Impact: More Than Just Numbers

By Verlin Torkelson, East Africa Regional Director 

We often talk about impact. It’s our way of understanding and explaining the value of the work we do. 

In East Africa, we measure many things—group growth, money saved, loans given, and the number of people joining savings groups. We feel blessed when these numbers go up, showing that lives are improving through discipline and hard work. However, these figures don’t fully capture the personal stories behind them. 

When an observer looks at a chart and sees numbers, a staff member on the ground sees a family finally able to pay their school fees, thanks to group participation. What appears as a simple line item to some represents a village or church saving for something bigger, like a new church building or a business venture. And where a report lists the total amount saved in a welfare fund, a group chairman sees a hospital bill paid for a member’s sick child. 

Charts and reports are helpful, but the real impact is in the lives changed. Behind every statistic are families and individuals who’ve been touched in positive ways. Yes, there are also challenges—stories that don’t have happy endings and relationships that break. But the successes outweigh the failures. Even if just one life is positively changed, it’s worth all the effort. 

What’s even more inspiring are the stories of people coming to Christ through the loving fellowship they experience in these groups. These stories inspire me and give me a deep sense of purpose. I once met a family who came to faith because of the love shown by their group members. Their life isn’t easy, but they now have peace and a supportive church community. 

The work we do not only changes others—it changes us. We, too, are impacted positively through the relationships we build and the people we meet. 

Let’s continue focusing on sharing the Gospel and witnessing the amazing work God does in the hearts and lives around us—and in our own lives too. We always receive more in giving than we could ever give away. 

Impacting the Next Generation

By Joe Kuepfer, Executive Director

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV)

If you have children, you likely invest in them. You invest your love, attention, focus, time, and money to ensure they are cared for and healthy. You teach them and equip them with the knowledge of God and His Word. You teach them to work. You teach them how to relate to others. You teach them practical skills such as gardening, housework, mechanics, farm work, carpentry, and more.

In our communities here in the United States, we teach our children the value of saving from a young age. We instill the discipline of saving up for an item they want, such as a bicycle. Some of us open a savings account for our children early on, allowing them to see how a small amount of money can grow over time into a sum capable of purchasing a needed item. This is the blessing of a Godly heritage.

Many children grow up in homes where wise financial stewardship is not modeled. This can set them up for challenges when they come of age and begin earning money themselves. It’s natural to spend money carelessly without considering how to save, budget, and invest. There can also be a tendency to think, “How can I save any money when I have so little?”

Thankfully, you and I have the privilege of instilling the value of saving in children in developing countries. Through Open Hands savings groups, children in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Haiti are learning to save their money. Some receive money from their parents for snacks when they go to school, while others earn money by doing odd jobs, especially during summer break. They are learning the discipline of delayed gratification as they save a portion of their earnings at savings group meetings. Additionally, they are blessed with the opportunity to hear lessons taught by Open Hands facilitators on Biblical stewardship.

The lessons these children are learning will impact them for a lifetime. The Bible says that “when he is old, he will not depart from it.” When these children grow up and have families of their own, they will be much better equipped to handle their money wisely. They will be better equipped to care for their own children. What a privilege it is that God has given you and me this opportunity to make a lasting difference for children across the globe.