18 November, 2007
The Moravian Church, A Spirit of Enterprise
The Moravian Church has always been very enterprising. It has always been ready and willing to take risk for the sake of the Gospel. It was this enterprising and risk taking attitude that led the Moravians to have become a Mission oriented Church. While other larger denominations with more resources were asking, how we did it, the Moravians though small, were on their knees while sending Missionaries to preach the gospel and establish work in places unknown. The Missionaries established the first congregation in the Western Hemisphere called New Herrnhut in St. Thomas in 1737. The name Herrnhut means, The Lord’s Watch. It was an enterprising faith journey by the Moravians.
In the spirit of enterprise, the Moravians also established the MORAVIAN CHURCH FOUNDATION in 1768 in Suriname and is one of the oldest trading companies on the American continent. Today the office of the Moravian Church Foundation is in Amsterdam, Holland. The Foundation in an effort to make its functioning more effective, established the Moravian Church Foundation Business Enterprises (MCFBE). The main areas of operation for the MCFBE are Suriname, Aruba and Curacao. In Suriname there is C. KERSTEN and CO (Holding); in Aruba, there is JOLLEY Holding Aruba, while in Curacao there is JOLLEY Holding Curacao. Within the three countries there are 29 companies. Today we begin to look at the companies to show the extent of this enterprise.
In SURINAME there is C. Kersten and Co (Holding) which has approximately 950 employees and is the oldest trading company in South America. It is made up of the following 10 subsidiary companies:
1. ALGINCO: Engineering and Technical Contractors, who assemble, sell and install air conditioning units, and electronic and mechanical appliances.
2. BEM: Produces various concrete commodities such as bricks, sewage pipes, as well as quality stones and tiles.
3. KRASNAPOLSKY HOTEL: One of the largest hotels in downtown Paramaribo.
4. INCOM: International Commodities produces the well known Alcolado Glacial Lotion as well as importing and distributing foodstuffs, perfumes and pharmaceuticals.
5. MEDICARE: Offers professional, preventative and curative industrial and family health care. All subsidiaries of C. KERSTEN are affiliated with Medicare for their medical care.
6. MOTORS CO.: Motors Company is the authorized distributor for Mitsubishi, Daihatsu and General Motors.
7. SURMAC: Surmac specializes in selling, repair and maintenance of heavy equipment including Caterpillar and Massey Ferguson.
8. TWS: Textile Works Suriname produces high quality made to measure clothing.
9. VENSUR: VENSUR produces high quality Type 1Portland cement in Suriname.
10. WARENHUIS: The oldest trading company in Suriname presently leased for retail outlets.
Next week we shall look at Jolly Holding Aruba investment companies.
