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Kingdom Builder,
" But remember, the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today." Deuteronomy 8:18 Our country is experiencing the most difficult and challenging time financially. Individuals are unemployed. People's homes are in foreclosure. The price of gas is expected to increase to nearly $5 per gallon. The "haves" are now the "have nots." We are living in an economical nightmare. However, we believe that this is another opportunity for believers to trust God and experience the truth of God's word. We believer, however, those who will sustain and survive this season in our country are those who are sound and serious stewards and practice financial discipline. Each first Wednesday of the month, our midweek worship will focus on finances.
God has given our Senior Pastor a vision to teach and preach on sound financial decisions and discipline during the year 2011. His heart is to ensure that the members of our congregation do not experience financial hardship as the result of poor financial decisions and discipline.
In response to this vision, we have established The Chayil Club. The word 'chayil'(pronounced Hah-yil) is the Hebrew word for wealth. In the Bible the word 'wealth' does not mean financial prosperity. It conveys a stronger and much broader definition. While it does suggest "riches;" it also means virtue, substance, valor, and a band of men. Jesus himself expresses what it means to be wealthy with the question: "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26). The purpose of The Chayil Club is not only to instill financial principles; but also a godly standard of living. It is our prayer that our members will experience relief and find reservoirs during this recession by practicing sound financial discipline and the principles of God's word.
Sincerely,
The Stewardship Committee
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Your Debt-to-Income Ratio is a crucial personal financial health indicator. Find out how to calculate it and
what it means to you.
Debt-to-income ratio is the percentage of your income you use to pay your debts. Most banks and
financial professionals agree that you should keep your debt-to-income ratio at less than 36 percent of
your gross income.
Take a few minutes to determine your own debt-to-income ratio. You may need several of your recent pay
stubs to determine your average monthly gross income. Remember, your gross income is your salary
before any deductions or taxes are taken out. If you are paid every other week, your monthly gross
income is your gross income from one paycheck times 2. You will also need several of your recent credit
card statements to see what you've been paying on average each month. Finally, you will need to know
what you pay for all of your other long-term recurring debt, like your mortgage payment, car payment, and
other loan payments, such as school loans, home equity loans, and personal loans. You should not add in
your household expenses, like utilities or grocery bills.
(Ex. 3,215)
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