Training Hopes to Bring Fresh Hope to Believers Who Are Struggling Financially
by Ed Thomas
January 25, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A pastor in Hayward, California, says his church has been called to teach Christians how to produce economic stability in their homes and their neighborhoods. He says the church's new ministry and business academy will teach a kingdom model for handling finances and creating economic opportunity. Dr. Willie Anderson says the "Churchpreneur" program at New Bethel Community Church will provide otherwise spiritually devoted Christians with the knowledge they need to change their money-handling habits. The pastor notes that "scripture teaches that we are perishing for a lack of knowledge" -- then asserts that churches are "in dire need of financial development and training for many [in the church] who are ... coming out of challenging circumstances." (See related press release for details and contact information)
According to Anderson, that will be done by placing class members through a five-week orientation in areas of personal finance, then offering them a spot in the Promised Land Business Academy, which teaches attendees how to launch and operate a business.
The Churchpreneur program goal is to put 500 new Christian business operators into New Bethel's surrounding community -- and then to expand from there. Pastor Anderson says it is open as a model as well as for enrollment to interested Christians nationwide. He explains the program's three primary objectives.
"One, to instruct believers on the power that God has given them to transform their finances and economic futures," he says. "Number two, to equip believers with the knowledge and resources to become kingdom entrepreneurs. And number three, to provide mentorship and coaching and modeling, in terms of attitudes and actions, in the areas of finance and business."
But the overall objective, he says, is to change the mindset of Christians in economically troubled or poverty situations so that the cycle of poverty and suffering can be broken. New Bethel Community Church began the "Churchpreneur" program training this month.
Ed Thomas, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
