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Debt-Free Churches and Members is Theme for United Theological Seminary Conference Jan. 23-27, Soaries to Speak
Soaries will speak on how the dfree® financial freedom movement that he created helps stabilize and grow churches
Dayton, Ohio – Rev. Dr. DeForest B. “Buster” Soaries, Jr. opens the plenary session of the United Theological Seminary Doctoral Intensive 8:45 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 25, 2017. Soaries will speak on how the dfree® financial freedom movement that he created helps stabilize and grow churches. The Doctoral Intensive is free and open to the public, with most events, including Soaries’ session, taking place at the Marriott Hotel Ballroom, 1414 S. Patterson Blvd, Dayton.
Soaries, who obtained his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological, said that young pastors have a great opportunity to get their churches’ financial affairs in order so that the church can focus on its higher purposes. Yet, he said, one of the key mistakes pastors make is trying to implement new programs alone while movements such as dfree® require the passion to organize and support team efforts.
“Every great leader needs an even greater team if the vision is to come to fruition,” Soaries said. “Organization is the key to any success and dfree® is no different.”
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What is different about dfree® is that it is a transformational, lifestyle movement that promotes financial freedom through values-based principles and practical approaches to financial management. It addresses the cultural, psychological, and spiritual influences on financial wellness to help people break patterns and practice new methods that lead to financial stability and security. Currently, dfree® programs are used in hundreds of churches and by hundreds more individuals and organizations.
After Soaries’ own church started participating in dfree®, the church went from a budget deficit to a $1 million surplus during the 2008 recession. In his book, Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom, Soaries writes about the role financial focus plays in the church:
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“The fact that God has offered us ownership of a piece of God’s kingdom may be incomprehensible to the average person. But a Christian is not an average person and can be expected to understand the benefits of true riches,” Soaries writes. “The implications of this teaching by Jesus are life changing. This suggests that handling money, bills, and earthly financial matters is just practice for what God really wants us to handle.”
Soaries joins a full-line up of speakers for the Doctoral Intensive including Dr. Kent Millard, president of United Theological Seminary, and Rev. Dr. Sir Walter Lee Mack, senior pastor of Union Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
About dfree®:
Founded in 2005, the dfree® financial freedom movement is a transformational, lifestyle movement that promotes financial freedom through values-based principles and practical approaches to financial management. dfree® addresses the cultural, psychological and spiritual influences on financial wellness. In the tradition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dfree® also is a movement to help achieve economic justice in America. Rev. Dr. King once said, “We must never let it be said that we spend more for the evanescent and ephemeral than for the eternal values of freedom and justice.” dfree® emphasizes controlling money matters so that individuals have the freedom to focus on more purposeful pursuits.
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, organizations and individuals worldwide. For more information about dfree® visit mydfree.org and follow #dfree.
About Soaries:
dfree® Founder Rev. Dr. DeForest B. “Buster” 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.
