Arthur Block is a BC entrepreneur and has been a strong supporter of MEDA over the years. His support was instrumental in the development of MEDA's Haiti program...

What drew you to Ben Heppner?

What drew me to Ben was his open spirit and his very fine voice. He's such a gift to the world, to Canadians, to us as a community and to Mennonites. What a marvelous gift. And he's such a loveable teddy bear.

But he sure has done the tough things and the hard work along the way. If anything is hard, it's to create a singing career. But the man has character and the man has empathy for people. He loves to perform and he's a good thinker. That's a pretty good combination.

We just interviewed Ben Heppner. He commented on your support in his life and when Ben asked you how he could repay you, you told him: "Go and do thou likewise." How can we go and do likewise and help people around the world?

I think there are probably many ways. Everyone has to evaluate the opportunities that come his way and one of the things that I've always held to was that everything that crosses my pass I need to respond to as best I can. But there are many roads to Rome and there is not one prescribed way. It is an attitude.

One of the challenges MEDA faces is passing our values on to the next generation. How do you think MEDA can engage the next generation in our work?

I don't think that I could say that I am consciously trying to pass things on to the younger generation. But I would say that I have always leaned towards the younger generation. I enjoy their company. I find young people stimulating - the fresh ideas, the energy and the willingness to try. Those are the kind of things that have stimulated me about young people.

Today for instance, the whole idea within the church of groups of young people going to other countries and experiencing different cultures is evidence of young people wanting to take part in development. I think those are good avenues.

And these trips are a proven way of encountering different cultures. I remember the young fellow named Mark Fleming who MEDA engaged in Haiti to do a research project on the question of - are the poor credit worthy. He was sharp young man fresh out of college and he was sent there and, as I recall, he spent a year and half there.

And when we visited Haiti and saw the potential and what was being done we looked to the future with new possibilities. So, how does MEDA introduce their values to the next generation? Well, MEDA has done it already and I'd say just continue to do it in the same manner.

How can we share the message of what MEDA is doing?

It takes effort and energy from the staff, the board and of course proper plans in communication. They have good work going on around the world, so they need to publicize those. Not necessarily spend a bunch of money, but effectively publicize them and there are many avenues today that I'm not totally current with. They've got the evidence. Now make it known. When I think biblically, Jesus never wrote a word, at least not recorded but look at the publicity that resulted.

You have supported MEDA significantly. You funded our Haiti program almost exclusively in a key era. You are responsible for our pushing out rural finance in Haiti among other things. Why did you support Haiti? What is it about the programs and faith and work that resonated with you in the past?

Well, as usual it's the principle: what crosses my path. MEDA crossed my family's path. Also, the Lord had prospered me to an extent and the timing was right. And so I saw an opportunity and the potential in young Fleming's work. The evidence was there: good preparation, good understanding and there was good character behind it.

And there was an appeal. In the Greek language they call it the pathos of it - it could appeal to somebody. You were helping the poor and not only that, it was consistent with business principles - not that they override our spiritual values but they should be consistent. The projects had possibility of longevity and not only that but CIDA was interested and we got a multiplier effect on it. This adds up to a very appealing project.

What advice do you have for a struggling entrepreneur in a developing country?

That's a very difficult question to answer. I am involved in Russia right now and we're dealing with exactly that question. There is a strong Mennonite connection there and some have been under the collective concept for 70 or 80 years.

The younger and middle age ones have grown up under the system. They've been offered farm land by the Russian government. But it's the hardest thing for these people to leave the collective and own their own land. Even though the collective offers very little to them, it's like a cocoon, a place of safety for them. Even though they have a heritage of entrepreneurship they have forgotten it.

One man in Russia looked at me and said, "You don't understand the Russian situation. We've been taught for 70 years that we can't do it. The central people tell us what to do." It'll take 70 times 7 years to unlearn that. That's how difficult it is to learn and to move out and be an entrepreneur. It's very difficult.

The beginning of it, particularly for developing countries, is to start small with simple things that work - simple things that begin the process of entrepreneurship.