Nearly 70 percent of all consumers live from paycheck to paycheck, according to the Wall Street Journal, motivating Bozeman area churches to offer financial seminars to community members called Financial Peace University. Dave Ramsey, founder of Financial Peace University, is teaching people to dump debt, get control of their money and learn new behaviors, which are founded on commitment and accountability.
The Bozeman Church has sponsored two of Ramsey's seminars with plans for a third session. These seminars have resulted in the elimination of $88,500 in debt. Jim Jenkins, Bozeman Church pastor, says, "This has been a great community outreach for our church."
Meanwhile, the Mount Ellis Church is currently conducting a series of 13 meetings under the direction of Jeremy Wiedemann. He is excited about sharing principles of stewardship and a debt-free lifestyle and says, "Let's be known as the church who helps people get out of debt!"
With 60 people having participated and 131 credit cards cut up so far, the Bozeman area churches are well on their way to making a positive financial difference in their community.
Area coordinators, from left: Jeremy Wiedemann, Sylvia Cifuentes, Christina and Scott Riffle cut up credit cards at a Financial Peace University meeting. (Deanna Harris)
