Sour economy has upside says financial guru Ramsey
Bobby Ross Jr./Religion News Service
Issue date: 5/10/09 Section: Business
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One of his favorite Scriptures is Proverbs 22:7: "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
Now, with the nation in what Ramsey characterizes as "complete freak-out mode" over the recession, the faith-based approach he touts seems to be resonating even more, he said.
"I would not say that business is booming during the recession, but this economic downturn has made people realize that now is the time to turn their financial life around," the 48-year-old money-management expert said.
About 1,500 people showed up at Oklahoma City-area Life Church in Oklahoma to hear Ramsey give a history of capitalism and explain why he believes the economy will survive the current woes.
But the mega church crowd that saw the syndicated talk-show host in person was far from alone. His free, nationwide "Town Hall for Hope" meeting was simulcast live to more than 6,000 churches, businesses and military bases - 10 times more venues than Ramsey initially thought might participate, he said.
"The one thing America needs right now is hope," Ramsey said. "All we're hearing in the news is how bad things are, and no one is talking about hope for the future. The truth is, fear is running rampant in America today, and people are making bad decisions based on that fear."
Ramsey's message: "Hope doesn't come from Washington. Hope comes from you and me. Hope comes from God."
Three times zones and roughly 3,900 miles from Oklahoma City, Ted Manolas and fellow church members watched Ramsey on big screens in Chugiak, Alaska, northeast of Anchorage.
"You could say that I've joined the Dave Ramsey cult," joked Manolas, director of finance and administration at The Crossing Church at Birchwood, before the simulcast began. As a result of Ramsey's teachings, Manolas said, he paid off all his debts - including his home.
The Alaska church has taught Ramsey's "Financial Peace University," a 13-week video series, to more than 150 families, Manolas said.
Nationally, 750,000 families have completed the course, according to Lampo Group Inc., Ramsey's Brentwood, Tenn.-based company, which has more than 200 employees. Lampo is the Greek word for "light," referring to the passage in the Gospel of Matthew calling for Christians not to hide their faith.
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RosaT
RosaT
posted 5/12/09 @ 9:47 AM EST
It is encouraging to see that spiritual, as well as economic leaders are coming to similar conclusions that the downturn abounds in opportunities for new creative ventures, not just for new business models, but also ho we model our personal lives to be more fulfilling. (Continued…)
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