Crippling debt meant that Patricia - a refugee who had arrived alone from Nicaragua - had nowhere to turn. Then she met her new “Aussie” family at Red Door Church. Cont. inside

he last 12 months have been an

amazing time of growth in the min-

istry, and have propelled us into

the New Year with plenty of excite-

ment and anticipation. The year

commenced with a record 43 Debt

Centres! And with the first centre

opening in Tasmania (Devonport)

last year, CAP is now truly a national ministry reaching

families in every state around Australia.

Over 327 people became debt free last year – a phenomenal

achievement and the highest number ever! The CAP Debt

Management team also negotiated to have over $1 million

worth of debt waived on behalf of clients. For many families

struggling in desperate situations, these results make a life

changing impact. Most importantly, 115 people made the

decision to follow Christ. This is the greatest inspiration

both for me personally and for the entire CAP team!

As one client, Sonia, described it:

Our continued passion to see more people released from

crippling debt and poverty means our goals for 2015 are

BIG. Our aim is to see 15 new Debt Centres open, see more

churches running CAP Money courses, see more clients re-

leased from debt, and ultimately see more people find the

incredible freedom of life with Christ.

We also aim to introduce new programs to assist

people struggling with their finances, beginning

with Job Clubs—a program to help people who are

struggling with long-term unemployment.

This has meant setting a good foundation for growth so

that clients can still experience a caring, professional

service. In the last 6 months a number of new staff have

joined the CAP team in various roles bringing with them

new skills, energy and drive to see CAP expand.

Of course none of this could have happened

without the support of amazing Life Changers, donors and

volunteers – like you – who help make this ministry possi-

ble and enable debt counselling services to be kept free for

clients. I hope that you are inspired as you read through this

newsletter, knowing that you are part of something that is

making a real difference in so many lives.

From all the CAP team, we are humbled by your support

and prayers. Thank you.

“Looking at my life since becoming involved with CAP, there’s just no comparison. It was like living in a dark hole and finally clawing your way out to feel the sunshine on your face. It’s just worlds apart. It’s like a night and day difference.”

Ross Buttenshaw

CEO

CAP Australia

Tell us a little about yourself and Life Unlimited church

How has running a DebtCentre impacted your church?

As a pastor, what appealed to you about becoming involved with CAP?

What would you say to other church leaders thinking of becoming involved with CAP?

How is your church involved with CAP?

Life Unlimited Church in Canberra were looking for new and practical

ways to reach out to their community. Seven years on, Pastor Sean and

his team share their incredible and continuing journey of partnership

with CAP.

Life UC opened the first

CAP Debt Centre in the ACT

in 2008, and also offered the

CAP Money course to the community

as an educational alternative for people

who might not be in debt but needed

advice on how to budget.

Helping people break free

of the unrelenting pressure

of debt. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us

free.”

CAP has allowed us to reach

into the homes of people

that we would otherwise not

meet, and take Jesus into their circum-

stances. It helps us be outward looking

and have a positive impact in our

local community.

I’ve been involved with

the Australian Christian

Churches (ACC) movement

for more than 30 years. My wife, Lynda,

and I are the Senior Pastors of Life Un-

limited Church in the ACT. Life UC is

a growing multi-congregation church

that seeks to connect people to Christ

and His cause. It has a strong com-

mitment to building a Christ centred

community with a strong commitment

to both local and global missions. The

people of Life UC have an open heart

and a helping hand toward lost, hurting

and broken people in the community

where God has called us to serve.

Many people in our church

have taken part in the CAP

Money classes, and found

great benefit in learning how to better

manage their own finances. Having a

CAP Debt Centre has opened up op-

portunities to invite people along to

church events or Sunday services, and

made it possible for us to go into peo-

ple’s homes and share our faith in a

practical, non-threatening way.

from left: Pastor Sean Stanton, Danielle Bate (previous CAP Centre Manger, now community programs leader ), Anne Hazell (volunteer), amy dunski (current CAP centre manager)

What first drew you to the ministry of CAP?

Our church was offering

three other community ser-

vices at that time: Hand

Up Food Care, Re-Runs Op Shop and

Charity Computers. We were provid-

ing practical support services for peo-

ple on a low income or going through

a time of financial stress, and wanted

to try and find a way to help people get

out of financial hardship not just sup-

port them as they stayed in that situa-

tion. CAP offered a practical solution

that was also Christ focused.

Sean Stanton Senior PastorLife Unlimited Church

Tell us a little about yourself and the CAP Debt Centre you run

What story inspires you most about CAP?

How did you first hear about CAP?

What is your vision for the Debt Centre you manage?

Why did choose to become involved as a Centre Manager?

Can you share a client story that has moved you the most?I’ve been at home raising my

children for the past sever-

al years. Upon returning to

work I jumped at the opportunity to

work with CAP to help people with

their finances. The Canberra CAP Debt

Centre has been running since 2008. We

held over 300 first visits with clients,

have seen 63 clients become debt free

and have seen 14 salvations. Our team

of 10 loyal volunteers are awesome sup-

port workers who come on visits, pray

for and with clients, deliver hampers,

meet with clients and help connect

them into church. We’ve experienced

people giving their hearts to the Lord

and celebrated with people as circum-

stances turn around, getting jobs, find-

ing housing, restoring relationships,

rebuilding confidence and hope.

I initially trained as a CAP

Debt Coach and within a few

months was offered the op-

portunity to become the Centre Man-

ager. I have been passionate about fi-

nancial literacy since my teenage years,

and CAP is a natural fit for me as a link

to people in our local community.

I’ve had the privilege of

meeting one of our Debt

Centre’s very first clients

from 2008 and we were able to help

them to become debt free. They are an

elderly couple who now have a dream

to grow a garden. Recently they came

to see us for help with a ‘problem’ they

had with a service provider... due to

their diligence, they were over $800 in

credit and wanted to get some of the

money back to purchase some plants

and gardening items. Just brilliant!

To support people in our

local community who are in

debt. To continue to build a

team of people who develop relation-

ships with the clients. To see clients

coming to know Jesus as their personal

saviour. And to see more churches in

Canberra support CAP, the CAP Mon-

ey course and clients.

One of my first clients was a

single mum of two teenag-

ers, overwhelmed with more

debts than she realised and desperate

for help. It was a special moment for

me to watch her response of relief and

amazement as I walked her through her

budget and explained to her how we

can help her. She was relieved not to

be constantly hassled by the creditors

and amazed that she could be debt free

in around a year, much sooner than she

ever thought possible. She will soon be

debt free, praise God!

Amy Dunski Centre ManagerLife Unlimited Church

The previous Centre Manag-

er here in Canberra, Danielle

Bate, is a close friend and

I’ve watched in awe over the years as

she built up the centre over the years. I

still have the privilege of working with

her as she manages all of Life UC’s com-

munity services.

oving to Australia as a refugee from

Nicaragua meant leaving behind family and

friends, and making a new start in a coun-

try where she struggled to even speak the

language. Patricia arrived in Australia in

1991 and since that time has struggled

to build a life for herself. With courage

and determination, she learned English,

gained employment and bought her own

home. But unfortunately, through a series of tragic events,

her life began to unravel. Her hours of employment be-

came more and more sporadic, her relationship with her

partner was emotionally abusive and she was in danger of

losing her home. It was during this tumultuous time that Pa-

tricia heard about CAP and made the phone call asking for

help. She became connected with supportive people from

Red Door Church in Perth who ran the local CAP Debt Cen-

tre. “When Emma, my debt coach, walked through the door,

she was like an angel,” says Patricia. “I now have hope for the future where I didn’t before. I felt so lost and I didn’t know

what to do or who to turn to.” God strengthened her new-found faith as members of her Red Door church family not only

provided a car for her but also somewhere to live. “It’s still hard but I know that God is with me,” says Patricia. “I have my

faith in Him and that is what is most important to me.”

hank you to everyone who supported the

CAP fundraising dinners in Perth, Sydney

and Newcastle at the end of 2014. The dinners

were very generously supported, raising over

$200,000 allowing people to continue to access

CAP’s services for free. A special mention goes to Perth where

over 100 people attended the first ever WA CAP fundraiser.

This is a tremendous and encouraging result!

“I now have hope for the future where I didn’t before. I felt so lost and I didn’t know what to do or who to turn to.”

from left: Patricia and Emma her debt coach

sydney and newcastle

perth

In 2015, CAP plans to launch Job Clubs; an exciting new initiative tackling

one of the greatest contributors to poverty—unemployment. Churches

can offer hope and support to job seekers in their community with

practical steps towards employment. Job Clubs provide a place of trust

and security where members can meet together and support one another

through the trial of unemployment. Together, they can take steps towards

employment using CAP’s excellent resources.

For more information about Job Clubs, email admin@capaust.org.au

job clubs

FREEDOM FEBRUARYcap money courses1 - 28 February

debt Centre Training17 - 20 March

16 - 19 June

cap money coach TrainingSydney 28 March

Melbourne 9 May

Perth 16 May

Brisbane 23 May

Adelaide 27 June

• Praise God for the hundreds of incredible staff and

volunteers across Australia who help to run Debt

Centres and CAP Money courses. This work is making

such a difference in so many lives.

• Praise God for the continued growth of the ministry

with more Debt Centres opening and more people be-

ing released from debt and poverty.

• Praise God for the success of the recent fundraising

dinners. These funds mean even more people can be

reached and assisted out of debt.

• Praise God also for the success of the recent Christmas

Appeal which raised over $33,000!

• Pray that people struggling with debt wouldn’t be

hindered from contacting CAP for help.

• Pray for more churches to embrace the vision of CAP

and for even more Debt Centres to open around the

country.

• Pray for continued favour with finance institutions so

that positive outcomes can be achieved for clients.

• Pray that the CAP Money Youth course would continue

to equip a generation of young people to be in control

of their finances.

115 clients made decisions for Christ in 2014

327 families becamedebt free in 2014

million of debt waived on behalf of clients in 2014

Over 500 churches have beentrained to run CAP Money courses

front page photo: Dave and Rosie, pictured with daughters Esther and Lydia, have benefited from completing the CAP Money course. Since moving to Australia from the UK they have been able to apply the CAP Money budgeting principles as they set up life in a new country and support a growing family. Dave and Rosie are both part of the CAP Australia team. [photo by Beech&Co.]

introducing job clubs

Equipping churches to help people step into employment

of people who are

unemployed live below

the poverty line.

Source ACOSS Report 2014