•his mind’s eye, 12 prime acres of land bordering the South Atlantic Ocean in Ghana awaits God’s blessing and man’s development.
Columbus resident David Ketchum figures the property, owned by his nonprofit Christian ministry Mission Resource International, rests as a key — a key to unlocking the business-oriented agency’s future growth and muscle to help small businesses launch in Ghana, Liberia and Kenya.
He considers making it into a training center, where mentors from the United States can mix with prospective African business owners and share wisdom, support and prayer. His most recent trip to Ghana in February and March for meetings with ministry business partners convinced him of one concept more than any other.
“It confirmed the path we began nearly 15 years ago of empowering, equipping and encouraging Ghanaians to do business for the purpose of advancing God’s kingdom,” Ketchum said.
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Ketchum may highlight a bit about the possibility of the training center at the ministry’s free, annual banquet at 7 p.m. April 26 at The Commons. The dinner is designed to build awareness of Mission Resource International’s work and to interest others in investing either as volunteers or donors for the efforts.
“This is all about giving people real hope,” Ketchum said, adding that jobs alone seemingly do much of that in Ghana, where unemployment often runs at about 70 percent. “We want to be able to give people opportunities.”
Mission Resource International, which began in April 2003, provides funding and training for businesses in developing countries that impact lives and communities spiritually, economically, socially and environmentally. The agency gives small, low-interest loans to business men and women in Ghana and Liberia, West Africa, and Kenya, East Africa.
Jobs and business loans matter significantly because Ketchum paraphrases from The Talmud, a Jewish text, that “jobs restore dignity.”
Ketchum always is quick to point out that the ministry’s impact “is made possible only through the blessings of God, the bold prayers of our prayer intercessors, the giving of our faithful financial partners and the leadership of our Spirit-led ministry team.”
The year of 2017 marked the ministry’s best year of giving, according to figures. A total of $6,725 donated on Giving Tuesday alone last fall allowed the ministry to do plenty. Those gifts included fully funding Winfred Nyador, a young farmer needing to expand his five-acre watermelon and green pepper farm in Ghana, West Africa.
Other recent investments ranging from as small as $500 to as large as $36,700 have funded projects ranging from a plastic cups-and-bowls Liberian business to $35,000 for a shea butter company in northern Ghana. The financial help often initiates a chain reaction: a flourishing business gives jobs, provides for families, for children’s education and much more.
No wonder the ministry’s initial motto was simple: “Small investments. Big impacts.”
Ketchum launched the ministry with his wife, Sue, after success in the trucking industry. The duo frequently see small business owners make quality products, such as Ghana’s Ernestina Adzimah, making colorful women’s handbags. Yet, those entrepreneurs still need help accessing a wider, American marketplace for distribution and sales.
Other businesses, such as Jones and Adelaide Abbey’s Just By Grace company in Ghana, which wholesales ingredients to Nestle, has thrived tremendously. The Abbeys have used profits to build a new structure for their church and a Christian school after getting a 2005 loan of $36,700 — which was quickly paid back. About 95 percent of loan recipients in Ghana have paid back loans in the past three years.
And 100 percent of those in Liberia have paid back loans, though those have been smaller amounts.
Lomgtime Mission Resource International board member and Columbus resident David Vincent regularly spreads the word about the ministry. But, in a world sometimes fraught by skepticism, Vincent generally leads off with telling others about Ketchum himself.
“At the beginning, the main thing I might talk to others about is that Dave is someone who’s honest, moral, upright and trustworthy,” Vincent said.
Vincent can see the ministry growing while continuing to help businesses grow, too.
“I think the success this ministry has had is indicative of Dave’s careful planning and certainly of his dependence on God’s grace and guidance,” Vincent said.
Ketchum speaks about the importance of investing in others. In fact, Thursday’s banquet speaker, Johnson (Tennessee) University executive Richard Clark, is expected to highlight the same idea. In fact, in a discussion with Ketchum the other day, Clark mentioned one of his favorite quotes: “Money can buy happiness — but only when you give it away.”
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What: “Engage,” the annual banquet and fundraising dinner of the Columbus-based Christian nonprofit ministry Mission Resource International, specializing in small loans to business people in Ghana, Liberia and Kenya to help people fight poverty and thrive in God-given dreams and callings.
When: 7 to 9 p.m. April 26. Reservation deadline is Tuesday.
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus.
Cost: The event is underwritten by a sponsor so attendees can freely consider their own financial support to the ministry.
Speaker: Richard Clark, vice president for external relations and chief advancement officer at Johnson University. His remarks will focus on theme of engaging in philanthropic work.
Information and giving: missionresource.org.
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$1.1 million
Amount raised since 2013
1,618
Decisions for Christ
139
Number of businesses launched
2
Churches planted
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