A Lesson in Financial Success

Maurice and LaShunda grew up in Houlka County, Mississippi.  That’s where they learned honesty and hard work.  But one thing they didn’t learn…how to manage their money.

“It's like you have all types of credit card offers coming in left and right, and you can get this, and you can get that,” says Maurice.  “It just that just buying things, or clothes, shoes, just jewelry, things for our home.  Just basically whatever we wanted. We were always thinking that, ‘Well, we'll always be able to pay it back’”

“We started our lives off basically in debt,” says LaShunda.  “We didn't know how to budget money.”

In the first five years of marriage, the couple accumulated $30,000 in credit card debt.

Maurice recalled “Two cards grew to four, then four grew to eight, and by the time we realized it, it was out of control.”

“It didn’t take long for us to learn that puts you in a cycle you just can’t get out of,” says LaShunda.

To pay down their debt, Maurice and LaShunda both worked two jobs.  In addition, they had a farm to maintain and a growing family to care for.

“It was very tiring,” LaShunda recalls.  “It was constantly working all day as a secretary and going directly to the fabric store till 10 o’clock, not seeing my children.”

It wasn’t long before the financial stress had serious consequences.  LaShunda developed a heart condition that required immediate surgery.  She returned home from the hospital with a $30,000 medical bill and a warning from the doctors. 

“I had to stop the second job because I physically could not do it anymore,” says LaShunda.  “We’re not getting any better, we are sick financially.”

Overwhelmed with $70,000 of medical and credit card debt, they filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.  That’s when they made another big decision.
“We decided that we’re going to get back close to God,” says Maurice.  “We’re going to do our tithes and we are going to do what we are supposed to do to honor the Lord.”

“It stopped being our money and it started being His money,” says LaShunda.  “I prayed Lord, show us how to handle it.  Show us what you want us to do with it.”

The couple created their first budget, and began to tithe faithfully.  After a few months, they began to notice changes.

“We started getting raises, more money started coming in, /we were actually building savings, having money left over,” according to Maurice.  “I have no doubt that it definitely was God working.”

So they increased their giving.

“We started a deal to where every year we add a percent,” says Maurice.

Because of their tithing, Maurice and LaShunda are making more while working less.  They’ve also been able to pay off their $70,000 of debt.

“The Lord has done, in two years' time, what in 20 years we couldn’t do on our own,” says LaShunda.

Longtime viewers of the 700 Club, Maurice and LaShunda decided to join.

“CBN is real life in action. I have witnessed what they are doing to help people,” says LaShunda.  “There was a horrible tornado that came through Tupelo a few years ago, and I was getting off of work and one day I saw the big 18-wheeler trailer that had Operation Blessing on there and they were giving food bags and to people that had no homes.  What I give is truly going to make a difference and make an impact.”

And now they’re able to live a peaceful country life they dreamed about.

“The more the Lord gives us, the more that we are able to give to help others, and that is the biggest joy of our life,” says LaShunda.

“If you just trust God and just do your part, He will definitely do his,” says Maurice. He will definitely take care of you.”