David & Missy Williams: e3 Sudan’s Directors of Microfinance
I’m very excited to announce that David and Missy Williams are now the Directors of Microfinance for e3 Sudan. They’ve been an absolutely huge blessing to e3, but more importantly, to the people of Sudan. They’re not only working to set up a microfinance program in Sudan, but they’re helping to jump-start the vocational school attached to the Bible School, and they’re putting an Ox and Plow program in place to help create self-sustaining opportunities for pastors. Below is a short interview with them.
Vision
We feel called to empower the people of southern Sudan both with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to generate an income for their families in order to break the bonds of poverty. Micro-finance seeks to promote self-empowerment by providing the means to access the resources necessary to generate an income without creating dependency within a poor community. In addition, it provides a unique platform from which to share the gospel.
Our plans for the near future are to set up an MFI in southern Sudan that seeks to promote these goals.
When did you first get connected with e3?
David’s parents have been long-time supporters of e3! We had heard some great things about e3’s ministry from them, and had read bits and pieces about their work every now and then. But, it wasn’t until the summer of 2007 that we really began to get involved.
After attending a class called Perspectives on the World Christian movement earlier that year, we were praying about going on a short-term trip. So, when Mike walked into David’s office after meeting with his dad, Wilson, and asked if we wanted to go to Sudan, the obvious answer was yes! We, of course, prayed about the opportunity and signed up to go on our first short-term trip in December 2007.
What are your “day jobs”?
David works as the COO for a family-owned business called Williams Financial Group. It’s a medium-sized financial services firm. He loves working with his dad…
Missy owns her own company, MW Interiors that offers space planning and material selection for remodels as well as decorating and other design services.
How long have you been married?
We’ve been married for 5 years!
Why Microfinance?
During our time in Sudan, we couldn’t help but notice how impoverished the families seem to be. The Southern Sudanese have experienced so much pain and loss due to their recent Civil War and many are just now returning from the refugee camps to reestablish their homes. As we shared the gospel, we saw and heard from many families that they were struggling to pay for food and school. It seemed to feel incomplete to share Jesus, assure them that God provides, and then walk away without doing anything else to meet those physical needs.
We began to wonder if sharing Jesus was just the beginning. We turned to scripture and God began to reveal verses like Matthew 25, James 2, and Isaiah 61. Upon returning to the States in January, we prayed, asking God to reveal ways in which we could reach the poor, the orphans, the widows, “the least of these” without creating dependency and He led us to micro-finance.
Micro-finance offers small loans to very poor families at a reasonable interest rate. It seeks to promote self-empowerment by providing the means to access the resources necessary to generate an income without creating dependency within a poor community. In addition, we’d like to use Mirco-finance as a means to share the gospel with non-Christians in the community.
Why Sudan?
The southern Sudanese have experienced devastating hardships. There have been 2 racially motivated civil wars that resulted in one of the longest lasting and deadliest conflicts of the later 20th century. About 2.2 million civilians were killed in southern Sudan, and another 4 million more were forced to flee their homes at one time or another since the war began. The civilian death toll is one of the highest of any war since World War II. The conflict, which kept most mission and humanitarian agencies out of the area for decades, officially ended with the signing of a peace agreement in January 2005 that created a semi-autonomous Southern government.
Since the signing of the peace agreement, churches and Christian organizations have begun to reach the people, but there are still many unreached people groups. In addition, there is little to no infrastructure, no state sponsored formal education, and limited access to basic health care services. Some international humanitarian organizations actually refer to the south as a “lost generation”. Due to the war, literacy rates in Southern Sudan are about 24%; 37% for males and 12% for females.
The signing of the Peace Accords God has granted a window of opportunity to spread the Gospel message and begin development though all of southern Sudan, but the time may be limited. The Peace Accords expire in 2011, and the future of southern Sudan is uncertain.
If someone wants to know more about Microfinance in Sudan, how do they get in touch with you?
Currently, you can reach us at missy (dot) williams (at) mac(dot) com or david (at) 4wfg (dot) com
What do you like to do for fun?
We love to play with our dog, Baxter, hang out with friends, ride our bikes around White Rock Lake, indulge in the latest seasonal gelato flavor, watch 30 Rock, and try new restaurants. Did you know that Dallas has more restaurants per person than New York City?