GREENFIELD — Love INC of Greater Hancock County will kick off a new faith-based financial series next month called Faith & Finances.
The program is free and open to the public. It includes a free meal and childcare for six consecutive Thursday nights, starting Feb. 9.
During each session, participants will learn how to make a spending-savings plan, pay off debt, and plan for emergencies, all while sharing a meal and building relationships.
“We’re really excited to get this program started,” said Love INC’s executive director, Debra Weber.
“We have so many people call us who really need help with rent and utility costs, and we’re finding that if they learn to approach their spending differently, they can make headway towards making ends meet,” she said.
The Faith & Finances program was created by The Chalmers Center, a Georgia-based nonprofit which supports churches in alleviating poverty.
Love INC’s transformational ministry coordinator, Cristy Warren, who will lead the local classes, has been impressed with the program’s fun and simplistic approach.
“It’s learning like I’ve never seen before. It’s actually a lot of fun,” she said.
The bible-based lessons “get right to the root causes of some of our bad financial decisions, and we’ve all been there,” Warren said
While she thinks some financial education programs can be overwhelming and “kind of stuffy … this program takes a more engaging, laid-back approach. It definitely has a more relaxed learning style,” she said.
Each week’s lesson is centered around sharing a meal, which Warren said fosters relationships within the group.
The group learns financial wisdom through interactive role playing, and sometimes incorporating games and crafts.
“The program uses role playing to take people through banking situations like opening a bank account, and teaches the complexities of things like FIDC insurance and compound interest through a two-minute skit. It makes learning fun, and it makes it easier for people to retain the information because they’re actually going through the motions” she said.
The program not only teaches about day-to-day finances but covers topics like retirement, savings and emergency funds.
“I think it’s going to make people see finances in a whole new way, and realize that you don’t have to be a money expert to successfully manage your finances. Anyone can do it. It’s just a matter of putting a plan into practice,” said Warren, who hopes to offer the Faith & Finances class several times a year.
To register for the course starting Feb. 9, call the Love INC office at 317.468.6300.
