Microfinance Critique, Decline of Evangelical Colleges and Remote Work Isolation with Michael Cerna

Christian relief and development work continues to operate in a vastly shifting time. What do demographic shifts mean for the education of future development practitioners? Is micro-finance not "making a dent" in global poverty? Is remote work a sustainable model for teams? In this episode, Brandon Stiver is joined by Accord Network CEO Michael Cerna to explore the complexities of microfinance, responsible development, and the future of global aid. They discuss the recent Wall Street Journal critique of microfinance, the decline and consolidation of both Christian higher ed and Christian nonprofits, as well as how AI is shaping the sector.

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Resources and Links From The Show

Wall Street Journal : Hundreds of Billions in Loans Didn't Make a Dent in Global Poverty

Peter Greer on Medium : A Response to the Wall Street Journal Article on Microfinance

Liz Ha from Five Talents : Savings First

Anthony Bradley on Substack : I Watched an Evangelical College Die From The Inside

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Conversation Notes (AI Generated)

• Critiques of microfinance and responsible practices
• The role of loans and savings groups in development
• Impact of AI on nonprofit sector
• Leadership challenges in global development
• Mergers and consolidation in Christian higher education and nonprofits

Theme music Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License