BT CCAP Synod introduces savings, credit scheme

On October 21 this year, Blantyre CCAP Synod launched a Savings and Credit Association Project in partnership with Hope International (Hope) at Limbe CCAP Church. Our reporter WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR engages the synod’s deputy general secretary Reverend Moyenda Kanjerwa on what the project aims to achieve.

Briefly, tell me a background of this partnership.

Hope first visited Malawi in February 2013. The goal was to confirm that the financial landscape of the country would be a suitable ground for a savings and credit association. Hope met leaders from several denominations to locate partners that had a similar mission and vision as well as a structure that would work well for implementing the savings programme.

Conversations with the Blantyre Synod were overwhelmingly positive. Hope returned to Malawi in April to conduct follow-up orientations with the Blantyre Synod and again it was clear that the Lord was opening doors for a partnership. We are very happy that finally our conversations have translated into the project launch marking the beginning of training and group formation within Blantyre Synod.

What do you intend to achieve through this project?

The goal of the project is to build up the church—for men and women of Blantyre Synod to embrace God’s gifts and calling on their lives, to rise up and be transformed. Hope’s goal is to support the wonderful work that Blantyre Synod is already doing in reaching its poor members as well as grow church membership through savings and credit associations.

Our mutual hope is that church members will experience spiritual and financial discipleship through this programme, learning to understand rightly their relationships with God, others, themselves and the rest of creation. We expect to see lives transformed both spiritually and economically. We hope for the program to touch lives of many outside of the church as well, proclaiming the gospel to those who don’t yet believe.

How do you identify beneficiaries of the programme?

The programme targets the rural poor who have few options for financial support. Savings groups are valuable tools for every socioeconomic level in Malawi. Thus, the programme will begin with Blantyre Synod church members and expand to community members surrounding these churches.

What are the terms and conditions of the savings and credit scheme?

The programme offers three main types of savings groups: (rotating savings and credit associations (ROCSA), accumulated savings and credit associations (Asca) and straight savings.

Community leaders are trained in group policies and methods, and then groups are formed and group leaders identified who will undergo further training in how to develop, lead and encourage their groups, both in the saving and lending of money in biblical discipleship.

Groups will be visited regularly by volunteers from Blantyre Synod who are responsible for monitoring group progress and records as well as helping them sort out any conflicts that might arise.  A system of staff leadership, meetings and training will ensure that groups are running smoothly and receive the support they need.

But Matthew 21:12 says Jesus Christ drove out businesspersons who were buying and selling in the temple. Don’t you think this project is similar to what Jesus denounced?

Jesus is not condemning business. He is against unfair trade, which was done within the courts or premises of the church. It was legal to do trade. He was against increasing prices of commodities such as animals for sacrifice and rentals on those who used the premises of the temple. Besides, the tax was higher. It made the poor poorer and the rich richer. No wonder, the high priest and his subordinates were rich at the expense of the poor or underprivileged.