Our Mission
At NewVines International our mission is to see lives transformed through the alleviation of poverty in all its forms - Financial, Spiritual, Relational and Personal.
Compassion, education, discipleship, capital infusion and the help of the Holy Spirit move people from poverty and despair to hope and peace.
Core Values
DISCIPLE. EDUCATE. ACCESS.
NewVines International spreads the grace of God by working in partnership with local churches and Christian Missions.
Members in
the Body of Christ
Change, growth and solution happen best in supportive groups. Our ministry facilitates biblically-based Savings Groups where members collaborate to provide encouragement, ideas and support.
Discipleship & Support
We provide tools and education that people can use in their everyday lives and businesses.
Education & Training
One of the best ways to help people lift themselves out of poverty is to help them find capital to build an income-producing business..
Access to Capital
Board of Directors
VIRGIL HUGHES
Experienced non-profit CEO, with more than 25 years running stand-alone and multi-site service organizations, as well as 10 years owning a private consulting firm.
JACK GARDNER
Experienced financial manager, with backgrounds in CFO and banking roles. At the age of 50, Jack went back to school for a degree in Theology, and founded the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, where he serves as its Executive Director.
TIM MILLER
A 30-year track record as an executive in the commercial finance sector, and more as a Christian volunteer. Most notably, he served as Chair of the Florida chapter of the Moral Majority.
DANA KALTENBERGER
The Director of Global Ministries for Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, our first church partner. Together with her husband, the lead pastor, they have listened to the Holy Spirit to establish one of the top 50 fastest growing churches in the US.
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BILL ORGA
International Sales for Eaton Corporation. Recently retired, he is an active member of Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, sits on its Board, and leads a small group in its Men's Ministry.
JOHN MILLER
(Ret.) President of the northeast subsidiary of a national propane dealer. He currently, and has in the past, serves on numerous boards and professional associations. He is an active member of Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
MIKE FENELLO
President of a regional arm of a construction products company. An active Christian for many years, he has sent his children on mission trips, and now feels called to "get out of his comfort zone." He is an active member of Grace Community Church in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
Our History
NewVines International, Inc. had its beginning in 2012 when two men from the United States were roommates on a church mission trip to Kenya. Tom Blumberg and Virgil Hughes, both businessmen in the U.S., saw the opportunity that even small amounts of capital and training could provide. Mr. Hughes met with a small group of villagers on that trip to discuss micro-lending. Over the next few years the two men informally helped with the establishment of four savings cooperatives in western Kenya.
In 2014, Mr. Hughes began to sense a calling to set up a non-profit to bring more focused help to western Kenya.
In November of 2015, NVI was chartered as a Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation, with Mr. Hughes and Mr. Blumberg two of its three founding Board Members. The IRS granted tax-exempt status to NewVines International, Inc. in March 2017.
Statement of Faith
WHAT WE BELIEVE
1. GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe. He eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The three are co-equal and are one God. God is Holy, all-powerful, all-knowing, ever present, never changing, and deserves our highest praise and worship. Genesis 1:1-26; Psalm 19:1, 90:2; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; James 1:17; Revelation 1:8; I Chronicles 29:11-12; Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 100
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2. JESUS
Jesus Christ is the one and only incarnate Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father and is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by death on a cross, exists now as our high priest, and grants access to Holy God for those who accept His Lordship. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over Satan, sin, and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again someday to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and will judge the living and the dead. John 1:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 13:8; John 14:6-11; Hebrews 4:14-15, 12:2; I Corinthians15:3-4; Hebrews 2:14-15; I John 3:8; Acts 1:9-11; I Timothy 6:14-15; Hebrews 9:27-28; Acts 10:42
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3. HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. Through the Holy Spirit humans are born into the kingdom of heaven, and he lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for Godly living, understanding of spiritual truth, and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works in Christians to help them become more like Christ (sanctification) in their words, thoughts and deeds, and He works through believers through spiritual gifts to make Jesus known and to build up the body of Christ. John 16:7-15, 14:16-17; I Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 12:4-7; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; I Peter 1:14-16; I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Titus 2:11-14
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4. THE BIBLE
The Bible is the inspired Word of God to mankind for all eternity. It was written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs, revealing the will of God in all things necessary for salvation, faith and daily living. I Peter 1:23-25; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:12
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5. PEOPLE
People are made in the spiritual image of God to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. However, because of the original sin of Adam, all are born with a sinful nature and therefore are separated from God from birth and require God's salvation. Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; James 1:18; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23, 5:19, 8:6-8; Isaiah 59:1-2
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6. SALVATION
Salvation from sin is God’s free gift to the world, but each person must accept it. One can never atone (make up) for their sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by believing in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When individuals turn from their self-ruled lives and turn to Jesus in faith, they are saved. Life in God's Kingdom begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into their life by faith. Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16; John 1:12; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:1
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7. ETERNITY
People's spirits were created to exist forever. Each soul will either exist eternally in hell (separated from God by sin) or eternally with God in heaven because of forgiveness and salvation. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence. John 3:16, 5:24; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:44-46; Revelation 22:3-5
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