Start a Finance Class

Her Situation: 

Unborn children whose mothers are living in poverty are at heightened risk of abortion. Their mother may already feel like a burden relying on others for help, or she may be scraping by, barely making ends meet. She may even believe that abortion would spare her baby from a lifetime of hardship. 

Over the last four decades, the profile of who resorts to abortion has shifted from teens to single moms in their 20s. Just under half (49%) of women who have abortions live at or below the federal poverty line — $26,650 for a mom with two children. Another 25% live below 200% of poverty.  

Medical debt, predatory lending, poor credit, low financial literacy, broken relationships and many other factors often keep people trapped in poverty. Without outside support, it can be nearly impossible to escape the cycle. Many financial education programs exist but are often geared for middle- to upper-income earners.  If a mom is struggling to meet her family’s basic needs, she likely isn’t thinking about investments or retirement. If she’s facing an unexpected pregnancy, she may be concerned about how she is going care for another child when she’s already struggling to put food on the table to feed the children she already has. 

Sixty percent of women who have had abortions wouldn’t have if they’d had more financial or emotional support. Empowering her with financial assistance and money management support is critical to help her choose life and provide for her family. 

Her Community: 

The Chalmers Center is a nonprofit dedicated to helping churches and ministries respond to poverty with practical biblical principles. Through online courses, ministry training, and global outreach, Chalmers educates churches on how to address poverty at the root instead of only focusing on the immediate symptoms that often leave people trapped in poverty and dependent on others.  

Chalmers developed Faith & Finances, a financial education ministry that empower people in material poverty with practical money management skills, biblical stewardship principles, and supportive relationships. Over the past 13 years, the program has been used by hundreds of churches and nonprofits who have adapted it to their life skills or discipleship programs to help financially vulnerable adults.  

By training church leaders to deliver this program, Chalmers empowers local congregations to impact the lives of those directly in their community by giving them the tools and support they need to rise out of poverty. The Faith & Finances class includes 12 weekly lessons that build on each other over time. Rather than deliver financial concepts in a one-time workshop format, the small group setting for a church of nonprofit offers group support, accountability and interaction while learners practice using new skills.  

The hands-on lessons engage low-income learners with relevant topics, such as budgeting, credit scores and saving money. In addition to basic money management skills, Faith & Finances offers a safe place to develop relationships with support people across the socioeconomic spectrum, allowing for further strengthening of Her Community.  

By hosting a financial literacy class at your church or nonprofit, you can help stand in the gap for vulnerable moms, equipping them with the financial management skills they need to thrive. The Chalmers training provides the expertise so you can host this class with confidence and help those in most need in your community.