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Christians Urged to Use Tax Rebate to Reduce Personal Debt
By Allie Martin
June 28, 2001
(AgapePress) - While taxpayers are looking forward to receiving tax rebate checks from President Bush's $1.3 trillion tax cut plan, the co-founder of the world's largest faith-based financial organization is encouraging taxpayers to enjoy their part of the tax cut responsibly.
During the past two decades, the United States has seen an economic boom. But at the same time, consumers have racked up more than $1.5 trillion in consumer debt. Howard Dayton is co-founder of Crown Financial Ministries. He encourages taxpayers to use their upcoming rebate checks -- up to $300 for single people and up to $600 for couples -- to first reduce excessive consumer debt.
"I think that what we should do is handle it as wisely as possible -- give a portion of it to the work of Christ. Secondly, if you've got consumer debt, use the lion's part of the remaining portion to eradicate that debt," Dayton says. "Much debt today is at 18%, and they're not going to get a better return on their money than doing that."
Dayton says massive consumer debt means Christians have less to contribute to God's Kingdom. "[J]ust in the last year, giving among Christians declined 16% -- and almost 30% in the last two years," he says. "This [trend] is going to have a huge impact on the ability for the Church to carry out its mission here in the United States and worldwide."
Crown Financial Ministries, based in Gainesville, Georgia, teaches, advises, and equips people to apply faith values in managing their money. The organization recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Copyright © 2001 Agape Press
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