Across South Texas from San Antonio to Corpus Christi to Houston, Faith & Finances graduates celebrate a deeper, richer understanding of personal finances with STCH Ministries Faith & Finances curriculum. The curriculum uses an interactive format to teach Biblical principles about money. The twelve-week course, divided into four sections, builds a strong foundation to create lasting values and long-term changes in students’ lives.

Participants from diverse demographics gather in public spaces such as a neighborhood YMCA in San Antonio or local churches across the Houston metroplex and other churches in the heart of Corpus Christi. The COVID-19 crisis pushed everyone to find a way to move forward while keeping each other as safe as possible. Some groups decided to pause from teaching and wait until safety measures allowed them to reconvene in person, while others continued learning through online classes taught by our STCH Ministries team.

The ministry appeals to young couples wanting to start their lives together with sound financial practices. Families with established careers and growing children discover spending plans which help them to live simply and give joyfully. Business leaders and retirees learn to prepare for emergencies and the correct steps to take leading to long-term change. The first trimester ended with eighty-six graduates. The second trimester, ongoing now, has classes across South Texas.

Jason Hall, a Location Director at Attack Poverty in Houston, attended the class at The Waters Church because he wanted inspiration to pay off debts. In the first three weeks of the class, Jason began laying a new foundation for his future. “I learned so much about how faith and finances tie together. My biggest takeaway was the fact that God owns everything. That idea made me realize I have lived all my life in a scarcity mentality, hoarding everything. Now I understand I am stewarding God’s money, I’ll never be the same.” He ended the class with a better understanding of how the handling of his money can bring honor to God.

In the second section of the study, longtime facilitators Jim and Patty Ferguson led their group to discover how to set goals and build budgets. Ignite Community Church hosted this course at the Thousand Oaks YMCA in San Antonio. Altogether, participating families paid off $30,000 in debt as they applied the skills taught. Jim reports, “Several individuals in the group developed a spending plan for the first time and realized what their credit cards were costing them. They comprehended, many for the first time, how much little things cost in the long run.” Javier’s family planned to attend the class together, but his adult children’s work schedules did not fit with the class time. Javier found the information presented so practical and applicable that he taught each lesson over again to his children.

Another Houston area group met at Grace Fellowship Church in Sealy.  Moving through the third section of the course, Darrell Jackson, Director of the Houston Faith & Work | Faith & Finances ministries taught students how to integrate sound practices into their budgets.  Due to the information presented about managing debt and taking on loans, a couple decided to accelerate their car payments. “I completed paying off my truck in one year, which saves me $750 per month. Now I own my truck outright,” the husband said. His wife added, “I paid off two credit cards!” Another family paid off their home equity loan before the study ended.

In Corpus Christi, at Calvary Baptist Church, students finished the class studying methods to protect their assets and consider their net worth as they planned for long-term change. As the course wrapped up, members shared their testimonies of growth. Waukeen Vinson summed up how God has proved His faithfulness through the years. He described the internal struggle he fought about paying a tithe as a new believer. Every time his pastor mentioned the topic he felt a stubbornness surge through his mind insisting that the money he earned was his alone. Once he made that decision, he stopped receiving calls to go into work. After three months, he felt desperate. The next time his pastor mentioned the importance of tithing in a Sunday evening sermon, Waukeen prayed, “If You’ll give me a job I’ll tithe. I’ll tithe for the rest of my life. I just need a job.” The next morning he applied for and received a job at the local refinery. The Faith & Finances study reminded him of what he learned then, “It might be my money when God gives it to me, but it is His to use and my job is to listen to Him. It is God who gives and takes away.” Waukeen kept his promise to God. He has tithed faithfully throughout his thirty-year career at the refinery and beyond as a retiree. He applied the skills taught in the class to arrange his finances so that he can continue to be able to use the resources God provided to bless others.

Faith & Finances classes are open to the public and often include participants who are multi-racial and multi-generational. Individuals from a cross-section of society, from the financially secure to those living on a limited income, young families and singles as well as older adults all find the information timely and helpful. If you, like Jason, wonder how your Christian faith has anything to do with your finances or perhaps you need help putting together a workable budget; Faith & Finances may be what you are looking for. Please visit our website to find information about a class near you.

For more information on the ministry or where you can join a class, please go to https://www.stchm.org/ff/.

Dear Friends, 
  Thank you for your continued commitment to helping make a daily impact in the lives of those we serve. The stories below and countless others show God’s grace and mercy in the lives of those who serve Him. When we place our trust in God, He can move mountains, restore brokenness and unlock chains that bind us. 

With continued gratitude, thank you for helping the Ministry Continue!

Felessia Galvan, a recent graduate of our Phase III program at Homes for Families, came to our campus after struggling with drug addiction for many years. During those years, she lost custody of her three children. She also went in and out of Restoration House in Victoria twice. Eventually, she got clean and sober and was able to succeed in that program. She was also able to regain custody of 2 of her children when she decided to transfer to Homes for Families.  

Felessia entered our program and continued to heal, grow and restore her relationships with her children and God. Eventually, she was also able to gain custody of all her children. 
When she moved into Phase III, she began working while also attending cosmetology school. Felessia continued to work on her future and her dreams and connected to a local church. Over this past year, she began to prepare herself to graduate from Phase III, which included being able to rent a house. She also met her future husband. After they dated and continued to follow God together, he proposed. They just got married this past week! 
This is a beautiful example of restoration, forgiveness and healing all through obedience, faith and trust in God. 

                                                                     

Our very own, Jeff Brewer, a pastor and also Director of Development, had the privilege to be part of 7 baptisms! These beautiful individuals made an outward profession of their faith through baptism in front of friends and family this past week.
3 Homes for Children alumni, 3 current Homes for Children kids and 1 from a nearby church, all accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Join us in praying for them as they continue to grow in their faith.

We can’t wait to see the impact they will make in their community as they live out their “new” life in Christ.

Bobby Brooks is one of our volunteer facilitators for our Faith & Work | Faith & Finances programs in Corpus Christi. He was so inspired by the last class he co-facilitated that he decided, after much hesitation and delay, to finally start a non-profit he’s had on his heart, God for Life. Bobby has been involved in the Kairos prison ministry for over 13 years. His goal for God for Life is to help reduce recidivism rates (a person’s relapse into criminal behavior). And also partner with ex-offenders post-incarceration so they may be able to share their testimonies to others of what God has done for them. We are SO PROUD of Bobby and how his involvement with our program encouraged him to pursue and achieve his dream.

Contributions by donors ensure programs like these are a resource and blessing to others. When Jesus casts a net – an overabundance is always provided!

Our Regional Director of Counseling in Houston, Charny Beck, and another Houston Counselor, Sandra Glover, had the privilege to lead training for parents of special needs children with the Ministry of Education in Antigua, an island in the West Indies in the Caribbean – via ZOOM.
Our team presented on self-care and the importance of keeping your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health in check so you can better care for your children. We are blessed to be able to provide resources and reach people by ministering to families to the outermost parts of the world, while also partnering with other ministries.

Thank you for helping us spread the love of Jesus across the seas – ensuring the Gospel is brought to the ends of the earth.

We recently had a class graduation for Fe y Trabajo (Spanish Faith & Work Class). Our student, Juanita, shared her vision board with the class, which she displays in her home to remind herself daily of the goals she has made. She also mentioned how the class helped her overcome roadblocks and obstacles. Juanita finally accepted and realized she truly is God’s masterpiece! 
We are blessed to be part of Juanita’s journey and see how God helps break the chains of false images of oneself.

We continue to be humbled by the consistent love and support of our Lord and Savior as He continues to provide for our ministry. God connects people – and we are to move into action for what breaks His heart.
Through the generosity of our steadfast supporters, we are able to reach and heal those who have broken hearts.

With continued gratitude, thank you for helping the Ministry Continue!

Kyle Luke
Vice President of Development and Communications
STCH Ministries