This Faith and Finance podcast is underwritten in part by Cross International. Millions around the world are stuck in generational poverty. From the young child suffering from preventable disease, to the hardworking single mom unable to provide enough food for her kids, to the empty seat in a classroom representing a lost opportunity for a child, the results are tragic. Hopelessness abounds. There are no simple solutions, but the body of Christ is working together to break this cycle.
Faith Phi is joining with Cross International and you this month to lift 250 kids in Malawi, Uganda, and Zambia out of poverty and introduce them to the love of Jesus. Cross International partners with local, in-country ministries to open doors for children by transforming communities, equipping them with vital physical resources, and spiritual support anchored in Jesus Christ. Give hope to a child today at faithfi.com/slash cross. That's faithfi.com/slash. Slash cross.
A single opportunity can change the trajectory of a child's life. For girls in Uganda, that opportunity often begins with education. Hi, I'm Rob West. Around the world, poverty creates barriers to learning that shape a child's future, but in Uganda, ministries are helping rewrite those stories. Today, Erin Griggs joins us to share how Cross International is helping young women stay in school and pursue their God-given calling.
And then it's onto your calls at 800-525-7000. This is Faith and Finance, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. Our guest today is Aaron Griggs from Cross International, a Christian humanitarian and development ministry. We're honored to partner with. Aaron, great to have you back with us.
Hey, great to be here, Rob. Aaron, for listeners who may be hearing about Cross International for the first time, help us understand the mission of the ministry and how you're serving communities around the world.
Well, Cross International exists to serve some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable children and families for the glory of God. and our work is made possible by people just like you who are listening. You're the ones that fuel our mission through your compassion and generosity. And when you partner with Cross International, you're also partnering with local Christian ministries in Africa and other places where we serve, from bustling urban settings all the way out to remote rural villages. We work closely alongside these local ministries and churches, as they're the ones who live in those communities.
They have a deep understanding of both the physical and spiritual needs. And we aim to provide immediate help while also creating sustainable change over the long term. I think that's such a differentiator here. I love that you partner with these local ministries on the ground that are there for the long haul.
So you're not dropping in, providing assistance and taking off, but there's an ongoing relationship there. That's incredible. Aaron, when we talk about poverty in places like Uganda and Malawi and Zambia, what are the everyday challenges children and families face that most of us never witness? Certainly we all face challenges and trials, and that's not to minimize what anyone here faces, but to put it bluntly, in those places their challenges are really a matter of life and death. And in fact, for many of the children in our programmes, the daily meal that they receive from Cross International is actually their only meal of the day.
And then, when there's no clean water in the community, women and girls are spending hours a day walking long distances to gather water from open sources that's contaminated. And they know it's likely going to make their family sick, but they have no choice because it's the only water that's available. And within these communities, preventable diseases spread quickly. They wreak havoc because there's no access to medical treatment. But then beyond physical health, kids are unable to attend school as parents and caretakers simply can't afford to send them.
When education is interrupted, girls in particular in these areas face heightened vulnerability. And we know that without education, kids then grow into adults with very little opportunity. And this is how the cycle of poverty continues from one generation to the next.
So it's kind of a cruel irony where the one thing that could help release kids from poverty, education, is not available. Yeah, Erin, that is heartbreaking. And I'm so delighted about the work that you're doing to break this cycle. You talked about the unique pressures girls encounter in these settings. Can you describe what that vulnerability means for them day to day?
Yeah, when resources are limited, girls are often the first ones to be pulled out of school, sadly. And in some communities, they face pressure to marry at a very young age.
So what does this look like?
Well, sometimes parents are so desperate for income That they will actually give away their daughters, and we're talking as young as 11 or 12 years old to be married so that the family can collect the marriage dowry. It's an impossible choice they face between feeding their family, providing for their other kids, or sending their oldest daughter away. And then other girls are orphaned or abandoned. And leaving school, getting married at an early age, often leads to early motherhood. And then these teen moms are at high risk of becoming victims of gender-based violence and abuse.
So these girls face a hopeless future. And then their children grow up with next to nothing, and again it just perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Wow.
Well, we're going to continue to talk about this. Folks, this is why we're partnering this quarter with Cross International.
So, as you manage God's money according to biblical principles and you have capacity to give, and you want to prioritize that giving toward real needs that are being met in the name of Jesus, we want to shine a light on Cross International. Every $62 given helps one of these vulnerable children for a year. And you can go to faithfy.com/slash cross to do that now. Back with Aaron Griggs after this. Stay with us.
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Take the first step toward peace and financial freedom today. Visit ChristianCreditCounselors.org. That's ChristianCreditCounselors.org. Yeah. You know, when a child is given education, love, and the hope of the gospel, everything can change.
And that's certainly true for a child in Uganda today. We're joined by Aaron Griggs. He's with Cross International, and we're shining a light on the incredible work that Cross is doing around the world to provide food, clean water, and education, along with essential care for those in need in Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, and other countries where Cross International is at work. They provide these children with pre-packed vitamin-fortified rice, as well as meeting their needs and sharing the gospel with them throughout the year, partnering with local ministries. Every $62 given helps one child in one of these vulnerable places in the world.
We've set a goal this quarter to help 250 children, and every $62 given helps one child for 12 months.
So if you'll head to Faith5.com. You can help us. This isn't an ongoing sponsorship. It's a one-time gift. And again, whatever you can do, we'd be grateful.
We're not quite to our goal yet. We still have a ways to go, but you can help us get there. Again, you can make your gift at faithfy.com/slash cross. Aaron, before the break, you were describing how this work is done, and you mentioned the critical role of the local partners, these trusted local partners on the ground who know their communities best. I want to unpack that a bit more and specifically highlight one of those local partners in Uganda, Project Princess Initiative.
Share that with us. What does that collaboration look like? Yeah, Rob, like all of Cross International's ministry partners, Project Princess Initiative is a Christ centered local ministry, and they're located in Kampala, the capital city, large capital city of Uganda.
So, together with them, we walk alongside vulnerable girls. We mentor them, help them to stay in school, provide the resources they need to do that. teach them practical career skills, and all the while instilling confidence as they recognize their value and worth in Christ. The result then is that these girls are empowered. They experience growth in their walk with the Lord.
And doors are open for their future that otherwise would not have existed. And something that's really cool with the program, a lot of times, as these girls grow older, having found restored identity and hope in Christ, they then will seek to give back and bless others the way that they have been blessed. Incredible. I love that.
Well, I know you brought some audio from Uganda that puts a face to this story. We're about to hear from a young woman named Karen. Hey everyone, my name is Karen Assekenya. I'm a girl from Uganda and I am a princess. From the Project Princess Initiative.
I've been with them for eight years. Glory to God. And I thank you all for partnering with Cross International.
Well, eight years ago It was dark, real dark. My dad had abandoned me, told me, I'm no longer going to facilitate your education. And the problem is that I had this frustration that I wanted to study. I had the ambition to study, but I did not have the opportunity.
So, with that, I had depression, I was hopeless, and I was staying in the ghetto, in the slums. And as I was there, there were my friends, and there is drugs, there is sex. There is alcohol. I was there contemplating what I should do. Most of my friends, the ones I left there, They have about five children.
They're into the black markets doing alcohol and doing drugs. And some have even died at a very young age.
So that was my life. Today is a bright day. It's a day full of opportunities, full of another chance. Wow.
Aaron, hearing Karen tell her story from where she started to where she is now, I'd love to know what really stands out to you.
Well, I wish you all had the opportunity to meet Karen, to see her smile. Her story is amazing, and her passion for following Christ and helping others is contagious. The turnaround that Karen experienced was dramatic. Because of the support and the guidance she received through Project Princess, made possible by people like you partnering with Cross International, not only was she able to return to school, but she went on to attend college where she studied economics. And this just doesn't happen for girls that grew up in the situation she was in without intervention.
And Karen was deeply impacted spiritually through the program. As she was mentored by caring and compassionate Christian women, they met her right where she was and helped her realize how much she is loved and valued by God, the one who will never abandon her. and to think that Karen may never have even heard about Jesus were it not for this programme. And Today, it's come full circle for Karen. As she pursues a promising career, she also now takes time to mentor girls at Project Princess in situations similar to what she faced, wanting them to experience the same kind of transformation that she did.
Wow.
Well, I know she also emphasizes the importance of keeping Christ at the center of this work. Listen to this short clip. There is nothing, no system in the world that really stands without God.
So that's why I love Project Princess Initiative because it has a God aspect. It's actually the nucleus of the organization. We just do not come and learn how to make biscuits and bake and make cakes and make jewelry. We actually have. Circles, we come hold hands and pray with the girls because a family that prays together always sticks together.
Through the project, we see the love of Christ coming through us because love is not love, and unless I see the actions.
So it has taught us to be selfless. I absolutely love that. And it reminds me of 1 John 3:18, where we're called not to love with just words and speech, but with actions and truth. And when we look at Karen's story, we see that clear as day. It doesn't merely stop at survival.
She's now looking to the future to see how she can best serve others. Let's listen to one more clip from her. I feel God was leading me to do economics. Why? Because.
I have a passion for change.
So I did economics because I was aiming at the policy aspects. You learn economics not just to learn and be an intellectual. But I had this in mind that I wanted to change Uganda, I wanted to change Africa and I also wanted to extend this change to the world. Wow, that is powerful. Aaron, how does faith shape the way Cross and your local partners approach education and empowerment?
Yeah, faith is central to all we do. Of course, many people around the world are extremely well educated, and yet they're empty inside.
So we know that education alone is not enough. Only Jesus Christ can transform people's hearts. And so that's why we focus on the whole person, aiming for physical, spiritual, emotional, and practical growth. Education plays a vital role in empowering girls to use their God-given talents and abilities while also creating future opportunities. And ultimately the goal is for each girl to grow into the woman God has called her to be.
And so we invite you to join with us and our local ministry partners through prayer and support to brighten the future of girls like Karen. We're about out of time. Aaron, for listeners who want to be involved, want to come alongside this work. What can they do today? Yeah, so FaithFi listeners are partnering with Cross International to help serve 250 children across Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia.
And a gift of just $62 helps reach one child with up to a year's worth of life-saving resources like education, food, the hope of the gospel. You can help 10 with $620. We're told in Psalm 82:3 to defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. And you have an opportunity to do just that by partnering with us today at faithfy.com/slash cross. Incredible, folks.
As you manage God's money wisely and you want to give to the causes on the heart of God, we want to shine a light on incredible ministries doing incredible work in the name of Jesus. Cross International is one of those. Would you help us reach our goal, helping 250 children in one of these vulnerable places in the world? Just go to faithfi.com/slash cross. Every $62 helps a child.
Aaron, thanks for being here. Thanks for having me, Rob. We'll be right back with your questions after this. Stick around. FaithFi is grateful for support from One Ascent.
One Ascent believes that your values inspire why you invest and how they can inspire how you invest. One Ascent's goal is to provide solutions designed for every need and invest in businesses that bless the people and places God has made. They want to help investors do well by doing good, to explore a new way of investing that aligns with your values. More information is available at onascent.com and by clicking analyze my investments. Poverty's roots run deep in African villages, affecting one generation to the next.
It doesn't have to be this way. FaithPhy is partnering with Cross International and you to combat generational poverty. Together, our goal is to provide vital resources for 250 vulnerable children while pointing them to the unshakable hope rooted in Jesus Christ. Visit faithfi.com/slash cross to change. Change a child's life today.
That's faithfi.com/slash cross. Thanks for joining us today on Faith and Finance. Here in our final segment today, we'll get to as many calls as we can. If you have a question, call right now, 800-525-7000. Let's head down to Tampa, Florida.
Gordon, go ahead. Yes, Rob, have a question. Looks like our attorney has given us word that we are now going to have a settlement on an accident that we had in twenty twenty five.
So my question is What do we do for tax purposes when that settlement actually becomes ours. And then Of course, whenever you get a settlement, you have all kinds of deductions with medical and attorneys and all that. My question is, do I have to declare that for tax purposes as income? And then if it is, then of course, we would want to give some tithe on that.
So how do we do all that? Yeah, great question. Normally Car accident settlements are not taxable. And here's where that generally breaks down. If it's for physical injuries or medical expenses or pain and suffering, these amounts would typically be excluded from income and therefore not taxed.
When it's potentially taxable, if it includes things like lost wages, so it's treated as income and therefore would be subject to income tax, or if it's punitive damages or interest, those kinds of things. Do you have a good feel for what this is for?
Well, it was his the other driver's fault. And so we went through an attorney, and he has gone and found out that my insurance He had nothing, and my insurance company is what we're settling with. Got it.
Okay. I think the key there is, you know, you're just going to want to have a written breakdown showing, you know, the payment and what was related to physical injury, pain and suffering, and then that small portion for lost wages.
So, you know, if you have a clear allocation from your insurance company, that is going to result in fewer IRS problems down the road. Don't panic if a 1099 shows up.
Sometimes they'll issue it even for the full amount. It doesn't mean it's all fully taxable. A CPA can properly report the non-taxable portion as excluded income, but you are going to want to keep those records, the settlement agreement, the medical bills, the reports, any correspondence, things like that. And you are going to want to have a CPA handle this for you just to make sure that everything is filed properly so that you don't have to pay any tax on anything that should not be taxable. The way I would view this in terms of if you're wanting to give a tithe based on the increase, I don't really see this.
As an increase. It's really the insurance making you whole for what was lost as a part of the wreck.
So from a technical perspective, this really isn't an increase. It's just more restitution, if you will. And so it's never a bad idea to give and give generously. But in terms of the tithe, I would not see that applying to what you described here.
Okay, thank you so much. All right, appreciate it, Gordon. Thanks for your call today. Let's go to Iowa. Jamie, go ahead.
Hi. Yes, I have a question. Um, we have our uh trust, uh, our estate. Figured out and everything went to a trust attorney. And we have two grown sons and We just don't know what to do.
They don't seem to really get along very well. Is it wise for us to have just one of them be our power of attorney or whatever it is, overseer of our assets, or should they both be? Yeah. So this is a revocable trust, is that right? Correct.
Okay, so this is the trustee role that we're talking about. And I think, yeah, the short answer is yes. I think naming both sons as co-trustees can be a bad idea when they don't get along.
So, the goal of a trust is smooth administration and preserved relationships. And so, I would just say having a single trustee, one of the two, or a neutral third party is usually the better choice because co-trustees who don't work well together can create delay or conflict unnecessarily. Because remember, with a co-trustee, every decision is going to require agreement. Most trusts require co-trustees to sign checks together and agree on distributions. And if they don't agree, then everything gets kind of stopped in its tracks.
And that can turn into more cost because then you got to get lawyers involved, and trust funds pay legal fees, and you could have resentment grow, things like that.
So I would say either name one son as the trustee or use a professional or corporate trustee.
Okay, all right. All right, thank you so much, Rob. All right, you're welcome. Thanks for your call today. Nancy, thank you for waiting patiently there in Port St.
Lucie. Go ahead. Hi. First of all, I want to thank you for all the years of advice that you have given us, Christian and non-Christian. I am so thankful for you, and I'm thankful for this call that I finally got through.
My questions were both answered with previous guests, but I want to get your opinion. I owe $24,000 in credit cards, and I want to stop that. And I contacted Trinity Council, and they told me that instead of twenty-something, whatever I'm paying interest, they can lower it to 12%. But I would have to pay $540 a month. But I want to reduce that because I really cannot afford $540,000.
So I asked her if I would put get $6,000 out of my Roths account. I'm over 59. My income is not really high, so I know that I'm not going to pay any taxes on that. If I take six thousand and put it towards those at twenty-four thousand, reducing it to eighteen, How much would I pay? And she said four hundred and fifteen.
Now that I can do.
So I'm thinking I've really I've never done this before, but I what do you think? Yeah, I'm not opposed to it because the key is you don't want to go into a debt management program when you can't afford the payment because then it's not sustainable. Even though debt management is my preferred way, there is a set amount you'll need to send every month as a minimum, and clearly it's beyond what you have available. I like the idea that you're over 59, the Roth money is able to be pulled. Tax-free, that's great.
What would that leave you with? Are you drawing from any of these retirement assets currently, or are you just living on Social Security? I'm living on Social Security and I'm still working.
Okay, all right. And what would that leave you in retirement accounts altogether?
Well, not enough. I I need to up it somehow, but God's gonna have to give me another job. Yeah, but you answered my question that that I feel better now that I can trust them and Yeah, I think the only thing... Thank you.
Well, thank you, Nance. Let me just say one quick thing, and that is, you know, I'd love for you to get to the place where you have a plan for if you were to have to stop working, how you would, you know, cover your bills. And obviously one key to that is the ability for you to, you know, pay off this debt, because then that would get rid of $400 a month and maybe that would do it. But I think, you know, the extent to which you can work as long as you can so that you can get out of debt completely and let's start working on that non-working budget, that retirement budget, if that's part-time income goes away, I'd love for you to have a plan on how you're going to balance the budget from that point forward.
So thank you for calling and for your kind remarks about the program. Please call back anytime. Thanks to Devin, Sandy, Taylor, and everybody here at FaithFi. We'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
Faith and Finance is provided by FaithFy and listeners like you. Yeah.
