ABOUT KORE

How It Began:

In 2003, Dennis & Brenda Bratton traveled to mid-India. They were introduced to the plague of chronic poverty. Over a billion people earn less than $1 a day. Their lives consist of a daily struggle simply to exist…to stay alive. Children bare much of the brunt of this kind of poverty. In India, due to severe destitution, handicapped children are often abandoned. It is these “throw-away children” that prompted the formation of KORE.

What Is KORE’S Vision?

KORE focuses on the step “beyond relief.” In times of catastrophe – tsunami, hurricane or earthquake – the church responds with tremendous generosity. When heart-string appeals come from the mission fields, Christians regularly respond, often sacrificially. But, what happens next? What sustainable good has our generosity achieved?

There is a time for relief. KORE focuses on the step “beyond relief,” beyond the short-term offerings that fade as quickly as donations are exhausted. KORE seeks to offer poverty stricken people a sustainable alternative. With the introduction of creative micro-industries, agriculture, aquiculture, and micro-finance, KORE’s Vision is to enable people and missions the dignity of self-reliance, sustainable without outside support. This Kindness, enabling the very transformation of a person’s life circumstances, will have a dramatic impact immediately and for generations to come.

• KORE acts out genuine Kindness of the Christian Faith, a touch of Christ in practical ways.
• KORE offers Opportunities, not a hand out but a way out.
• KORE provides the Resources for a foothold away from poverty toward self-reliance.
• KORE seeks to enable chronically poor people to discover independence through Enterprise.

How We Achieve Together:

“KORE…was in charge of the freewill offerings…distributing the contributions…to young and old….and to the little ones…” II Chronicles 31

KORE was a business man. When Hezekiah became King of Judah, he reopened the temple and re-instituted the Passover Celebration. In fact, the people were so excited in their spiritual revival they extended the Passover to a second week! And then they began to tithe. Their giving was so great it took five months to collect, count and catalogue their generosity. KORE’s job was to make sure those resources were utilized in the long term best interests of the people.

KORE Foundation is working in partnership with people and organizations, pooling resources and a variety of expertise to offer sustainable alternatives to those trapped in poverty. KORE is continually researching additional micro-enterprise opportunities that will drive stronger financial stability. KORE also offers equipment for vocational training and instruction via short term missions trips.

KORE Foundation believes the best distribution system in the world is the church. KORE will work only with established missionaries working with the chronically poor. While believing in evangelism and discipleship, KORE seeks to offer missionaries an economic tool for those in their ministries.

KORE’S Long View – A Realistic Scenario

Imagine the potential in small beginnings. KORE provides micro-loans for ten poultry business start ups each year for the next ten years. That’s funding for 100 “chicken coop” family businesses. With a realistic loan repayment of twelve months and those funds continually rolled forward, the potential result in just one decade is over 500 family businesses within Christian communities. With the passage of time, these small holder businesses will expand to all areas of poultry production.

Imagine vocational skills training readily available to the poor. Opportunities and resources provided, not as a hand out, but as a pathway toward personal enterprise. Rather than feeding people after a catastrophe, imagine enabling them to provide not only for their own families, but having enough to help others in need!

Picture the American church “going beyond relief”, offering countless footholds out of poverty. Imagine local churches, once totally dependent on outside funding, beginning to support and expand their own ministries, breaking free from their web of dependency.

All this and more is possible. Remember how you felt when you received your first steady paycheck? Partner with KORE to offer that dignity to people trapped in chronic poverty.

In 1698, Cotton Mather, Puritan minister, encouraged his congregation to find employment for the poor rather than giving them “hand outs.” He said it this way, “Find ‘em work; set ‘em to work; keep ‘em to work.” Employment produces dignity and creates a sustainable solution to poverty.

Psalm 69:32 – 33 “The poor will see and be glad – The Lord hears the needy.”