FINANCES

What To Do in a Financial Crisis

By Dory Nissen
The 700 Club

CBN.com – "I was borrowing wherever I could at the time," Andy Manganiello said. "I was taking loans out on my house. I was basically borrowing Peter to pay Paul. I was working 20 hours a day and basically spinning my wheels."

Andy could no longer handle the pressure of a failing business and half a million dollars in debt. His credit line was maxed. Creditors pounded on his door and he was about to foreclose on his house. Suicide seemed the only option.

"I was empty. The tank was empty. I had a little boy I always wanted. I had a wife. But I was ruining their lives as well," Andy said. "I was going to kill myself."

His wife, Mary Jane, began to realize just how serious the situation was. So, she turned to the power of prayer and asked God to turn the situation around.

"It just confirmed to me that God wants to give us the desires of our heart and He wants the best for us and He honors obedience," Mary Jane said.

She also prayed for a financial breakthrough. She says she found the answer on The 700 Club when Pat was teaching on tithing. She decided it was time to start giving. So she called and joined the 700 Club. Andy was dumbfounded.

"When I found out she was giving money to the 700 Club, I thought she had to be nuts," Andy said. "It's my money. We need the money, so why are you giving this money away?"

But Mary Jane kept giving and prayed that God would change Andy’s heart. Mary Jane says God answered that prayer one night when she called Andy at work.

“One night she called and said, 'When are you coming home?' And I said, "Mar, how do I know when I'm coming home?' I'd been there 15 hours already," Andy said. "And she said, ‘I just want you to know your son said goodnight to your picture.’ That just killed me. That’s when I knew it was worth anything. I was losing the most precious things I had because I was trying to make a business work."

Andy asked God to take over and he says God told him to close his trucking business. He did. The next day he was offered a job by another trucking company who heard he’d closed his doors. Andy drew a paycheck immediately and this time he agreed to tithe. But the Manganiello's financial problems were far from over. Andy had to face his creditors in court and settle his $500,000 debt.

“I went to court and felt I did not need a lawyer," Andy said. "God was with me through all this." 

Every creditor was willing to work with Andy because he had not filed for bankruptcy. Large sums were waived and payment plans established.

"We settled every one of them one way or another," Andy said.

"I was absolutely thrilled because we had the opportunity to rely on God and follow Him and really just be completely dependant on Him," Mary Jane said. "And He proved Himself 10 times over to me in His faithfulness to us."

After months of prayer, Andy said the Lord told them to open another business in the trucking industry. This time they did it on a solid foundation of faith in Christ. 

These days Andy's priorities are in order and he puts God and family first. He also has a new warehouse business that is very successful even in tough economic times. He attributes that to God's favor because the Manganiellos are faithful in their giving.

“In the Bible, in your finances, it's the only place where it says to test Him," Andy said. "In Malachi it says, 'test Me.' Give Him a try. Test Him. He'll knock your socks off."

Andy and Mary Jane discovered a powerful truth from God’s Word. Luke 6:38 says, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (NIV)

God wants to bless you too, just as He has blessed the Manganiellos. One way you can give to God’s work is through CBN. Not only will you reach thousands each day with a message of truth and hope through The 700 Club, you will also help feed and clothe children around the world, bring medical aid to those suffering and so much more. Please join with us today.

• Find your way to peace with God
• Send us your prayer request online
• Call The 700 Club Prayer Center at 1 (800) 700-7000, 24 hours a day.

A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.