Emily first learned about the New Hope Program through a friend at church who invited her to a Celebration Night in the fall of 2023. As she listened to stories of transformation, she saw something she hadn’t experienced before — a Christ-centered program offering not just support, but a pathway toward lasting change.
At the time, Emily was facing overwhelming financial pressure. After her divorce in 2019, she found herself trying to maintain a lifestyle that was no longer sustainable. The shift from two incomes to one, a reduced salary, a car accident, mounting debt, and rising expenses left her feeling stuck and falling further behind. “I felt frustrated, stressed, angry, depressed, fearful, and alone,” she shared. “I felt like a failure.”
Despite having a background in finance, Emily found herself carrying $60,000 in debt — something that brought deep embarrassment and shame. But as she courageously acknowledged, “Debt does not discriminate.” Eventually, the weight of it all led her to a turning point. “I decided I needed to swallow my pride and ask for help.” When Emily reached out to Love INC, she expected judgment or rejection. Instead, she found encouragement, support, and a community that welcomed her.
Through New Hope classes like Basic Budgeting and Affirming Potential, Emily began laying a new foundation. Though there were moments when the process felt overwhelming, she leaned on her faith for strength, holding onto Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
When she was paired with a budget counselor, the real work began. Letting go of control was not easy, but as she trusted the process, things began to shift. Weekly meetings helped her build practical habits — tracking spending, reconciling accounts, and learning to distinguish between needs and wants. “Sometimes I would even ask myself, ‘What would Cheryl say?’” she shared with a smile.
Along the way, God provided in unexpected ways, through rental income, a new job, a tax refund, and a long-awaited financial settlement. Over the course of a year, Emily was able to pay down $15,000 of debt. While her journey is not yet complete, her perspective has been transformed. “I’m confident now that I can do this and be debt-free by 2028.”
But the transformation didn’t stop with finances. Through the relationships she built in the program, especially through weekly encouragement and prayer, Emily experienced something even deeper: love, belonging, and spiritual growth. “I felt cared for. I felt like I was worth it.”
Today, Emily shares that her life has changed in many ways. She has learned to forgive — others and herself. She is setting healthier boundaries, letting go of anger, and learning to see life through God’s perspective rather than the world’s. “It’s baby steps, not marathons,” she said.
Her story is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: hope has replaced discouragement, and faith is leading the way forward. Today, as a graduate, Emily is continuing her growth by revisiting the Affirming Potential class—seeking God’s direction as she begins to dream new dreams for her future.