Mountaintop Manna with Dr. Byron L. Benton Dr. Byron L. Benton

This episode biblically defines the role of money; explores how we can break the chains of unhealthy debt and become empowered by God to be excellent financial stewards. Biblical and practical steps are given to show that there is hope for every financial situation.

Matthew 6:19 (NKJ)
The Real
We are living with the dangerous problem of belonging to a system that was designed to keep us oppressed. This system makes sure we are always the borrower and never the lender. Someone has their foot against the scale and are stacking the deck against you because the system is designed to make sure the rich get richer at the expense and exploitation of those who have the least. We have a massive debt problem in America and its harmfully affecting our households, churches, and communities.

The Climb
Special Guest: Ms. Dorothea Bernique
Increasing H.O.P.E Financial Training Center

Dorothea is the founder and Executive Director of Increasing H.O.P.E (Helping Others Prosper Economically) Financial Training Center.   As an Accredited Financial Counselor Dorothea has been affectionately called a “financial guru”, as she and the agency have trained individuals in the Lowcountry to effectively manage their monies, so they may have more choices in life decisions – which, she says, is the beginning of financial freedom. 
Increasing H.O.P.E. developed from a vision to help people that struggled with their finances. The mission of Increasing H.O.P.E is to create financial freedom and stability for families in South Carolina by building assets through financial education, training and community development.  Increasing H.O.P.E’s Financial Training Center operates as a one-stop educational resource, providing integrated services to help low- to moderate-income families and individuals to achieve financial stability and build assets. With 14 years of proud community service, Increasing H.O.P.E. has held 303 classes, taught 3213 individuals financial education, prepared 2023 tax returns, assisted with 312 foreclosure bailouts, helped create 20 homeowners, and completed the renovation of our second affordable housing property in 2017. Increasing H.O.P.E.’s total impact equates to over $9 million impact for the community and region.

The Takeaway
There is hope for every financial situation.
There are tools to help you climb your mountain.
Discipleship requires discipline.

Sources: 
https://time.com/5662626/student-loans-repayment/
https://prosperitynow.org/blog/what-weve-learned-about-debt-black-communities
https://www.povertyusa.org/facts
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education-postsecondary/reports/2018/05/23/451186/neglected-college-race-gap-racial-disparities-among-college-completers/

Sponsors:
www.micahthomascreative.com
Mad Max Music @tmarsh799
www.mythreesonsofcharleston.com

This episode discusses the various biblical passages that show the importance of mountaintop experiences. These texts express the spiritual inspiration behind the name mountaintop manna and provide the structure for future episodes. 

Noah, Mt. Ararat (Genesis 8)
Abraham, Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22)
Moses, Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19)
Moses, Mt. Pisgah/Mt. Nebo (Deuteronomy 34)
Jesus, Mt. Hermon/Mt. Tabor (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36, 2 Peter 1:16–18)
Jesus, Mt. Olivet (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42)


Sponsors:
www.micahthomascreative.com
Mad Max Music @tmarsh799
www.mythreesonsofcharleston.com

Tune in to our new podcast starting on January 17, 2020. 

Mountaintop Manna is a family friendly podcast that focuses on Faith, Family, Finance, and Fitness with tons of fun mixed into every episode. 

Host: Rev. Dr. Byron L. Benton

The Rev. Dr. Byron L. Benton is the Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church located in North Charleston, South Carolina. He is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina and a proud graduate of NC A&T State University. Pastor Benton completed his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, New Jersey) and has a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Eastern University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
 Pastor Benton is passionate about empowering individuals, families, and communities to live spiritually, mentally and physically healthy lives. He works closely with public and private institutions, serves on and advises various boards, and speaks across the country on critical issues that impact families. He formerly served as pastor of Berean Baptist Church of Raleigh, North Carolina and associate pastor of Berean Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York. Pastor Benton is married to the former Yasmeen Hadaway and they have three beautiful daughters- Arianna and Mayara and Zaya.