This is the sixth newsletter for MICAH Program, Inc. In June 2025, MICAH is completing its fifth year of operation. A new cohort of volunteer mentors has been trained and has started meeting with neighbors in financial distress. We continue to meet with our neighbors, listen to understand their problems, help work toward solutions, both short and long term, and facilitate low-cost loans through Self-Help Credit Union (SHCU).
Our chief operating officer, Jim Stavrakas, has convened a communications committee to update our fliers and information distribution. An example of one AI-created poster is below. The website continues to develop. We can now accept donations online and our neighbors can now initiate requests for mentoring and a loan online.
Kurt Hurwald is our new board member and Treasurer. He is keeping track of our finances and doing a great job. Through the generosity of benefactors, the MICAH reserve fund at SHCU exceeds $100,000. Note that the reserve fund money is not spent, but rather kept in an interest-bearing account at SHCU, where it backs the low-cost loans from SHCU to MICAH neighbors.
The unsecured loans, called our “classic” loans, continue to have an interest rate under 5%, with the loan repaid over 12 to 18 months. The loan maximum of $1500 was established in 2020. We recently increased it to $2500 in recognition that so many things are more expensive in 2025. The pilot program of automobile loans, called Bridge-to-Wheels (BTW), is now an established, ongoing program. In BTW, selected participants in Miracle Hill Ministries (MHM) programs receive counseling and help to purchase a used car from Miracle Hill Auto Sales. One of the MHM guests is pictured below, with mentor, Mark O’Rourke, on the day he purchased his car with a BTW loan.
MICAH continues to evolve and grow. We thank the St. Anthony community and our many friends who have supported us through prayer, donations, and volunteer work. We thank the Lord for the privilege to serve our neighbors and for our success to date.
Our website, www.micahprogram.org, is active and we have a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about MICAH, volunteering, financial mentoring or getting a loan, please call us at (864) 233-7717.
MICAH neighbor, Michael Nix, receiving his newly purchased automobile, with mentor, Mark O’Rourke.
