|PIC1|The Church of England is trying to reach people suffering from hopelessness in the midst of the recession with the addition of specially selected Bible verses to its online initiative, Matter of Life and Debt.

The verses were added just days before the release of the Chancellor’s new Budget and encourage visitors to look beyond the here and now, count their blessings, and remember they are valuable to God even if they lose the ‘status’ that comes with jobs and money.

“There is more to life than the current financial downturn,” says the Church. “If we can view the bigger picture, there is more to look forward to, and feel positive about.”

Among the verses quoted is Matthew 6.19, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Psalms 42 and 130 are also offered as encouragement to people to pray to God about their financial worries. Psalm 130 says: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds and Chairman of the Church of England’s Stewardship Committee, the Rt Rev John Packer, said the Church was there to help people in debt.

“These verses are just a small part of the Church's response to the needs of those who are struggling with debt,” he said.

“For many, debt can be an enormous worry and, in many cases, churches are offering help, support, advice, or counselling to help people put things into perspective.

“With many affected by the credit crunch, there is an increasing need to support those facing redundancy and changed circumstances.”

Bank of England Executive Director Paul Fisher said on Tuesday it was too early to determine whether the worst of the recession was over for the UK, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“I wouldn’t want to say worst is over. The recovery from here on will be quite slow and bumpy,” he said.

On the web: www.cofe.anglican.org/debt/findinghope