GRIFFIN Capital Funding JOINS DFREE FINANCIAL FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Griffin Capital Funding, one of the nation’s leading providers of church loan services, has teamed up with the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement to help ensure churches reach and/or maintain financial security. Annually, Griffin Capital Funding averages $100,000,000 of closed church loans yet many churches struggle to access capital.

“Griffin Capital Funding provides a much needed service yet many churches, particularly black churches, know little about how to access necessary funding,” said DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., dfree® Creator and founder of the dfree® Global Foundation, Inc. “That’s why Griffin is partnering with dfree® and attending the annual conference in November to share with pastors great tools for ensuring the financial stability of the church as a whole.”

John Berardino, Griffin’s president, said his company provides loans that help churches move forward and reach major organizational goals, from small renovations to full-on expansions. As part of the dfree® partnership, Soaries has been appointed to the Griffin board.

“We need to know more about the inner workings of the churches we serve,” Berardino said. “In turn, there’s a lot of important information church leaders need regarding finances. We’re appreciative of this opportunity to become a key partner in the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement and we’re looking forward to the annual conference.”

“Say Yes to the Next Level,” Nov. 10-12, 2016, is intended to motivate existing dfree® participants to accomplish their goals and to attract new audiences. The conference will encourage participants to reevaluate personal values, habits, attitudes and relationships in order to prepare themselves to move toward financial wholeness. The $40 registration fee for the conference includes lunches and can be submitted online via: http://bit.ly/2cLAyxb.

The conference also features a power-packed lineup of speakers and performers, including:

● Erica Campbell, the Grammy Award-winning recording artist & singer who formed gospel duo “Mary Mary”

● Michelle Duffie, the CEO of D3 Entertainment who promoted blockbusters such as “War Room” and “Risen”

● Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, the journalist who is known as The Money Coach

● Navarrow Wright, president of Maximum Leverage Solutions

● Kevin Johnson, Sacramento mayor and former NBA player

● DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor, author and creator of the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement

● Dharius Daniels, senior pastor, Kingdom Church of New Jersey

● Billy H. Stanfield, Jr., senior pastor, Impact Church in Georgia

● Jay Cameron, senior pastor, The Life Center in Maryland

● Avis Yates Rivers, president and CEO, Technology Concepts Group International

● Olivia Stoner, Esq., Stoner Law Offices, Philadelphia

● Kemberley Washington, CPA, author, educator and personal finance news contributor

“When you are paying last month’s bills with next week’s check, when you’re drowning in consumer debt, you’ve lost options and lost control of your life. You’re existence promotes the welfare of others,” Soaries said. “We have to have this conversation. The reality is that we’re spending without thinking. Most Americans, in general, and African Americans, in particular, live without a budget. We don’t have spending plans or savings. We have no emergency fund. We don’t have a retirement plan or investments. In a capitalistic society, to have no capital capacity is to be non-existent.”

The dfree® Financial Freedom Movement is a practical yet holistic approach to financial security that exposes root causes of negative financial habits and provides financial literacy, faith-based methods and community support to help individuals achieve and maintain financial success.

The informative, uplifting and celebratory financial freedom conference is being held at FBCLG, 771 Somerset Street, Somerset, New Jersey 08873. The conference includes concerts, networking, youth activities and dfree® training and support. Sessions are available for beginners through seasoned dfree® participants.

The title sponsor for the conference is Prudential Financial, with Wells Fargo, Lyft, Stand Together, Griffin Capital Funding and others also participating as sponsors. Those seeking sponsorship opportunities should contact Khristi Adams, kadams@mydfree.org.

About dfree®:

Founded in 2005, dfree® is a financial freedom movement that addresses the cultural, psychological and spiritual influences on financial wellness and offers practical strategies for achieving financial success. dfree® was featured by CNN in a 90­minute documentary, “Almighty Debt,” an installment of the “Black in America” series, hosted by Soledad O’Brien. The dfree® strategy is being used by hundreds of churches and organizations worldwide. For more information about dfree® visit www.mydfree.org and follow the hashtag, #dFreeNextLevel, on social media.

Churches can join the dfree® movement by contacting Sheldon Stevenson at SStevenson@mydfree.org or Tamika Stembridge at TStembridge@mydfree.org.

About Soaries:

Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. is known as an active agent for change and is a widely-requested speaker. He is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey and former New Jersey Secretary of State. His pastoral ministry focuses on spiritual growth, educational excellence, economic empowerment and faith-based community development. Soaries, author of Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom, has issued a Billion Dollar Challenge as a national initiative and free resource to help individuals and families collectively pay down $1 billion in consumer debt.