Many churches are happy to offer a helping hand to people living in poverty or debt. However, requests for help do not always come naturally. Tom Kolsters of SchuldHulpMaatje Nederland gives some tips and tools to get started.
Unfortunately, the figures show a clear picture: one in five households is struggling with money worries. And that number is only increasing due to the effects of the energy crisis and inflation. Yet as a church, you sometimes wonder where those requests for help are left. What can you do about this as a church? Tom Kolsters is responsible at SchuldHulpMaatje Nederland for the prevention programme 'Will you be able to cope?' "We started this programme to help churches make money worries a topic of discussion earlier, so that people dare to ask for help sooner. That conversation is badly needed, because on average people wait up to five years to seek help. The accumulated debt of the first year will have increased tenfold by then. But how do we make it discussable?"
Will you make it?
The church is in a unique position to be able to discuss money worries. This is because the church is involved in many life events. The most well-known life events are death and illness. But also consider the birth of a child, retirement, job loss or divorce. At these crossroads in your life, you may find yourself at a loss for words. Money worries are then more likely to arise. If we teach ourselves to be extra alert at moments like these and look out for others, we can prevent a lot of misery. Asking whether someone can manage financially after a major life event is an important step to take. In that case, looking out for each other means daring to ask questions. And that starts with these four words: Will you manage?
Tips for an open conversation about money
On the website redjehetwel.co.uk SchuldHulpMaatje has listed some tips and tools. "I apply it myself in daily practice, because I have to cross a threshold every time to lovingly question the other person. For me personally, it works to normalise. It helps if you indicate that they are really not an exception. That way, you lower the threshold. Say, for example, "After a divorce, often things change financially for both parties as well. How is that with you?" With the energy crisis, you actually saw this happen very well. It was normal to ask how much someone is paying in energy costs now."
Playful
"Furthermore, in recent years we have found that you can also start the conversation through play. We have therefore developed the Taboo Breakers game. The Taboo Breakers game contains 40 questions for a good conversation about money & debt, help & loneliness, work & perspective."
About SchuldHulpMaatje Nederland
Together it works, that's what SchuldHulpMaatje believes in. Especially if you are in debt, you need someone who believes in you and helps you. Without judging, but simply working with you to get back on track financially. With three thousand volunteers in more than 150 municipalities, SchuldHulpMaatje helps ten thousand people with money worries every year.
