Read how single mother of five, Mel, was able to overcome financial struggle through the love of community.
What can you get for $150 these days? Maybe a few bags of groceries, or fuel for a couple of weeks.
It’s certainly not enough to cover rent and food for a family and other ongoing expenses. And yet, that’s all that Mel – a single mother of five – had to her name. Just $150 to take herself and her three children still living at home out of an abusive situation and to a new city to completely start over.
This is the depths of what financial struggle can look like in Australia. And it’s incredibly isolating.
The Church in action
Mel and her children were sadly without a home for a period of 18 months. But it was during this time of deep emotional and financial struggle that she met Jesus. She found a supportive church, and with that, safety and peace.
“I found a community and a safe space that I haven’t ever had in my whole life. After fleeing what I’ve fled – I found a home and beautiful spiritual mummas and beautiful spiritual dads, and a relationship with God that I didn’t know I needed. I now feel very protected,” says Mel.
At the time, Mel’s church didn’t have a partnership with Hope Economy (formerly CAP Australia), but her church was able to connect her with a Money Mentor at another local church.
In November 2024, Mel met Darren.
A supportive Money Mentor
“I felt relieved at that first meeting with Darren,” says Mel.
“He made me feel very comfortable and reassured me that we were going to get there with my financial situation.”
As both a Money Mentor and trained counsellor, Darren was able to provide practical support to Mel in helping her set up a money management system, as well as become her domestic violence counsellor.
“Mel just needed someone to walk alongside her to support her in the traumatic journey that she has been on and into a future that is more stable and secure and where she can be confident in the way that she handles her own money and in her own money decisions,” says Darren.
“I feel like I just played one role in Mel’s life, and she’s been doing a lot of work with God and a lot of work with her church. She’s still got a journey to go, and she recognises that. But she’s changed – she’s a different person.”
From joining a church community, to being connected with both a Money Mentor and counsellor, God has been carefully orchestrating the support system Mel would need to experience healing and whole-life transformation. She also made the decision to be baptised, honouring God for His hand over her life.
“The fire for God is in my belly,” she says. “And I’m ready for everything now.”
God’s Church is at work in the lives of people like Mel. He is moving Christians beyond their church’s walls, beyond their community boundaries – even into other states – to walk alongside those doing it tough and bring an end to the isolation of financial struggle.
