Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is hoping to extend its international reach into the lives of Canadians by providing help to people facing debt, a growing population around the country.Will McLaughlin, development manager for CAP Canada, sees the role of the organization as being twofold.
"The two core things for us have been a heart [for] the poor, for those who are struggling most in the community, and also a heart for the lost, and wanting people to meet Jesus."
"The two core things for us have been a heart [for] the poor, for those who are struggling most in the community, and also a heart for the lost, and wanting people to meet Jesus."
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Those two aspects have guided CAP to provide help to Christians worldwide, through partnering with local churches to provide effective counseling for those going through struggles with debt. CAP provides support through members of the local church to those facing debt problems, which McLaughlin says can be a very vulnerable time in the lives of the clients and requires additional, deeper support that financial advisers can't provide.
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Those two aspects have guided CAP to provide help to Christians worldwide, through partnering with local churches to provide effective counseling for those going through struggles with debt. CAP provides support through members of the local church to those facing debt problems, which McLaughlin says can be a very vulnerable time in the lives of the clients and requires additional, deeper support that financial advisers can't provide.
"We try and lift [the] burden that's just weighing somebody down, and just remove that from them so that they can focus on getting their life back on track," he says.
God's call was the main reason for CAP's decision to come to Canada after more than a decade of service in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The decision was also based on economic factors for many Canadians and the need for assistance.
"On a practical level…for Canadians, debt is a big issue," McLaughlin says. "On average, Canadians spend $3,700 a year on impulse buys."
CAP Canada plans to open its first centre in Hamilton, Ontario in March 2013, with a vision to have 350 centers nationwide in the next 10 years.
"If you're struggling, there's a lot of places that might look as if they offer hope, but the reality is, it's not long term."
Debt isn't strictly a financial issue, he says. It can also have an effect on a person's emotional and even medical well-being, another one of the reasons that CAP has sought to help people facing financial stress.
"We want to see those who are struggling the most [get] support," says McLaughlin, "and we want to see those who are struggling the most meet Jesus."
"We try and lift [the] burden that's just weighing somebody down, and just remove that from them so that they can focus on getting their life back on track," he says.
God's call was the main reason for CAP's decision to come to Canada after more than a decade of service in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The decision was also based on economic factors for many Canadians and the need for assistance.
"On a practical level…for Canadians, debt is a big issue," McLaughlin says. "On average, Canadians spend $3,700 a year on impulse buys."
CAP Canada plans to open its first centre in Hamilton, Ontario in March 2013, with a vision to have 350 centers nationwide in the next 10 years.
"If you're struggling, there's a lot of places that might look as if they offer hope, but the reality is, it's not long term."
Debt isn't strictly a financial issue, he says. It can also have an effect on a person's emotional and even medical well-being, another one of the reasons that CAP has sought to help people facing financial stress.
"We want to see those who are struggling the most [get] support," says McLaughlin, "and we want to see those who are struggling the most meet Jesus."
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