Meet People Where They Are

The start of January can be a difficult time for those living in debt - all the 'New Year, New You' messages can fall flat when you are worrying how to pay the next bill or heat the house in this winter weather. There is a lot of fantastic support over Christmas, with extra Foodbank sessions, community Christmas meals etc., but once the bills start coming in combined with the long wait to the January paycheck or benefits payment things can look bleak.

Matthew 8: 28 - 29 (NIV)

28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”

These men had been cast out of their community, were living in a place no-one else would want to go and the kind of people you would want to avoid - isolated with no money or support and reacting with violence to their situation. But Jesus wasn't afraid to go into that situation when they came to meet Him even when He was already out of His own usual context.

When our debt coaches and visit team go into the homes and lives of our Ely and District CAP clients, they can often be a different kind of place, outside of our usual experience. Many suffer issues of isolation, addiction, abuse, poor physical or mental health as well as debt and poverty which makes them feel outcast or on the fringes of society. The good news is that they have reached out to CAP and invited the team into their lives in the hope that they can bring some light into their difficulties.

Matthew 8: 30 - 34 (NIV)

30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Jesus listens to them from the place that they are in, speaks into their situation and involves them in the solution. This is what CAP does. It is the only debt help services that goes into someone's own home. It not only offers the practical help of the journey out of debt, but also offers the support and care of the debt coaches and visit team. And on top of this, they also bring the message of God's love into the clients home and life, speaking into their situation with love and prayer.

With the increasing numbers of clients facing low or deficit budgets, there is also a need for continuing care beyond the CAP journey. One client who has become debt free through a DRO needs support with budgeting. Before the help of CAP, their income would only last a week. Now it is lasting three weeks, but they need that extra bit of support to achieve a sustainable budget. Others need help with sorting paperwork, with cupboards full of unopened bills while someone else may need help setting up a regular payment. This is why in 2026 Ely and District CAP wants to increase the support and care available after the CAP journey.

One of the ways CAP can help is through Money Coaching and the next course will run for two weeks in February - either two Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm on 18th and 25th February or two Saturday mornings from 10am on 21st and 28th February. More details coming soon!

Prayer

Please pray for all our CAP clients, that the Ely and District CAP team can help ease the worries of January. Pray especially for those suffering with debt in our communities who do not know where to turn to for help, pray that they would hear about the help that CAP can offer and the strength to be able to reach out and ask for help.

Please pray for our debt coaches, John and Pat and for all the team that support them, that they would be strengthened to be ready to meet people in whatever situation they are in and to be ready and equipped to share the message of God's love with them.

Pray for the new Monday Coaching course and all the ways that Ely and District CAP wants to support those suffering with debt and poverty in our communities in the year ahead, pray for guidance and support as these ideas are developed.