This Is Not Church Podcast Jubilee Economics: A Conversation With Kelley Nikondeha
Jan 5, 2026
Kelley Nikondeha, a liberation theologian and community development practitioner, dives deep into her experiences with Jubilee Economics. She discusses how her marriage to Claude from Burundi shifted her perspective on global poverty and American values. Kelley highlights the ancient practice of debt amnesty and its relevance today, drawing parallels with Jesus' teachings. She emphasizes the importance of communal trust in financial models and suggests that micro-level actions can bring about real change, challenging Western individualism in economic practices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Starting A Community Bank In Burundi
- Kelley and her husband built a bank in Burundi as part of their long-term development work over 17 years.
- The bank grew from community trust and practiced Jubilee principles tailored to local realities.
Jubilee Ties Debt Relief To A Calendar
- Jubilee is a set of economic practices focused on loans, labor, and land that aim to prevent permanent poverty.
- Moses innovated by tying debt relief to a calendar cycle so relief wasn't left to a ruler's whim.
Debt Amnesty Is An Ancient Economic Tool
- Debt amnesties existed long before the Bible in Sumer and Babylon, used to reset calcified economies.
- Ancient rulers used debt relief to stabilize societies and prevent creditor classes from solidifying power.
