Debt-Free Peace Starts Here.

As a little girl, Anna Hillbery learned about tithing in church and sporadically gave over the years. However, when she started her career after college, Anna struggled to pay her bills and tithing didn’t make sense to her.

“I was so busy just trying to make sure I had a job, support myself, trying to make ends meet week to week.”

For eight years, Anna worked as a costume designer and theater manager in Jupiter, Florida. The six-month regular season paid well, but the summer children’s shows didn’t, forcing her to relocate to the northeast for their ‘summer season’.

“Because I was moving every six months, there were so many expenses that I was having to pay for travel, breaking my lease, things like that, that just kind of started to pile up. I was making all of my credit card payments on time, but I was not paying more than the minimum payments at that time.”

By 2016, Anna needed a change and began praying for a steady job in one location.

“I was completely spent and exhausted from work, work, work. I pretty much told God. I was like, ‘I need you to rescue me’.”

God did provide a job in Vero Beach, Florida… year-round work for about the same pay.  By now, 29-year-old Anna was $10,000 in debt and making monthly car payments. Tithing still seemed irrational.

“If I'm tithing and I'm in debt, I'm giving money then that I don't have to give. So, then I'm getting more in debt.”

Even though Anna was active in church and growing in her faith, fear was holding her back.

“I wanted to trust Him with my finances, and the thought was there, I will tithe when I get out of debt.”

A year later, Anna was visiting her sister in Mississippi when her sister shared her own story of tithing and getting out of debt. She specifically mentioned Malachi 3:10.

‘“She said, ‘This is the one scripture in the Bible that the Lord says to test Him in’. I wanted to be obedient to the Lord and really, truly put Him first in my life.”’

On her drive back to Florida, Anna decided to take the step to trust God with her finances. She withdrew cash from her bank to tithe to her church. She then discovered her balance had increased, and the amount was equal to her tithe. Anna learned she’d just gotten an unexpected raise.

“He went before me and provided what He was asking me to give.”

Later that same week, her boss surprised her with checks for past design work. Anna knew it was God providing.

“I just love how He knows what we need before we ask, and it really strengthened my faith and trust in Him.”

Anna continued to tithe and in three years was out of debt. She also saw God provide during the pandemic. While theaters across the nation were closing, Anna was never out of work.

“I was just so incredibly blessed to be able to keep my job and not miss a single paycheck, still got a bonus.”

During that time, Anna watched The 700 Club regularly and became a CBN partner.

“I was just so grateful to have that peace after watching the news and the prayer time and I wanted to give back again to a ministry that was ministering so much to me. I was born in Israel, so, I definitely have a heart for Israel and I love that they just report honest news. I can trust CBN with any money that I give and know that it's going to be faithfully given to any of the needs that arise.”

Anna believes that tithing is about trust. She encourages everyone to try it and experience true peace and security.

“Take that step of faith and watch God move in ways that you couldn't even imagine.”
 

Psalm 41:1 says, “Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver Him in time of trouble.” When you partner with CBN, you do more than just give to the poor. You provide hope and the love of Christ through life-giving surgeries, food and clothing programs, humanitarian aid, and so much more! Become a CBN partner, and help transform lives in the name of Jesus Christ! Join us now!