What does the money ministry do?
The aim of this ministry is to help people stay in control of money and avoid money worries. The way in which we do this is by helping you to prepare a budget (i.e. a detailed analysis of your income and outgoings). This enables you to see what your current position is. Depending on whether you have an existing debt problem, we may then discuss possible ways of increasing your income or reducing your outgoings, or may refer you to a specialist debt counselling service for further advice. If we refer you to another service, we will offer further support to you during this process.
Who is it for?
Anyone who would like to have greater control over their personal finances – this includes people who are new to budgeting, those who would like to give more but don’t know if they can afford it and those who are just confused about where their finances are up to or think they may be in unmanageable debt. You do not have to be a member of this church for us to help you. You also do not have to be in debt - budgeting is a life skill that applies to everyone!
What happens if I contact you?
Your initial contact will be with Leonie McNeill who will call or e-mail you back, explain briefly what we are able to do and will then help you make an appointment with one of our budget coaches (if you wish). We have a number of personal budget coaches so you can request someone of a gender/age you feel comfortable with, and if you would prefer to meet a personal budget coach from another church we can help with that too. It generally takes two meetings to explain about the budgeting process and prepare a full budget. Once we have done this, we can discuss what additional support you may want. All information you tell us remains confidential. We can also provide resources to help you create a budget on your own.
How do I contact you?
You can call or text us on 07910 841 391 or e-mail us.
What other resources are available?
Free specialist debt counselling services are available from the organizations listed below. If you are still not sure who to contact, get in touch with us and we can guide you to the right place.
Christians Against Poverty
Living Waters Church, 49-53 Tenison Road, Cambridge CB1 2DG
Tel: 0800 328 0006 Tues/Wed/Fri
Cambridge Money Advice Centre
Barnwell Baptist Church, Howard Road, Cambridge, CB5 8QS
01223 727455
CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service)
Freephone Helpline: 0800 027 4995 Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm
Cambridge & District Citizens Advice Bureau
Drop-in 9.30 am to 1.00 pm
72/74 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8DZ
Advice line: 0844 848 7979
Useful websites:
www.moneybasics.co.uk
www.creditaction.org.uk
Helpful money manuals, and mobile phone budget calculator
www.moneysavingexpert.com
How to save money on everything!
www.stewardship.org.uk/money/budget_resources.htm
Budget templates
Recommended Reading:
Your Money and Your Life (Keith Tondeur)
The Money Revolution (John Preston)
Credit Action Money Manuals (Thinking About Money, Students, Single Parents, Redundancy, Dealing with Debt)
Pocket Money - A Resource for Parents (Family Matters Institute and Credit Action)
Why do we have this ministry? What’s it got to do with church?
Financial concerns can impact all areas of life. We want to see all people freed from money worries and have the opportunity to be educated in how to manage their personal finances before debt becomes a problem. This frees people up to have the time and energy to spend on other important aspects of life such as time with God and family. The bible has a lot to say about money and how we use it in our lives so it is important to learn to have the right attitude towards it.
What can you do for our group?
We have resources available for groups. We have a three part study suitable for use in homegroups or clusters on biblical principles of stewardship, budgeting and setting financial goals. We also have training presentations on being moneywise and budgeting and are happy to talk to your group about any aspect of this topic.
Can I get involved in helping in the money ministry?
Of course! If you contact us by phone or e-mail expressing your interest, we will let you know how you can get involved.
