I would like to start by congratulating the MacArthur Park Church Council members who allowed the Financial Peace

University. The second class of FPU ended on May 16, 2007 and  25 out of the initial 37 people enrolled received Certificates of Completion.  This shows that these FPU graduates have the conviction to change their lives and the lives of their children and their family tree.

These dedicated individuals and couples showed up every week, they participated in group discussions, they became friends. They encouraged one another to share life experiences.  Collectively each person or couple in the class was able to start an emergency fund of $1000 or more totaling $28,200.00 and paid off a total of $116,450.00 in debt. The class started saving all their credit card, auto loan, and home equity loan mail offers.  By not accepting these offers they were able to avoid $1,570,311.00 in possible debt.  I was so proud of everyone who every week had a stack of credit offers, and those who cut up their credit cards and closed those accounts, vowing not to get into debt again. Realizing the evil of debt and how debt ROBS us of the lives we deserve.

Dave Ramsey taught the class, I was there to encourage and stress accountability, and guidance when possible. The final lesson had the greatest message and we all nodded our heads in agreement; that we are only stewards of God’s money it doesn't belong to us, it is only loaned to us. 

We ended the session with a potluck dinner and photos and a lot of exchanging of phone numbers and e-mails. Some were already planning to come back for a particular session. I look forward to the next class starting June 13, 2007. 

Thank you once again to all those involved with initiating and bringing this great program to MacArthur Park.
Norma Jean Case