the program to continue growing.
Thailand
National Staff
16
Savings Groups
66
Group Members
1,079
We are working through a local organization (Thailand Karen Baptist Convention) to bring the Savings Group program to the Karen people group who have emigrated to Thailand from Myanmar. They live mostly in the northwestern part of Thailand. We hope to see the program reach many of their churches.
Colombia
National Staff
7
Savings Groups
17
Group Members
144
We started a new program in Colombia in 2022 among the immigrant communities near the Venezuela border. We are looking forward to seeing the program grow and be a blessing to many.
Venezuela
National Staff
1
Savings Groups
8
Group Members
50
Soon after the program in Colombia was launched the groups began to spread across the border into Venezuela. The program is a blessing to the Venezuelan people as the country deals with a severe economic crisis.
USA
National Staff
2
Savings Groups
Group Members
In 2021, we began a US-based program in which we work to mobilize the church to reach out to their low-income neighbors. We utilize the Chalmers Center’s Faith and Finance framework and curriculum. In Hamilton, Ohio, one of our partners launched a Faith and Finance ministry in early 2022. Another partner in Hutchinson, Kansas, is currently training facilitators and expects to launch a ministry later this year.
