BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Delivered From Debt by Melanie Hemry The sun hung like a golden orb over Fulton, Ky., its light diffused through filigreed clouds. The morning smelled of freshly mowed grass and rich soil. Barry Sharp enjoyed the breeze on his face before stepping back into the house. The shrill jangle of the telephone pierced the silence and Barry’s brow furrowed at the sound. Walking toward the phone, he paused when his wife, Shirley, answered it. Her face looked stricken. She glanced at him, reproach in her eyes. Slipping out of the house, Barry drove to his automotive business where he shut himself in his office. Dropping into his desk chair, Barry let his head fall into his hands. How had this happened? He’d tried to protect Shirley from the ongoing stress of their finances, but the problems had come home to roost. Creditors called the house day and night. “Lord, I’m a hard worker!” Barry whispered in his own defense. It was true. He worked hard running his business. He’d heard about some business opportunities and had made some money. Encouraged, he’d borrowed money to invest more. But somehow, over the years, he’d dug himself into a financial hole and didn’t know how to climb out. Shirley had no idea that everything they owned was hocked. They were a quarter of a million dollars in debt, and on the verge of bankruptcy. The thought of losing their home, made Barry feel weak-kneed. He couldn’t imagine looking into the eyes of his wife and four children and telling them they’d lost everything. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Barry knew he’d lost his wife’s respect. Now, house or no house, he thought there was a good chance he would lose his family. Learning to Be Led “Shirley and I met as high-school freshmen and there was never anyone else for me,” Barry remembers. “Shirley earned a teaching degree in home economics and I started my own business. We were active in our church and taught Sunday school. When our four children came along, she home-schooled them, and later we drove over 50 miles each way to a Christian school. While I trusted God for my salvation, I figured I could handle everything else. But that wasn’t working out so well. “Back in the ’90s, a friend gave us a set of tapes by Kenneth Copeland. They sat for a year, until one day I listened to them in the car as I traveled. When I got home I told Shirley, ‘This is a whole new world!’ “She listened to them and we wanted more. We became Partners with KCM and learned about 2 Timothy 2:15, which says we should study to show ourselves approved by God. For the first time in my life, I started studying the Bible. We attended the Southwest Believers’ Convention each year and learned so much. I believed everything Kenneth Copeland taught—except about finances. I still thought I could fix the problem.” One of the most profound changes in Shirley’s life came as she read Gloria’s book "To Know Him." In it, Gloria asked what we would do if we got up one morning and found Jesus at the breakfast table. Would we take time to spend with Him, or would we say something like, “I’m thrilled You came by…but I have to run. I’m having lunch downtown and I have to take care of some business. Maybe we’ll have time to talk when I come home tonight.” ****article continues on next page**** BVOV : 11

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