Guess I’m glad there’s guys like Scott & Caleb in the world — so I don’t have to touch them!

I’m glad you had fun!

I speak from experience not out of insincerity. My situation, without going into details, is about the same or a little worse than Billy’s (not sure if he is hypothetical or real).

First, why does Billy’s wife have to work two jobs? Billy needs to watch the kids while she’s working her job (which should bring them health insurance benefits).

Billy is already nearly $6,000 positive not including his wife’s take home pay. That 6,000 should be plenty for attending a conference or two, buying books throughout the year, and maybe even taking a course (he’s done w/Seminary so why’s he taking classes?) (ps avg course cost is about $300/credit hour or $12-1500/course).

Billy’s making out like a bandit really. His wife’s job is bringing great benefits and all her take home money should be savings, or investment. After taxes and insurance for the family she’s probably bringing home at least $150/wk or $600/month. That’s another $7,000/yr. (His consumer debt is paid off in no time at that rate and $200/mo put back in his pocket)

Also, in a 50 member church, it’s not unreasonable to think that Billy could Deliver Newspapers in the AM or get a job on the side. I don’t like this option myself but for a time it would be reasonable. I make $900/mo doing this. That would add another $10,800/yr to help him knock off School Debt and that Ugly Mortgage. At that rate he should accomplish that goal quickly and then quit the second job.

I sound a bit unsympathetic, but I’m actually in Billy’s shoes. I pastor a 20-30 person congregation. The salary is what they can afford. I deliver 250 newspapers every morning and my wife works at the local hospital part-time and with that comes benefits.

Financially, we break even. Our debt is way worse than Billy’s (a combined $1200/mo when consumer, student loan, and vehicle are considered). At the end of the day we don’t have money for “ministry tools” or “furthering education” (That’s what library’s are for).

The reality! In my case and in Billy’s case if he were to pay off his debt, he’d be just fine. That debt is not the church’s responsibility, it’s Billy’s.

Also, Billy needs to realize that most people in his congregation and in his community are in the exact situation or worse off than he is. He needs to recognize that, humble himself, and start a financial planning course where he himself is the prime example of how to get debt paid off and how to manage money. He needs to walk through this alongside his flock.

This will allow him to free himself from debt, and connect w/his congregation. It will also make his need known, and may spark the interest or generosity of those who are better off.

Get angry with me if you want… but the answer to this is toughen up. If Billy goes to the secular world he’s not going to be any better off. Mcdonald’s isn’t paying 40,000/yr these days and in this economy no one’s hiring anyway. Count your blessings, name them one by little one .