Achieving Financial Security  

Joy remembers, “I didn't know what happened until the bank called me and they told me that I owed $14,000. I was scared, I don't know what to do.”

Not long after Joy Adler came to the US from the Philippines, she was the victim of financial fraud. Someone she knew stole her identity and maxed out her credit-card.  

She explains, “My husband told me to pay the debt, and I was like, ‘Where are we going to get the money?’ He said, ‘Okay, we need to let it go and file bankruptcy.’"

Joy and her husband Don were living in Hawaii at the time.

Joy says, “It's really expensive and I worked two jobs,” she cries, “And it's still not enough. It's hard.” 

The family moved to Tennessee to live with Don’s parents.  They also started going to church.  Joy became a Christian and immediately found the 700 Club online.

She laughs, “I was like, ‘This is like my second church online.’”

Meanwhile, her father-in-law gave her some financial advice.

“He told me, ‘Joy, you guys need to tithe. You have to give to the Lord in order to bless you,’” she shares.

The couple was still low on cash and sometimes had to use food stamps. So, they gave what they could, when they could. Joy’s in-laws helped them get into an apartment. When the couple’s car broke down, Joy knew something had to give. 

“I said, ‘Okay, Lord, uh whatever you want me to do, I'll do it,’” she remembers. “And God told me, ‘You have to surrender. Surrender everything to me.’”  She admits, “At that time I’m not giving regular, and was like ‘Okay’. I decided to give faithfully.” 
 
Things quickly changed after Joy and Don made giving first and giving consistently a priority.  And when Joy prayed that Don would get a new job, he did. The couple moved to Michigan, where they got a small home. Soon, Don was making 70% more than he’d made before.  

Joy proclaims, “When we moved here, he's making every two weeks like $5,000.”

Even after a car accident that left Don without a paycheck for four months, they never stopped giving. They lived on Joy’s part-time teacher’s assistant salary and never went without.

Joy explains, “I still giving my tithes faithfully. That's why I'm not worried about what's going to happen because His word is true. His promises. I hold onto His promises.” 

Along the way, she continued to be encouraged by the 700 Club. One story she saw prompted her to start giving to CBN. 

She recalls emotionally, “She’s a single mom with two kids, and she don't have food for her kids, and it touched my heart. It breaks my heart. So, I call 700 Club to partner with them.” She continues with a smile, “Since then, it's awesome. Lord, blesses us more than I expected.” 

As the couple kept tithing and giving, they were able to rebuild their credit. They had enough money to pay their bills, get two more cars, save, and increase their pledge to CBN. They also upgraded to a bigger and better house. 

“It's God's goodness and grace,” Joy declares. “I believe that if you give more, you build –you will be blessed more. That's why I'm encouraging a lot of people to give and trust the Lord. He will provide.” She confidently concludes, “Whatever happens, He will take care of you.”