Microlending / Mars Hill Church Technology Effort

09/13/2005

Global poverty is too large of a problem to be solved by any one solution. But several global economists think that microcredit might be a big first step. The idea is to make small loans, usually about a hundred dollars, available to impoverished people who can use the money to start a small business or improve an existing business. A hundred dollars can go a long way in some developing countries toward allowing people a chance to grow their business, reinvest in it, and achieve at least a minimum of financial stability. Tonight, meet a Redmond company that's serving as a venture capitalist to microcredit lenders, helping the practice spread even further. Also tonight, Seattle's Mars Hill Church may have a conservative theology but it makes liberal use of technology. The old days of the mimeographed church bulletin are gone, replaced by podcasts and downloadable sermons. Does technology replace a church's sense of community or enhance it?

Guests:
Geoff Davis President and CEO of Unitus
Sam Barrett IT Director, Mars Hill Church
Jason Wendorf Web Technology Director, Mars Hill Church