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Equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God's financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Today on MoneyLife
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Kandy Hildebrandt: Extreme Debt, Extreme Hope (Part 2)
Kandy began sharing their story yesterday. The reason why we wanted to have her on the program is not because they’ve been able to pay off a lot of debt and have received a national attention for it. Rather, the reason is that God is part of their story. They give Him credit for what’s happened. It turns out that when they received their award from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling in Washington, D.C., they were told at the banquet said they needed to tell their story on MoneyLife. So glad we’ve been able to work that out. The way Kandy and Russell have handled this by honoring the Lord, honoring each other, and involving their children is the essence of what we want you to learn. Getting out of debt is important but it’s not the ultimate goal for a Christian. Today Kandy is going to tell you how they got out of debt and why and how it brought her family closer together. Their focus is on the Lord and His faithfulness. As you listen you will learn how to do the same with the right heart and attitude.
God became very real to their children, one of the greatest blessings of the experience. God showed Himself to be powerful in their weakness. The family grew to love the journey despite the hardship. Their time together at the dinner table was precious despite not having a lot to eat. Russell went without sleep sometimes so he could be part of it. He would share God’s word and talk about what God was doing in their family. They had a great time of fellowship and laughter. What happened around the table was more important than what was on the table. Kandy says her marriage was strengthened through this journey. It forced better husband-wife communication. She has the utmost respect and love for husband because of the sacrifices he’s made. She saw God sustain him. They learned to serve one another. Kandy's daughters are home schooled and not caught up in world trends. They helped by not asking for much and being content. The girls started a family newsletter and asked people to subscribe to it to raise spending money for themselves. They wrote profiles on their grandparents and great grandparents. The family grew stronger in adversity. The Hildebrandt family demonstrated living in God’s economy by being faithful tithers through their journey despite having no financial margin. They were convicted to give on the gross instead of the net and they did so in faith that God would provide. They also started giving to their church’s missions program. Kandy gave birth to a son which increased expenses. God blessed their obedience. The Hildebrandts are the National Foundation for Credit Counseling 2009 Clients of the Year. It was exciting, but they wanted God to get the glory. So they went to Washington, D.C. and told their story and received a lot of publicity. Their biggest blessing has been to be able to testify about the Lord. They had no idea God would use them this way. They've gotten phone calls and letters from people who have been encouraged by their story. That’s why they’ve kept speaking about it. To get out of financial bondage:
When you sign up for a debt management plan, it does affect your credit rating initially, but the rating will go back up as you complete the program. The Hildebrandts were able later to buy a home. Now that they have financial margin, they are trying to catch up on vehicle maintenance, get needed eye and dental work, and build up savings. They learned to live frugally and that has become a permanent lifestyle change. They have seen God work and answer prayers. Now Kandy and Russell want to help start a local church. They k Know God will take care of them. Kandy and Russell's story brought me to tears. I've grown to love and appreciate Kandy and Russell and admire the sacrifices they made. Crown exists to help people like Kandy and Russell. Our mission isn’t to get people on a budget and out of debt. The goal isn’t to be just debt-free but to be free to fulfill God’s purposes, to be on a journey with the Lord. Kandy and Russell grew closer as they went through this. They believed God and waited on Him. They d Denied themselves and told their children of God’s goodness. Doesn’t matter if you’re successful financially if you miss the mark spiritually. Kandy and Russell grew closer to the Lord and their family was blessed by it. Crown has a pure desire for people to turn to the Lord. It’s not about us. We have tools and resources to help free people from man’s economy. You can do what Kandy and Russell have done. Here are some helpful links:
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Dos and Don'ts of Credit CardsThe primary cause of financial problems for most families is the misuse and abuse of credit cards. |
Credit Card Interest and FeesBy the Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act of 1988 credit card issuers are required to provide applicants with detailed information. |
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Using a Credit CardThere is nothing wrong with using credit cards if people are able to discipline their use by following some very simple guidelines. |
Rollover Method for Paying Off Credit CardsThere is a light at the end of the debt tunnel. By applying some simple principles, you can begin to pay off credit cards and become debt free. |
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Other Resources: |
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Our guest again today is Kandy Hildebrandt.
She and her husband, Russell, were 
Part of doing that meant they had to without a lot of things for three years. They stayed motivated to do that by seeing God work and provide for their needs.
