This Faith and Finance podcast is underwritten in part by Heart for Lebanon. War is once again shaking the Middle East. In Lebanon, families already crushed by poverty and instability are now living in fear, unsure if food, shelter, or safety will be there tomorrow. Heart for Lebanon is responding with emergency aid, practical care, and the unshakable hope of the gospel. To give or learn more, text the word FAITH to 98656.
That's FAITH to 98656. Or visit faithfy.com/slash Lebanon. When God's people respond with generosity, real lives are changed and doors open for hope that lasts. I am Rob West. You've heard about the devastating crisis in Lebanon and how families have been displaced by the ongoing war.
Today we're coming back to that story because while much has been done, the need remains urgent. May Lee Melke joins us to share what your generosity has already made possible and the opportunity still before us. Then it's on to your calls at 800-525-7000. This is Faith in Finance, biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. Joining us again today is Mei Li Melke, the U.S.
Managing Director of Heart for Lebanon. Over the past few months, Mei Li and her father, Camille, have been helping us understand the challenges facing families in Lebanon and how the local church is responding with both compassion and the hope of Christ. Mei Li, what a pleasure to have you back with us. Thank you so much, Rob. It's so exciting to have this conversation again.
Melee, over the past few months, we've been discussing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, and sadly, the situation has only grown more difficult. As the war continues, many families are being forced from their homes and communities already under tremendous strain, and they're being pushed even closer to the breaking point. I want you to help us understand what you and the team at Heart for Lebanon are seeing on the ground right now. Rob, while there was an agreed-upon 45-day extension of a very already fragile ceasefire that somewhat helped reduce active conflict in some areas and offered brief moments of relief in many communities, the reality remains very deeply fragile across the country. Families are beginning to experience different effects of the ongoing war, instability, and repeated disruption.
There's a lot of fear, and there's a lot of uncertainty carrying emotional and practical burdens of the displacement, of loss, of trauma. And for many, this ceasefire has not meant true peace.
So they're still navigating food insecurity, damaged infrastructures, interrupted livelihoods, and a constant fear that conditions could worsen as they have been without any warning at any time.
So the need before us is urgent, not only from a humanitarian standpoint, but from a deeply relational. emotional and spiritual standpoint. Yes, well, thank you for that update. Our heart breaks over the situation there. I also want to pause and say thank you to our listeners in particular.
The Faith5 family has responded with remarkable generosity. Our original goal was to help 275 displaced families in Lebanon. And by God's grace, that goal has now been met. And we are so thrilled. Mayley, from your perspective, what has that generosity made possible for these families?
You know, 275 families, Rob, that's over a thousand people, a thousand individuals, because of our listeners who are receiving life-sustaining support. And it includes food, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, diapers for adults and children, and for newborns who are being born into this world through this war. But even more than that, it has allowed us to walk alongside families consistently, not just in a brief moment of crisis. Families like Ibrahim's family, who's a six-year-old boy whose parents had to make a very, very difficult decision to carry their kids in the middle of the night as violence was at its peak and just kind of run into the unknown. Ibrahim and his family were on the receiving end of this outpouring of blessing through our partnership.
And we were able to get in contact with him last week. I'll just say this briefly: his mom told us, please don't stop your children's activities. Even throughout the war, I know it's very hard. Ibrahim's favorite Bible story is when Jesus. Fed the 5,000.
And for him, it's because he is feeling like he's experiencing that tangible and meaningful help today. And he told us over the phone, Jesus loves us and I know he will not let us go hungry.
So thank you so much for making that a reality for Ibrahim. It's such a powerful testimony of God's provision through his people across the world. Oh, wow, that is incredible. And folks, we are so thankful for the outpouring of support for these 275 families, the more than 1,000 people that have not only received practical and much needed assistance with mattresses and hygiene kits and food, but also the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now, more people need to be reached with this help. And every $90 given is going to provide a full month of care for a displaced family, meeting these critical physical needs and allowing Heart for Lebanon to continue building relationships with those they serve.
So if you want to help us, us continue to reach more people, just text the word faith to 98656 or go to faithfi.com/slash Lebanon. Back with Mei Lee right after this break. Stick around. Imagine having biblical financial wisdom delivered to your inbox every week, helping you integrate your faith and financial decisions for the glory of God. At faithfi.com, you can join a community of over 70,000 people who are already receiving our weekly wisdom email, filled with articles, videos, podcasts, and exclusive offers on resources that will deepen your understanding of biblical stewardship.
Start your journey today by creating your FaithFi account at faithfy.com. Just click sign up. Faith in Finance is grateful for support from Sound Mind Investing. For more than 30 years, they've offered financial wisdom for living well. SMI provides step-by-step guidance for do-it-yourself investors, from those just getting started to those getting ready for retirement.
More information, including a short video webinar on profit and peace of mind no matter what's happening in the market, is available at soundmindinvesting.org. You've heard about the devastating crisis in Lebanon and how families have been displaced by the ongoing war. And you've also been stepping in the gap through our partnership with Heart for Lebanon to reach those folks with much needed critical resources, mattresses, and food and hygiene kits, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the team of Heart for Lebanon is on the ground in that region, helping and meeting those needs right now. Joining me today is May Lee Melke, the U.S.
Managing Director of Heart for Lebanon, and she just shared some exciting news that our goal of 275 families representing more than a thousand people reached has been met, and that's been met by you. We are so grateful. But the need remains urgent, and we want to, throughout this month, over the next week, reach even more people. And we can do that with your help every $90. Given reaches a family with critical help and support, and also the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you want to be a part of that, go right now to faithfy.com/slash Lebanon.
Now, Mei Lee, I want to give just a bit of a more complete picture about the ministry that is going on right there on the ground. You're building trusted relationships with these families at the same time you're meeting the immediate physical needs, and that's opening the door to deeper conversations, even long-term care, and of course, the hope of the gospel.
So, give us a picture of what that looks like on the ground. You know, as the reality of the matter on the ground is at most fear, just in the last 24 hours, the Lebanese army urged families not to return to their homes because of sudden eruptions of continued violence. What we are seeing is beginning through meeting their urgent physical needs wherever they are, in a shelter, in a makeshift tent settlement, giving food, bedding, hygiene supplies that remain and maintain their dignity and their ability to survive. It is opening the door wide open for us to be there permanently and to be present with them in trusted relationships. Remember, our team is not going in and out.
We are staying there. We're carrying that burden with them as they are journeying through this, you know, kind of open-ended period of displacement. From there, those relationships turn into an opportunity for just sharing the hope of Christ. And I'm just going to give you an example of Nejwa. Nejwa actually came to us, we met her through.
This war, and all she thought, she told us that I was going to, you know, find food for my family to survive. But what I have found over the last two months was that my heart had been longing for something that I didn't even realize. And that spiritual nourishment that I didn't know even existed through a God that you tell me about. God has used your ministry, she says, to remind me that I am not forgotten. And this is how Nejua came to Jesus in a very personal way.
But it took time, Rob. It was not just here, take this package, right? It was hours of just getting to know her, who she is, as who she was created to be, and getting to understand her needs, and getting to take Jesus and his gospel and his word deeply into her life. Melee, that's incredible. I appreciate you sharing that story because that's what we're praying for, that in the midst of this hardship and uncertainty, that God would be at work.
Clearly, he is, and he's using your team right in the center of it. Melee, how are people responding as they encounter the hope of the gospel through Heart for Lebanon's ministry? You know, it's true that we say in times of crisis, hearts are often open or more open, I should say, than ever before. But what really points them to Jesus is not just the immediacy, but it is the authenticity and the long-term relationship that they're received with. It's the authenticity that the team shows, and that we genuinely care unconditionally, not because of your background or not because of where you come from, or not because of who you were before Christ, but who we think you are in Christ.
And what we know to be true is that our team and every single team member on the ground is a local serving another local who's in many cases experiencing the same hardships. All of our team in southern Lebanon was displaced themselves and continued to serve.
So, this shared experience brings people together in a unique way, and it gives those who are a little bit skeptical about the faith trust that we're not going to leave them anytime soon. And that's how we're seeing families come to Bible studies in record high numbers. Asking questions about faith and seeking spiritual truths. Nawal, for example, a single mom with four kids, said, Even during the war, someone was still thinking about us. And this is why I can now visualize and understand in a meaningful and tangible way what the deep love of this Jesus you talk about is.
He's with me even in my darkest hour. That is the opportunity for the gospel that we have. That's the openness that we're seeing, the openness for us to model the gospel in action through this ongoing crisis. Melee, that's incredible. Now we have an audio clip straight from Lebanon featuring Freddie, one of your on-site leaders, along with a child whose life has been deeply affected by the ravages of war.
Let's listen to that clip for a moment. I very much miss my home. Right now. Thousands of children in Lebanon are living in the shadows of wart. these hallways, once meant for lessons, Are now shelters.
But for the children here, They are also places of deep confusion and loss. They've seen things no child should ever witness. We had just left the supermarket. And then we saw the bombing from the missiles. The rocks fell on us.
at the heart for Lebanon. Our mission is to transform these crowded spaces into a safe space. When the world feels like it's shaking. We provide both. Through trauma and formed play.
art and the simple act of listening. We help them process their fear. We are here to show them that while they have lost their homes, They have not been forgotten. Our goal is to replace their anxiety with the peace of Christ. turning their stories of survival into stories.
If we Because every child deserves to feel safe, and every heart in Lebanon. deserves to know they are loved. I just hope one day, we can go home. Wow. Boy, that story is heartbreaking.
And yet, we are grateful that you all are there, Mei Lee. Your team is meeting real needs and not just physical needs. You're caring for the whole person with dignity and compassion and the hope of Christ. Why is that holistic approach so important? Because we want to see the permanency of their soul for eternity, one for Christ.
And that has to go beyond one-time aid. That's where true lasting change comes through. A relationship with us and an utmost one that points towards Jesus. Meeting their tangible needs is very important. It does restore their dignity, but it's just a vehicle to build trust and create these relationships that will flourish for the kingdom.
Well, we are so grateful for all the Lord has already made possible through this partnership, but we recognize, Mei Lee, that the need is still tremendous. Help us understand as we close today what it will take to continue caring for these families and even expand that support. Absolutely. We've made a commitment to continue supporting these 275 families on an ongoing basis. That means monthly care of the same items of food, bedding, hygiene supplies, but most importantly, a relational support, one that requires continued partnerships from believers who want to be part of this work, something far greater than us.
Incredible. Folks, because of your generosity, more than 275 displaced families are already receiving care. We praise God for that, but the need remains great. Every $90 given helps provide a full month of care for a displaced family and the gospel. Go to faith5.com/slash Lebanon or send the word faith to 98-656.
Your calls are next at 800-525-7000. That's 800-525-7000. I'm Rob West, and this is Faith and Finance, biblical wisdom for your financial journey. We'll be right back. We are grateful for support from Timothy Plan.
Since 1994, Timothy Plan has shared good news with investors and advisors by offering faith-honoring mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. More information is at TimothyPlan.com. The investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses are contained in the prospectus and summary prospectus available at TimothyPlan.com. Mutual funds distributed by Timothy Partners Limited and ETFs distributed by Foreside Funds Services LLC. Investing involves risks, including possible loss of principal.
There's war in the Middle East, but the opportunity to reach people with the gospel has never been greater. Here's Dawood from Heart for Lebanon. Families are terrified, even when the ground is shaking. Our hope is in Christ. Our mission is to lead people away from despair and toward the hope of Jesus.
Bring emergency aid and the hope of the gospel to a family impacted by the war. Text the word faith to 98656 or visit faithfund.com slash Lebanon.
Well, so delighted to have you with us today on Faith and Finance. Really looking forward to getting into your calls and questions today, the things you're wrestling with in your financial life. When you call 800-525-7000, again, that's 800-525-7000. We'd be delighted to tackle whatever's on your mind today, help you think about it in light of biblical wisdom. Let's head to the phones.
We're going to go to Georgia Polly. Go right ahead. I need to ask you a question. I've got this letter from Social Security. It's called Social Security Fairness Act, which ended the windfall elimination provisions, which was starting in january twenty twenty four.
The reason I'm asking this, they gave me a lump sum to put into my checking account. Yeah. Yes, that's a great question, Polly. I appreciate you raising it. The Social Security Fairness Act is the law that eliminated the windfall elimination provision and something called the government pension offset.
So, these old rules reduced Social Security benefits for many people who also received pensions from jobs that did not pay into Social Security.
So, this would be teachers, police officers, and firefighters, and federal workers, and other public employees.
So, if you got a letter mentioning the WEP, the windfall elimination provision, ending, that likely means that Social Security reviewed your benefits and is increasing them because you're no longer going to be penalized. The law repealed those reductions. And so, you know, people are now getting higher monthly checks that were previously subject to the windfall elimination. They're getting what you got, which is retroactive lump sum payments. In some cases, they're even getting restored spousal or survivors' benefits.
So, this is a great thing. They're just recalculating your benefits because of this change in the law, and that has resulted in you getting this lump sum.
Okay, I was worried because I had to pay taxes on it. I've got to pay taxes on it. And it scared me to death because all of a sudden it was there. And here I, I mean, I didn't, and I cost Social Security, and they couldn't really explain it to me. Ah, yeah.
No, it's a good thing, and you're right, you may be taxable, but it's a lump sum payment that they're making good on because of this change in the law. Lord bless you, Polly. Thanks for calling. Let's go to Iowa. Barry, go ahead.
Yeah, hi. Um, I got a friend that uh she Uh borrowed some money from that's Elastic Bank. And she only, I think, maybe like had a thousand dollars, but only borrowed. Like five hundred and and they just started multiplying. And within months, it was up to $3,200.
And so we're going to help her out with it by paying it off. But we want to know how The protectors You know, we tell her to close the account. But she's got to pay it off first or it's got to get paid off. And so we want to know Is it a scam? I mean, some kind of Yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, it's a good question. You know, products like Elastic and similar lines of credit are very high-cost borrowing.
So even if they're technically legal, which is probably what's going on here and not an outright scam, the fees and effective interest rates can become extremely expensive, especially for retirees or people struggling financially already, but really for anyone. And the reason people take these out often is because they can't qualify elsewhere. They need more money quickly. You know, they're trying to survive a cash flow emergency. The danger is that payments can trap people in a cycle where balances barely go down, fees keep accumulating, and they end up borrowing repeatedly.
I would say, before helping financially, I just think it's important for you to understand how much exactly she owe the actual interest rate or fee structure, whether payments are current, and whether there are underlying budgeting. Problems that may get her back into a similar situation once the pressure's taken off, just in a matter of months. Because sometimes paying off one predatory loan, and that's the category I would put this in, without fixing the larger issue just creates room for the person to borrow again. And if you do help, I think you need to decide, in addition to clarifying all of that, is this a gift or is it a loan? Because family and friendship relationships can become strained, of course, very quickly when repayment expectations are unclear.
In addition to that, Barry, here's what I'd be willing to provide just to be part of the solution here. I can provide a certified Christian financial counselor if it would be helpful. This is somebody who's trained in biblical stewardship, in budgets, in debt repayment. And this would provide you with another tool to bring to the table, maybe in addition to you paying this off, to say, listen, I'm willing to pay it off, but I need you to work with a certified Christian financial counselor to help you set up a budget, get on a solid financial footing, and begin to make some progress in the right direction so we don't repeat this cycle. And we'll pay for it.
It won't cost her anything. How does that sound? That would be awesome. That's really what I would like. Yes.
Awesome. But you just need a fresh start. That's exactly right. Stay on the line. Our team will get your information.
God bless you. Let's go to Yvonne in Cleveland. You'll be our final caller. Go ahead.
Well, thank you, sir, for taking my call. Long story short, 2019, we had $200,000 in our savings. COVID came and life circumstances, illness came, and now we are maintaining $500,000. We're bringing in 65,000, roughly that, with my husband and myself. He's fifty-seven.
I'm fifty-four. And just want to know a plan to how do we start over. Yeah. So you said you had 200,000. What's the value of that investment account today?
Well, it's depleted. We had to take out our IRA. We had to take out all of our retirement. Got it.
Okay.
So your combined income now is $65,000, that's correct? Yes. And what do you do you have any investable assets or are you starting from scratch? We're starting from scratch.
Okay.
Do we have any savings, any liquid savings, just emergency reserves? No, everything has gone. A lot of things happened since. Sure, yeah. No, I get it.
And I know that can be challenging.
So, what is in your checking right now, just enough to cover this month's bills? Are you all living paycheck to the best?
So, we're bringing in 65, and we're basically, at the end of every month, we're maintaining 500.
Okay, and that's that's across five bank accounts.
So when I say we've we need to start over, we have retirement. And both of our accounts are 25 apiece, so that's 50,000. That, you know, that's for our retirement or for our life insurance. That's what we're doing. Yeah.
Okay, so here's what I'd like to do. I'd love to offer you, if you'd be willing to take advantage of it, one of our certified Christian financial counselors to get on the phone with you and your husband over a series of phone calls and help you put together a budget. Because the key for you guys in starting over is to dial back your spending so you can create more margin so that you can fund those retirement assets over the next decade. Stay on the line. We're going to get your information.
We'll cover the cost to get one of the CERT CFCs to call you and see if they can work through it with you. That's going to do it for us. My team is amazing and they're here pushing all the buttons and talking to folks. And I love when you call them out because they deserve it. Taylor, Tahira, Josh, Omar, and everybody here at FaithFi.
We'll see you next time. Bye-bye. Faith in Finance is provided by FaithFy and listeners like you.
