As Te Awhina’s debt repayments became unmanageable, she faced the worry of not having enough petrol to get to work.
“Food was a thing, but I would get food grants.”
Te Awhina had taken out loans when she was young – before she understood how interest works. Creditors started calling multiple times a day and she began to feel ‘hostage’ to her debt.
“In winter, I’d ask my parents for help with my power… my rent, my missed car payments. It impacted my mental health hugely.”
While Te Awhina was initially scared to call for help, the kindness of the CAP first responder took her by surprise. She said “I cried straight away. I remember thinking, ‘Why are they praying for me?’ That was the point of difference… I felt like God was reaching out to me in that moment through those people.’
Right now, there’s a wave of New Zealanders calling CAP, drowning in debt.
Your donation of $10.50 a week is what it takes to release each person in a household from poverty. Start your gift today to give free practical help and spiritual hope to the next person like Te Awhina…
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Another way to give: via bank transfer
💸CAP empowered Sarah to repay the debt using her own income. It’s clients like Te Awhina who do the hard work — CAP never pays a dollar of their debt.
Releasing New Zealanders from poverty, in partnership
with you and Rhema Media.
people released... since 1st May 2024!
“My CAP Debt Coach was lovely: ‘Tell me everything, we’ll carry that burden for you. One foot in front of the other, Te Awhina, and we’ll carry the rest. Freedom instantly!”
Your regular donations to CAP enable people, like Te Awhina, to start:
- strengthening their financial position, and
- strengthening people’s relationships with money, self, others and God.
CAP’s approach is proven to work — here’s how:
- A CAP first responder takes a person’s call
- A Debt Coach from a local church visits their home
- Empty cupboards are filled with food, if needed
- CAP advocates with money lenders to get unfair interest and fees wiped
- CAP creates a customised whānau budget— prioritising rent, food
- Savings are built into CAP budgets, so people learn a savings habit to reach their goals!
“On this journey I’ve found my relationship with God, and it’s a personal relationship for me…
I settled down in myself and started to build more meaningful relationships because I could handle my own financial responsibility – I didn’t feel like I was a burden.”
And as money chaos ends, people like Te Awhina discover new headspace to strengthen relationships…
- Whānau relationships strengthen
- New friendships are formed as people connect to a local church
- People discover they’re made in God’s image; they take steps closer to Jesus.
Social impact - independently assessed by Impact Lab
Improved mental health
Improved spiritual wellbeing
Improved partner relationships
Improved physical health & food choices
Reduced need for emergency benefits
Your giving creates a ripple effect. As Te Awhina started to feel like she was on solid ground, she was able to leave the job she was unhappy in and take up an opportunity to teach Te Reo Māori and Kapa Haka in schools – a role she credits with helping her find a sense of who she is, both as a person and as a Māori.
“The way I carry myself every day is a representation of God & what I believe in. I believe He’s working through me, to help others.”
“Thank you isn’t enough. I would love for CAP supporters to know that they set me free from my cycle. It allows me to dream. It’s unreal.”
“Thank you isn’t enough. I would love for CAP supporters to know that they set me free from my cycle. It allows me to dream. It’s unreal.”
New Zealanders have gone from hardship to living debt free!
million dollars in unmanageable debt and bills repaid or written off
%
people using CAP Debt Help say it's 'life-transforming' or 'a great help'
A ‘with Jesus’ approach that cares for the whole person
People are complex, relational beings made up of mind, body and spirit. So, CAP Debt Help works by wrapping around the whole person.
CAP partners with 46 churches up and down Aotearoa. That means you’ll be addressing physical/material hardship, relational needs, and supporting people to take steps closer to Jesus – all at the same time.
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