Not Just Debt Management!
Did you know that Family Life Credit Services does much more than administer debt management programs? Our mission is to assist families in becoming financially debt-free and to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are dedicated to serving others and seeing them set free from debt!
In 1986, Darold and Patricia Larson opened The Perry Center, a home for young pregnant women in the Fargo-Moorhead area who had nowhere else to go. On occasion, residents would need assistance with debt and finances. The Larson’s began helping them one at a time, setting up a budget and helping them get caught up in their bills—all without a loan, but by teaching them how to budget, showing them how to change their spending habits, and contacting their creditors to see if they would help by lowering the interest rates. FLCS is now accredited by COA, working in more than 30 states, and has assisted thousands of families in becoming debt-free.
Some of our other programs include:
- Credit and Budget Counseling: The primary way we assist families in becoming debt-free is through our free credit and budget counseling services, where we work with clients on credit, personal money management, and budgeting. A certified credit counselor, along with the client, puts together a financial action plan to suit the client’s needs.
- Financial Education: Our CreditWise presentation is our opportunity to bring financial education to those in our community at high schools, universities, local social service agencies, church youth groups, etc. Topics include: the sensible use of credit, budgeting, mechanics of credit, and credit scoring. We also offer Money in Motion workshops for individuals and groups. Topics include: developing goals and a budget, applying for credit cards, shopping for a car loan, reading and understanding contracts, and understanding credit reports. FLCS also just launched our free monthly webinars that any of our clients can access on our website regarding different financial topics.
- Homebuyer Education: FLCS is a certified homebuyer educator and offers a free eight-hour workshop to educate first-time homebuyers on all they need to know to purchase their first home. After the workshop, participants are entitled to a one-on-one counseling session to help turn their home-ownership dream into a reality.
- Thrift Store: The Family Life Thrift Store opened in Fargo, ND, this spring, with profits going to support The Perry Center and other local community ministries.
