Many places of worship have increased their goals and missions. Faith based groups are still trying to help people even though there are fewer jobs and more economic problems. Places of worship are increasingly offering financial assistance with things like debt, rent, and utility bills. Today, many historical places that offer spiritual guidance also help people financially.
One church-based debt assistance program is a 13-week plan designed to help people with everyday bills and debts. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University is a financial literacy program that helps reduce household debt. There are other financial literacy programs available as well.
In one example, people who went to the Catholic Charities Bible Chapel program paid off their home mortgages, had yard sales to pay down credit card debt, and reconsidered purchases that involved using loans. This debt reduction based service helped families establish a well-funded emergency cash fund and some people even cut up their credit cards. There are other programs that can help you with your debt, and ways to get out of debt.
Debt counseling from churches
There are credit counseling agencies that are based on Christianity as well as other faiths. This organization provides religious and personal guidance in addition to the more common financial services like debt assistance. Christian groups often operate the same programs as non-religious groups when it comes to debt help and credit repair. However, a big difference between Christian groups and other groups is the mentoring and general advice. You can get everything for free, and people will not judge you for it. There are Christian organizations that provide free credit counseling to help people get out of debt. They offer budgeting and money management advice, as well as help with negotiating with creditors.
Many churches across the nation are sponsoring Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, which is a program that teaches people how to manage their money. The service promises to help participants improve their financial situation by getting out of debt and prospering.
Unfortunately, as the economy has worsened, more churches and other worship places have been forced to purchase the $300 curriculum for members of their community. The program is based on the biblical principles that Dave Ramsey, a syndicated radio talk-show host and an author, developed. Families that ask the church for help with their bills only have to pay for the workbooks, which is around $100.
Almost 8000 groups across the nation offered the program, the majority of them being churches, to help people. More and more people are using the Financial Peace University system. There are church groups at both the local and national level that offer it at their parish.
This isn’t something that is typically done by religious groups or churches, but offering financial-planning sessions and assistance for paying bills could be seen as part of their mission. The needs that were typically focused on in the past were counseling people who worked in the clergy, providing food for the needy, and ministering to those who were dying. Debt counseling provided by churches is very helpful to families who are not as fortunate. This service provides people with the support they need when they don’t know where else to turn. If you need help finding a debt counseling or budgeting class near you, visit www.daveramsey.com/fpu/classfinder/.
Other support from churches
Other services that may be helpful include additional debt assistance and credit counseling. Many churches are also providing access to emergency loans at a lower cost. This can be very helpful for families who are out of all other options. One of the benefits of borrowing money from a church is that they often require debt counseling as a condition of lending the money. The service provides an alternative to high priced payday lending companies for members of the community.
Debt counseling and loan programs are available to people of all religions. This means that people who are not part of the mainstream banking system, such as immigrants, refugees, and families living in poverty, also rely on these services. There are many ways to apply for and find loans offered by churches.
As churches experience changes, some are now providing budgeting skills to their congregation. They are teaching people how to get out of debt using the Financial Peace University. Staff members are helping families to find places where they can get free assistance to pay for things like utility bills and rent. The more places that offer debt reduction assistance or loan programs during these difficult times, the more options people have. This is good for America as it gives people more places to turn to in times of need.