Small-church pastor receives $15k student loan forgiveness

With debt nearly paid off he says it’s ‘almost too good to be true’

 April 20, 2019

Presbyterian Mission Agency’s student loan forgiveness program helped small-church pastor the Rev. Dr. Bob Breed shorten the term of his loan. He calls it “a gift of joy and relief.”
Photo courtesy of Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church)

Five years ago, the Rev. Dr. Bob Breed made a conscious decision to serve a smaller PC(USA) church part time in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he could also work at the city’s men’s shelter.

Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church has been good to Breed, caring greatly for him and his family. But despite working two jobs, Breed is still making less than he was in his previous position at a larger church. His wife went from part-time to full-time work to help make ends meet.

Every month, said Breed, it felt as if money was “coming out of our pockets” to pay off student loans. They both wished they could use that money for other things.

“We couldn’t wait to get the thing paid off,” he said.

One day, Breed stumbled across a page on the Presbyterian Mission Agency website from Financial Aid for Service (FAFS) on managing educational debt. After reading about the Transformational Leadership Debt Assistance (TLDA) program that offers loan repayment assistance for pastors of small PC(USA) congregations and emerging worshiping communities, he inquired about it.

“I found the folks in Louisville incredibly helpful,” he said. “As they walked me through the application process, I couldn’t believe how easy it was.”

Those “folks” Breed referred to are mission loan repayment specialist Melonee Tubb and FAFS coordinator Laura Bryan. Currently they are looking to help up to 50 pastors like Breed with student loan forgiveness through the TLDA program.

During his time at Pleasant Grove, Breed applied for and received a $5,000 loan, paid directly to his loan servicer. After 18 months of service that loan was forgiven. Breed repeated the process twice for a total of $15,000 of interest-free student loan forgiveness.

“It’s almost too good to be true,” he said. “For the denomination to shorten the term of my loan like that is such a gift of joy and relief.”

Breed’s student loans are just about paid off, so he can now focus on his family’s education. One son is already in college. A daughter is about to be.

Now Breed is an advocate for a program he knew nothing about when he made the choice to serve a smaller PC(USA) congregation.

“What a great way for our denomination to empower people to serve small churches where wonderful ministry happens in a great environment,” he said. “I would tell all pastors out there considering serving a small church, ‘Don’t let pay be a barrier — especially with this opportunity to decrease student loan debt.’”

Paul Seebeck, Mission Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus:  Student Loan Forgiveness

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Jon Reinink, PMA
Martha Reisner, BOP

Let us pray:

We thank you, Lord, for the new thing you are doing among us. We pray for the mission and ministry of the church, as you help us to envision new ways to be your people in a changed and changing world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Saturday, April 20, 2019, the Easter Vigil (First Service of Easter) (Year C)

• First Reading Genesis 1:1-2:4a
• Response Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26
• Second Reading Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
• Response Psalm 46:1-11
• Third Reading Genesis 22:1-18
• Response Psalm 16:1-11
• Fourth Reading Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21
• Response Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18
• Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
• Response Isaiah 12:2-6
• Sixth Reading Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6
• Response Psalm 19:1-14
• Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:24-28
• Repsonse Psalm 42:1-11
• Eighth Reading Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Response Psalm 143:1-12
• Ninth Reading Zephaniah 3:14-20
• Response Psalm 98:1-9
• Tenth Reading Romans 6:3-11
• Response Psalm 114:1-8
• Gospel Luke 24:1-12