FINANCES
Is Your Life Ready for Change and Adventure?
By Ken Hulme
The 700 Club
There are people in this world who are crying out to God for help this very minute. You can end hunger and thirst, bring medical and disaster supplies, provide jobs, and give hope to millions of hurting people. When you join, you help preach the Gospel in 147 countries and territories and 65 languages around the world. Do something that will last for eternity.
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– In many ways, CBN partners Bill and Diane Oestreich have the best jobs on the planet. Nearly every day of the year, they take people underwater to swim with the manatees.
Diane says, “How many people can wake up every day and say they are happy to go to work.”
When they’re not swimming with the manatees, you might find Bill or Diane serving as scuba instructors or diving guides taking clients into underwater caves rarely seen by human eyes.
Bill and Diane will tell you running their successful dive shop in Crystal River, Florida, begins with hard work and following some basic spiritual laws like giving!
“It made so much sense that if there are physical laws,” says Diane, “[then] how can anyone not understand that there are spiritual laws?”
The Oestreichs began their adventure in giving many years ago. They lived on the road in a band called Encounter. After concerts, they’d turn on the TV and watch a program they had grown to love.
Diane says, “I accepted the Lord while watching The 700 Club. No matter where we went, where we traveled to, I could watch The 700 Club. It touched my life.”
During that time, they learned to give sacrificially and God always seemed to provide.
Later, Bill landed a job in a dive shop. But instead of staying on as an employee, Bill and Diane decided to buy the place.
After years of faithful giving to the Lord’s work, Diane says God provided some “unusual financing” to help them get their first boat.
“When we started our business, we actually had a friend come along — a business owner — and he said, ‘I want to give you $10,000 to start your business.”
Bill recalls, “A friend came along and said, ‘I don’t need the pontoon boat anymore. You can take it and figure out what kind of payments you want to make on it.’”
Since starting the dive shop, they have also been able to buy some investment properties, again, Diane says, with God’s provision.
“The third house… Didn’t think we’d get the first house, much less the second house,” says Diane. “The bank owner said, ‘I know you guys. I’m gonna set up a loan for this house. No problem, no questions asked.’ Way more than we could ever imagine, God blessed us through this business, through our houses, and it was like being brought into the promised land.”
But Bill and Diane say they don’t support CBN because of the financial blessings they receive. That just seems to happen. Instead they give to The 700 Club because of the way the program has touched them and the world around them.
So if you’re ever near Crystal River, Florida, come on over and take a swim with the manatees…
Meanwhile, the Oestreichs encourage everyone to join The 700 Club so that they can learn what she has.
“You’re a part of the ministry that reaches out to other people’s lives,” she says. “Once you are touched, you want to touch other people’s lives."
God wants to bless you too, just as He has blessed the Oestreichs. 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.
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
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