An ‘Inspiring’ Evening Promoting Local Debt Counselling Charity

A congregation of more than 50 gathered at St Kea Church last Thursday to be inspired by the stirring stories of people in Cornwall whose lives have been turned around through finding professional and practical help from a Christian debt counselling charity.
The event entitled simply ‘Inspire’ was organised on 30th July by local centre managers working with the international charity Christians Against Poverty to help local people to manage debt and to bring stability and hope to families crippled by its effects. CAP runs from 4 church-based centres in West Cornwall, and since starting up over a year ago have already helped scores of families regain financial balance.
The evening was hosted by CAP UK Chief Executive Matt Barlow who interrupted a camping trip with his family in Cornwall to attend. “We are not here to sit in judgement on people,” he said, “but to bring through local churches professional help to those who find themselves with unmanageable debts. We can take a light into people’s darkness”.
Two couples and two individuals spoke from personal experience how they have been helped by the charity. One lady explained how through personal circumstances she could not control she found herself buried in debt and became so depressed she was unable to work. “I was without any gas for a year” she explained. “I had numerous repossession orders and bailiffs at the house and six black bin liners full of letters and bills – I was desperate”. Through CAP she is now managing her debts. “I am finally rebuilding my life. It has been an amazing journey and I have a fabulous hope. Now I can go to work and not fret about the bills.”
One man emotionally explained the failure he felt as a father and husband when their loan repayments couldn’t be met and how he and his wife went unfed so his children could eat. “We felt we were in a hole over our heads and there was nothing to dig ourselves out with. CAP came in with a shovel and the weight just went!”
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Mr Barlow concluded the evening by encouraging those present to get actively involved with the work of CAP through their churches by offering whatever help and friendship they could to those in need and to be encouraged by the amazing personal transformations already witnessed. “It is still early days in Cornwall”, he said. “CAP offers a public service but it will take time to build up trust and confidence. We have made a great start”.
Christians Against Poverty can be contacted by phoning CAP centre manager Cally Dowsett on 01872 276415 or by their website at www.capuk.org