Talk for those serving God creatively. 
Harvard Business Review, June 2008, says: Microfinance should be profitable. In a nutshell, microfinance is the practice of giving out very small loans, typically $100-$200, to poor individuals of third world countries living on $2 per day income. Microfinance has proven it's ability of "helping people learn how to fish" rather than "providing the fish."
The company spotlighted here only loans to women! They say they can count on women to network and help one another in their local community, and to faithfully repay their loans. Interesting, huh?
"While the industry celebrates having reached about 140 million people, roughly 3 billion (or 750 million households) still live on $2 a day or less. In terms of households, that's only a 19% market penetration--a sure sign of underperformance in any other industry." (Vikram Akula, Harvard Business Review, hbr.org, June, 2008, p. 54)
The author, a financier, claims the malfunction lies in the model we are using to launch microfinance. In summary, he says these things must happen:
- 'Adopt a profit oriented approach.' He sees the need for a model that is not as much social based as it is business based. Why? We will need the money of large corporations which are not social based. The need is much greater than can be accomplished through social means. (I wonder about that claim with the "viral ability" of social networking now?)
- Standardize. Organization that is efficient requires models across the board with standard payment methods and amounts, training materials and lengths of training, and administrative processes. Everyone needs to "play from the same page." The author recommends a training model that is On-The-Job training in a short period of time for loan officers. By launching loan officers through a standardized training model in a short time, you can deploy much more quickly and scale up for growth in the entire system.
- 'Use technology to reduce costs and limit errors.' Get away from paper record-keeping, but keep it simple and easy to use for non-tech savvy loan officers.
- Focus on customer loyalty. "In everything we do, we ask, 'Does this work for the borrower?' - even if it means operating against our own short-term interests." (p. 56) A priority is to put into place policies that discourage "thugs" from taking over the market.