financial

Deliverance from Debt

By Cindy Savage, The 700 Club

The Hannon family lives on the plains of the Texas panhandle, and a short drive from the canyons of Lake Meredith. Early in their marriage, Garry and Brandi learned what it means to fight an uphill battle with bills. It all began when Garry started a business of buying, selling, and renting homes.

"The bank always told me, 'you can borrow as long as the house will appraise for that.' It was just like an open-end credit card," Garry said. "Before you know it, we were $300,000 in debt. Everything brought in went right back out."

"We’d take out loans on our cars just to keep building the business," Brandi said. "It was just outrageous. You know, I don’t think Garry even realized how much interest alone we were paying in addition to the payment. So it was stressful."

"There were times that it caused a lot of arguments at home," Garry said. "When it got to that point, I just knew there had to be a stopping point to pay those debts off."

Garry and Brandi knew they needed a radical plan to fix their finances. They began watching The 700 Club.

They heard Pat Robertson say, “God says prove Me, if I will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing you can’t contain.”

"The life I led before I believed, I believed 'what’s mine is mine,'" Garry said. "And as I became a new Christian, in my new faith, I struggled for a while. What The 700 Club did for me, you know, when Pat would talk about tithing—that it is part of your Christian walk."

The Hannons decided to give the first 10 percent of their income to their church and they also became CBN partners.

"The reason I started tithing is because it’s scriptural and I wanted to honor God," Garry said.

"We knew it would take some sacrifice on our part, but it was worth it because we were being blessed," Brandi said. "I mean, we still had debt, but with every little bit, every month, every week, we would have a little bit more."

When Brandi was pregnant with their third child, they questioned whether they could afford to keep giving. 

"You always have in the back of your mind, 'if I give this, what if something happens with my kids? Or if I give this, what if my car breaks down?'" Brandi said. "I think if you always live your life worrying about everything, what kind of life is that? You just have to step out there in faith and just know that God’s going to take care of you."

It wasn’t long before the Hannons’ finances started to turn around. Garry found bigger and better deals in the real estate market.

"The more we gave, the more He gave," Garry said. "As fast as we were paying off the properties, it just seemed like new deals were falling into place."

"In a matter of years, we’ve probably multiplied our business five times over," Brandi said.

"Brandi and I, several times, have just looked at our financial statements and said, 'Wow, where did this come from?' ” Garry said, "Knowing good and well that it’s all God."

Today the Hannons have real estate investments totaling $1.7 million. Now they are members of CBN’s Chairman’s Circle.

"He’s given us so many opportunities," Brandi said. "So to be able to take what He’s given us and give it to others, it’s just awesome!"

"Obedience to God is what definitely changed our finances, I believe," Garry said. "You can never out-give God."

Garry and Brandi are living proof that, when we seek God and are faithful to act on what He is calling us to do, God will take care of our every need! God wants to bless you too! One way you can give is to partner with CBN. You'll be making a difference in lives the world over, providing food to the hungry, fresh water wells to those in need, humanitarian aid, medical outreaches, and so much more—and all in the name of Jesus. Please join with us today.

• Find your way to peace with God
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