American Missionary Fellowship

When people think about missions, they often think about evangelism. But missions work is more than just telling people about Christ; it is also teaching them how to follow Him in their daily lives. COO Bryce Bartruff knows the importance of helping people apply biblical truths in practical ways. He brings his knowledge and experience in personal finance to churches across the country by leading Fiscal Fitness seminars.

Bryce learned sound financial principles through experience (raising a family) and education (an MBA). He began teaching these principles by developing a self-study course when he was head of AMF’s Missionary Education and Training Department more than two decades ago. About the same time, his church (Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia) began a quarterly class called the Premarried class, and Bryce began to teach couples going through that class how to manage their money. Out of that experience came a request for Bryce to teach a Sunday school class on the topic and later a one-day seminar, which was the birth of Fiscal Fitness in its current form.

Times have changed since Bryce wrote the initial self-study course, but the principles he teaches have not. “I see financial struggles among missionaries and business friends alike, and the principles that help overcome financial stress are uniform,” Bryce says. “Money is the top argument topic among couples and a contributing factor to almost every divorce. Making it a nonissue will remove a great deal of stress from the average family.”

Bryce adds, “A fundamental part of our faith is to be able to live the right kind of lifestyle and to have our financial issues in order so that it actually enhances our family life and our relationship with the Lord, as opposed to pulling things and people apart. . . . Fiscal Fitness seminars are not evangelical but are about the practical daily living of our faith, so God is glorified.”

Many seminar participants want to learn how to get out of debt. “Most people think it is really going to be difficult, but it just takes a focus in the right areas,” Bryce says. “It really can be a fun process, and it can pull the family together.” Bryce keeps the seminars fun and interactive and sends participants home with a book full of practical tips and tools. He says, “The key idea we want people to come away with is they don’t have to worry about money anymore.”

To host or attend a Fiscal Fitness seminar in your area, call 610-527-4439, ext. 104, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For more stories and photos of people sharing the love of Christ in their communities, visit http://amfmission.org/passiton/ .