Dear Friend,

Like so many others, I like to start the new year reflecting on the experiences of the past year and on what I hope to lean into in 2026.

Most immediately, I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude for each of you who gave so generously to help us meet our year-end financial goal. To say that you have been an encouragement almost falls flat. And yet, I am reminded that to encourage literally means “to put courage into someone.”

So thank you for putting courage into all of us at Five Talents as we navigated a year of significant uncertainty. Because of your generosity, we were able to accomplish some remarkable things: launching a new program in Malawi, sustaining a successful program in Kenya even as USAID funding unexpectedly dropped, and continuing to serve and grow in communities in intensely fragile contexts, from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Myanmar. These are not small accomplishments. As we step into a new year with bold new goals, we do so with courage because we have experienced God’s provision, made tangible through faithful friends like you.

And most of all, thank you for putting courage into our entrepreneurs. These women and men dared to dream amid some of the harshest realities imaginable. Through our Savings Groups and business training, they are learning to save together, growing small businesses, and building resilience. Because of your support, they are discovering that God created them with inherent dignity and for more than a life of abject poverty. As they flourish in body and spirit, they are experiencing His goodness.

As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with humility, hope, and great expectancy. We seek to deepen our impact, strengthen our partners, and continue walking faithfully alongside entrepreneurs who are transforming their lives, communities, and the world!