A New Microloan House Funding Opportunity

Hi friends! A big part of our family's story has been the microloan house funding adventure that enabled us to successfully purchase our house here in Atlanta. We've often wished more people could be blessed the way we were. Beautiful things can happen when God's people pool their resources!

Today I'm happy to share that another young family is daring to duplicate our experiment.

Lavern and Harmoni Miller (and their sweet daughter) have been asked by Lavern's employer, Choice Books, to move from Detroit, Michigan, to Columbia, South Carolina, so Lavern can serve as manager of a new Choice Books district. They plan to purchase a house there and are inviting anyone who is interested to pledge microloans to help fund their new home. They've already identified a promising house and hope to borrow $130,000.

I've only known Lavern and Harmoni since this past weekend, but I've long been acquainted with other people who know them well. (Harmoni's father was a pilot years ago at a mission where I volunteered when I was a youth.) Our connections are strong enough that my wife and I are glad to get involved personally. I won't say how much we plan to lend, but it will only take 125 people matching our pledge for the Millers to be within sight of their goal. 😊

Three people have agreed to serve as an informal advisory and accountability board for the Millers: a CPA, a long-term friend/advisor/supporter of Lavern, and me (due to my house funding experience). We are glad to support this house funding need, but please do your own due diligence so you can feel confident before pledging a loan. 

You probably have a bunch of questions about repayment plans, interest offered, and legal disclaimers. To learn more, visit the official Miller House Fund page. You can also watch this video invitation from Lavern:

Here's my bottom-line advice about this project:

Don't look at this as a financial investment opportunity. (The 10% flat-rate, non-compounding return offered won't do much besides account for inflation for several years. It's mostly a way for the Millers to say thank you for your loan.)

Instead, look at it as an eternal investment opportunity—a way to help a service-minded young family buy a home so they can get started with the next work they've agreed to do in God's kingdom. Yes, you can expect to get your money back (with that 10% on top unless you indicate otherwise), but lenders should get involved in the spirit of Jesus' words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). If that excites you, feel free to get involved.

Is there anything else you can do to help? Please pray that this project will bring God glory, and then spread the word to others who may be interested. Thank you!