Our mission at Bridges & Balm is to support both sexual assault survivors and transitioning workers. While this blog post is for all, it may be especially relevant for transitioning workers.
If you’re a worker making changes in your life right now, we’re glad you found us. People from around the world support Bridges & Balm because they want to help you. One of the first steps you’ll need to take is to detail your current financial reality, and even this act can be a hurdle. If you have a friend or advocate who can work through this process with you, we encourage you to reach out to them.
When you are asked to share information about your financial situation, this can bring up many feelings. After all, money isn't just about numbers – it can make us feel worried, scared, or unsure about ourselves. Many people find it hard to talk about money, and this can be even harder for you if you're leaving a ministry role where your needs were taken care of. Now that you need to think about and manage money in a new way, you might feel overwhelmed, and that's normal.
Why We Request Financial Information
Our commitment to responsible stewardship of charitable donations requires us to maintain clear documentation of how funds are distributed. This transparency serves multiple purposes: it lets us help more people, shows donors that we are using their gifts wisely, helps us to avoid any semblance of financial favoritism, and makes sure we can keep helping people. This worksheet also enables Bridges & Balm to fairly distribute assistance without ambiguity. When we track all the details, we can also see what kinds of help people need most, which helps us serve our community better.
Filling out the budget worksheet is very important, especially if you haven't had to manage your own money for many years. Think of it as making a map of your personal financial situation at this moment in time. While it might feel uncomfortable – even overwhelming – to consider the costs that you now are responsible for, it's a healthy step. The worksheet helps you see clearly what resources you have and where you need assistance, even if only for a short time.
Acknowledging the Emotional Journey
We understand that answering questions about money may bring up difficult emotions. You may have experienced spiritual manipulation around money, whether implicitly or explicitly. You may have entered the work with the understanding that your financial needs would be met for the rest of your life, and now you are adjusting to the reality that your circumstances have changed. You also may not have the support from others that you might have expected. Because of these experiences, talking about money can feel extra hard.
We understand that reaching out for help often conflicts with messages you may have internalized about being self-reliant or about your own lack of worthiness. You might think other people deserve help more than you do or that your needs aren't important enough to get support. Perhaps you were taught that God would take care of everything, so speaking up for yourself and seeking support may feel strange or wrong. These feelings are valid, but there is real power in sharing about your situation and needs with those that care. Learning to make choices for yourself and your future is a vital step in your healing process and your successful transition.
Your Worth Is Not Measured by Numbers
Please know that your value as a person has nothing to do with your financial situation. The documentation we request helps us understand how to support you -- it doesn't define who you are or make your experiences any more or less real. We expect that you're spending more money than you have coming in right now. That's exactly why we're here to help. Everyone deserves to be supported with dignity.
Our Commitment to You
When you share your financial information with us, we commit to:
keeping your information private
reviewing your paperwork with care
helping you fill out the forms if you need it
staying in touch with you
answering your questions in a timely manner.
Additional Resources
We have compiled an in-progress Practical Resources Packet that will assist you with the specifics of transitioning, even if you've been out of the work for awhile. We will add additional resources there as we find them, and feel free to share your experiences with us to continue improving this resource.
Looking Forward
Try to think of this paperwork not as a test of how well you're doing, but as another step toward building your new life. We know that everyone's story is different, and your financial situation might not look like anyone else's. Everything you tell us about your situation helps us understand how to support you better. Remember, you're not alone in this. We're here to help you through this process with respect and empathy.
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