freedom newsletter
DESCRIPTION
Issue 1 - 2015TRANSCRIPT
Crippling debt meant that Patricia - a refugee who had arrived alone from Nicaragua - had nowhere to turn. Then she met her new “Aussie” family at Red Door Church. Cont. inside
he last 12 months have been an
amazing time of growth in the min-
istry, and have propelled us into
the New Year with plenty of excite-
ment and anticipation. The year
commenced with a record 43 Debt
Centres! And with the first centre
opening in Tasmania (Devonport)
last year, CAP is now truly a national ministry reaching
families in every state around Australia.
Over 327 people became debt free last year – a phenomenal
achievement and the highest number ever! The CAP Debt
Management team also negotiated to have over $1 million
worth of debt waived on behalf of clients. For many families
struggling in desperate situations, these results make a life
changing impact. Most importantly, 115 people made the
decision to follow Christ. This is the greatest inspiration
both for me personally and for the entire CAP team!
As one client, Sonia, described it:
Our continued passion to see more people released from
crippling debt and poverty means our goals for 2015 are
BIG. Our aim is to see 15 new Debt Centres open, see more
churches running CAP Money courses, see more clients re-
leased from debt, and ultimately see more people find the
incredible freedom of life with Christ.
We also aim to introduce new programs to assist
people struggling with their finances, beginning
with Job Clubs—a program to help people who are
struggling with long-term unemployment.
This has meant setting a good foundation for growth so
that clients can still experience a caring, professional
service. In the last 6 months a number of new staff have
joined the CAP team in various roles bringing with them
new skills, energy and drive to see CAP expand.
Of course none of this could have happened
without the support of amazing Life Changers, donors and
volunteers – like you – who help make this ministry possi-
ble and enable debt counselling services to be kept free for
clients. I hope that you are inspired as you read through this
newsletter, knowing that you are part of something that is
making a real difference in so many lives.
From all the CAP team, we are humbled by your support
and prayers. Thank you.
“Looking at my life since becoming involved with CAP, there’s just no comparison. It was like living in a dark hole and finally clawing your way out to feel the sunshine on your face. It’s just worlds apart. It’s like a night and day difference.”
Ross Buttenshaw
CEO
CAP Australia
Tell us a little about yourself and Life Unlimited church
How has running a DebtCentre impacted your church?
As a pastor, what appealed to you about becoming involved with CAP?
What would you say to other church leaders thinking of becoming involved with CAP?
How is your church involved with CAP?
Life Unlimited Church in Canberra were looking for new and practical
ways to reach out to their community. Seven years on, Pastor Sean and
his team share their incredible and continuing journey of partnership
with CAP.
Life UC opened the first
CAP Debt Centre in the ACT
in 2008, and also offered the
CAP Money course to the community
as an educational alternative for people
who might not be in debt but needed
advice on how to budget.
Helping people break free
of the unrelenting pressure
of debt. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us
free.”
CAP has allowed us to reach
into the homes of people
that we would otherwise not
meet, and take Jesus into their circum-
stances. It helps us be outward looking
and have a positive impact in our
local community.
I’ve been involved with
the Australian Christian
Churches (ACC) movement
for more than 30 years. My wife, Lynda,
and I are the Senior Pastors of Life Un-
limited Church in the ACT. Life UC is
a growing multi-congregation church
that seeks to connect people to Christ
and His cause. It has a strong com-
mitment to building a Christ centred
community with a strong commitment
to both local and global missions. The
people of Life UC have an open heart
and a helping hand toward lost, hurting
and broken people in the community
where God has called us to serve.
Many people in our church
have taken part in the CAP
Money classes, and found
great benefit in learning how to better
manage their own finances. Having a
CAP Debt Centre has opened up op-
portunities to invite people along to
church events or Sunday services, and
made it possible for us to go into peo-
ple’s homes and share our faith in a
practical, non-threatening way.
from left: Pastor Sean Stanton, Danielle Bate (previous CAP Centre Manger, now community programs leader ), Anne Hazell (volunteer), amy dunski (current CAP centre manager)
What first drew you to the ministry of CAP?
Our church was offering
three other community ser-
vices at that time: Hand
Up Food Care, Re-Runs Op Shop and
Charity Computers. We were provid-
ing practical support services for peo-
ple on a low income or going through
a time of financial stress, and wanted
to try and find a way to help people get
out of financial hardship not just sup-
port them as they stayed in that situa-
tion. CAP offered a practical solution
that was also Christ focused.
Sean Stanton Senior PastorLife Unlimited Church
Tell us a little about yourself and the CAP Debt Centre you run
What story inspires you most about CAP?
How did you first hear about CAP?
What is your vision for the Debt Centre you manage?
Why did choose to become involved as a Centre Manager?
Can you share a client story that has moved you the most?I’ve been at home raising my
children for the past sever-
al years. Upon returning to
work I jumped at the opportunity to
work with CAP to help people with
their finances. The Canberra CAP Debt
Centre has been running since 2008. We
held over 300 first visits with clients,
have seen 63 clients become debt free
and have seen 14 salvations. Our team
of 10 loyal volunteers are awesome sup-
port workers who come on visits, pray
for and with clients, deliver hampers,
meet with clients and help connect
them into church. We’ve experienced
people giving their hearts to the Lord
and celebrated with people as circum-
stances turn around, getting jobs, find-
ing housing, restoring relationships,
rebuilding confidence and hope.
I initially trained as a CAP
Debt Coach and within a few
months was offered the op-
portunity to become the Centre Man-
ager. I have been passionate about fi-
nancial literacy since my teenage years,
and CAP is a natural fit for me as a link
to people in our local community.
I’ve had the privilege of
meeting one of our Debt
Centre’s very first clients
from 2008 and we were able to help
them to become debt free. They are an
elderly couple who now have a dream
to grow a garden. Recently they came
to see us for help with a ‘problem’ they
had with a service provider... due to
their diligence, they were over $800 in
credit and wanted to get some of the
money back to purchase some plants
and gardening items. Just brilliant!
To support people in our
local community who are in
debt. To continue to build a
team of people who develop relation-
ships with the clients. To see clients
coming to know Jesus as their personal
saviour. And to see more churches in
Canberra support CAP, the CAP Mon-
ey course and clients.
One of my first clients was a
single mum of two teenag-
ers, overwhelmed with more
debts than she realised and desperate
for help. It was a special moment for
me to watch her response of relief and
amazement as I walked her through her
budget and explained to her how we
can help her. She was relieved not to
be constantly hassled by the creditors
and amazed that she could be debt free
in around a year, much sooner than she
ever thought possible. She will soon be
debt free, praise God!
Amy Dunski Centre ManagerLife Unlimited Church
The previous Centre Manag-
er here in Canberra, Danielle
Bate, is a close friend and
I’ve watched in awe over the years as
she built up the centre over the years. I
still have the privilege of working with
her as she manages all of Life UC’s com-
munity services.
oving to Australia as a refugee from
Nicaragua meant leaving behind family and
friends, and making a new start in a coun-
try where she struggled to even speak the
language. Patricia arrived in Australia in
1991 and since that time has struggled
to build a life for herself. With courage
and determination, she learned English,
gained employment and bought her own
home. But unfortunately, through a series of tragic events,
her life began to unravel. Her hours of employment be-
came more and more sporadic, her relationship with her
partner was emotionally abusive and she was in danger of
losing her home. It was during this tumultuous time that Pa-
tricia heard about CAP and made the phone call asking for
help. She became connected with supportive people from
Red Door Church in Perth who ran the local CAP Debt Cen-
tre. “When Emma, my debt coach, walked through the door,
she was like an angel,” says Patricia. “I now have hope for the future where I didn’t before. I felt so lost and I didn’t know
what to do or who to turn to.” God strengthened her new-found faith as members of her Red Door church family not only
provided a car for her but also somewhere to live. “It’s still hard but I know that God is with me,” says Patricia. “I have my
faith in Him and that is what is most important to me.”
hank you to everyone who supported the
CAP fundraising dinners in Perth, Sydney
and Newcastle at the end of 2014. The dinners
were very generously supported, raising over
$200,000 allowing people to continue to access
CAP’s services for free. A special mention goes to Perth where
over 100 people attended the first ever WA CAP fundraiser.
This is a tremendous and encouraging result!
“I now have hope for the future where I didn’t before. I felt so lost and I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to.”
from left: Patricia and Emma her debt coach
sydney and newcastle
perth
In 2015, CAP plans to launch Job Clubs; an exciting new initiative tackling
one of the greatest contributors to poverty—unemployment. Churches
can offer hope and support to job seekers in their community with
practical steps towards employment. Job Clubs provide a place of trust
and security where members can meet together and support one another
through the trial of unemployment. Together, they can take steps towards
employment using CAP’s excellent resources.
For more information about Job Clubs, email [email protected]
job clubs
FREEDOM FEBRUARYcap money courses1 - 28 February
debt Centre Training17 - 20 March
16 - 19 June
cap money coach TrainingSydney 28 March
Melbourne 9 May
Perth 16 May
Brisbane 23 May
Adelaide 27 June
• Praise God for the hundreds of incredible staff and
volunteers across Australia who help to run Debt
Centres and CAP Money courses. This work is making
such a difference in so many lives.
• Praise God for the continued growth of the ministry
with more Debt Centres opening and more people be-
ing released from debt and poverty.
• Praise God for the success of the recent fundraising
dinners. These funds mean even more people can be
reached and assisted out of debt.
• Praise God also for the success of the recent Christmas
Appeal which raised over $33,000!
• Pray that people struggling with debt wouldn’t be
hindered from contacting CAP for help.
• Pray for more churches to embrace the vision of CAP
and for even more Debt Centres to open around the
country.
• Pray for continued favour with finance institutions so
that positive outcomes can be achieved for clients.
• Pray that the CAP Money Youth course would continue
to equip a generation of young people to be in control
of their finances.
115 clients made decisions for Christ in 2014
327 families becamedebt free in 2014
million of debt waived on behalf of clients in 2014
Over 500 churches have beentrained to run CAP Money courses
front page photo: Dave and Rosie, pictured with daughters Esther and Lydia, have benefited from completing the CAP Money course. Since moving to Australia from the UK they have been able to apply the CAP Money budgeting principles as they set up life in a new country and support a growing family. Dave and Rosie are both part of the CAP Australia team. [photo by Beech&Co.]
introducing job clubs
Equipping churches to help people step into employment
of people who are
unemployed live below
the poverty line.
Source ACOSS Report 2014