CAP Money was launched at Holy Trinity Brompton in central London on Tuesday. The course has been developed by the charity as an answer to the new challenges – and opportunities - that debt and credit-driven poverty are bringing to the church.
“We as Christians, who believe in a miracle-working God, can play a part in the miracle that needs to happen in this nation to bring us back to a right thinking about money and a right thinking about how we handle our finances,” continued Barlow.
The CAP Money course, written by founder and CAP International Director John Kirkby, enables individuals to regain control over their finances using a simple cash-based money management system.
CAP will train local churches in CAP Money so that they are equipped with a professional money management service with which they can reach out to those in their parishes struggling to keep finances in order.
Pastor Simon Benham of Bracknell Family Church has seen huge changes in his church since starting CAP budgeting courses 18 months ago.
Not only has his church helped 75 families and single people out of debt. Seventeen people also committed to Christ as a result of the massive change for the better that the CAP course brought to their lives, and the newcomers have dramatically altered the church’s previously middle class demography.
“It is so exciting to get up and think that there are 75 families in our community whose situation is different today because of what we are involved in as a church,” he shared. “CAP is changing us as a church and our engagement with people who are struggling in debt.”
He continued, “So often the churches have been polarised, and engaged either with social issues or with preaching the gospel.
“We are coming to an understanding of the wisdom of bringing those two together and saying ‘here is a felt need we can help you with but also here is the message of Jesus Christ’.”
