Southern Pastor Works to Deliver His Flock From Credit-Card Debt

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Wednesday, June 12, 2002 | ELLEN GRAHAM

[Mo1]

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[swheats]

I was skeptical at first until I read this portion,
Those newly freed from debt must attend a seminar on staying solvent. Then the pastor meets with them periodically to see where they stand. So far, he says, there have been no backsliders. "Once you get that weight off your shoulders, you never want to go back," says Mr. Beaver.

At least there are steps of accountability and helping families stay out of debt.

[tdadams]

What a great idea. Let's hope this is an idea that many other churches across the nation will replicate. How liberating and empowering to deliver your members from the slavery of debt.

[WileyC]

Interesting how car loans are seen as appropriate, even though unlike houses, cars are worth only a tiny fraction of their purchase price by the time they're paid off.

The difference between cars and the majority of the credit card debt, is that a vehicle is necessity for most people. A car is, or should be, an investment in one's hireability.

[hoosierham]

AMEN ! And the best to you john.

[DB]

Ditto that: no mortgage, no car loans, no credit card debt, no rent, no leases. It is a much happier way to live.

[Eagle Eye]

I just don't understand why some should pay for the others.

This may be one of those things that if you need to have it explained, you probably still wouldn't get it.

[parsifal]

O Lord! Lead thy people to Chapter 7! Show them the way, Lord, show them the way! Help us, thy flock, save our cash for one heck of a dinner-on-the-ground! Amen---Brother Parsy.

[texgal]

If you've never been there yet, even if you've paid off your credit card balances every month (as we did for years and years), let me give you this piece of free advice -- if you have any credit cards, cut them up NOW!

Amen to what you have said. I will always be grateful to my daughter's high school economics teacher when he told them about the evils of credit cards and showed them how much easier it would be for them to save for things they wanted rather than try to pay off the credit card debt.

He told them in jest that the holograms you see on the cards were tiny pieces of debtors souls - he may have been closer to the truth than he realized.

[TomServo]

Ditto that: no mortgage, no car loans, no credit card debt, no rent, no leases. It is a much happier way to live.

Absolutely. I sleep better knowing I that I could get laid off at work tommorrow, and not give a damn. My wife says if it happens, we're taking a vacation. :-)

[CIB-173RDABN]

I agree. Being debt free opens up a whole new world. I have been married for over 32 years. We were in debt (credit card) for the first 15 years. Money problems, can create a lot of stress on any relationship. Well, about 17 years ago, we decided we need to get our finances in order. It took time, but it is possible. We still have a mortgage, but we have enough savings to pay off the house if we wanted to, but for now the tax deductions works in favor of keeping lt.

On another thread, there is a lot of discussion about how bad the economy is, and how some are afraid of losing their jobs are have already lost their jobs. This constant worry about losing a job is not good, either for your health or your relationship with your spouse.

By getting out and staying out of debt, keeping my current job is not the most important thing in my life. I have choices.

One of the most imporatant things we did was in the go go 90s as our wages went up, our standard of living did not go up. We could live on much less than I make. Knowing that has taken a heavy load off my shoulders.

For all of you that still have a lot of credit card debt, I would suggest you get out from under it as soon as possible. Believe me, it feels so good when that weight is removed.

[DB]

If we could just get rid of those property taxes...

[twigs]

If you'd been around 2000 years ago, I would have paid good money to watch you try to explain to Christ and the early Christians that the entire plan of redemption was flawed at its root.

No, it's not. Its a perfect plan. However, I know the difference between enabling others to sin and Christ dying for my sin. Having said that, I did not read the article carefully enough and the things that concerned me--particularly putting into place a post-payoff plan of accountability--was actually a part of the deal. I live with a man, well, actually my husband!, who enables his son to do whatever he wants. If the money was available, he would pay off all this kid's credit card debts and in the process, enable him to continue to mooch. I've also known hard-working, loving Christians who've financially assisted other Christians, only to see these other people abuse their assistance. I'm a firm believer in helping others and I've spent my life doing that. But I believe the Bible calls us to love others and sometimes, even many times, that calls us to tough love situations. Apparently, that was not the case here.