Sitting on the couch, Belinda tried to process the news.
“Oh dear God, what do I do?” she whispered, her heart pounding. A flood of emotions rushed in – fear, confusion, anger, sadness, and an unsettling numbness. She turned to prayer, opening her heart and asking God for guidance.
The doctor had confirmed what she had feared. Cancer. She had suspected it from the moment she found the lump, but part of her had prayed that it was something else. The reality of it all settled in. She wasn’t ready for this. Whoever is?
But she knew one thing: God would give her the courage to take the next step.
Facing the unknown
At 40 years old, Belinda was far too young for this. She had always been a planner, someone who needed a clear path forward and now, she felt like she had none.
Beyond the health concerns, the financial implications weighed heavily on her mind. How long would she be off work? What if she couldn’t return? How would she manage, having only recently bought her first home?
She took a deep breath. Enough sitting here in fear. Lord, help me focus on what I can do.
And so, she did what she always did when things felt overwhelming, she made a plan.
Putting a financial plan in place
Belinda started listing the things she could control.
- Sick Leave and Holidays – Between sick leave and annual leave, she had six weeks covered. Her employer was incredibly supportive, reassuring her that they would be flexible with her recovery.
- Health Insurance – Her basic coverage meant she had options for treatment and specialists.
- Life and Trauma Insurance – While she didn’t want to dwell on worst-case scenarios, knowing she had some financial security if things took a turn gave her peace of mind.
- Christian KiwiSaver Scheme – Belinda had been contributing to Christian KiwiSaver Scheme through Anglican Financial Care for over 15 years. She had heard that a serious illness might allow for an early withdrawal. She made a note to call the Anglican Financial Care team the next day.
- Anglican Financial Care Mortgage – She had been paying her mortgage off aggressively, but perhaps it was time to reassess her payments. If she could adjust the term or find a lower interest rate, it might ease the burden.
- Personal Support – Thankfully, her parents lived nearby and were more than happy to help and she knew the Cancer Society had a range of services she could call on, if she needed to.
With every practical step she noted down, she felt a little lighter. The fear hadn’t disappeared, but faith and action were beginning to replace the uncertainty.
Now, time for a cup of tea and that last piece of chocolate cake. After all, life is too short to leave cake uneaten.
Moving forward with support
We’re happy to share that Belinda’s surgery was successful, and she is now cancer-free. She needed to take extended time off work, but because she had put the right support in place, she was able to manage financially without stress.
When Belinda reached out to Anglican Financial Care, she learned she qualified for a serious illness withdrawal from her Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, helping cover unexpected costs. Anglican Financial Care also worked with her to adjust her mortgage payments, making them more manageable during recovery.
Now, stronger than ever, Belinda is giving back. On April 5-6 2025, she will be walking alongside the Anglican Financial Care team in the Relay for Life in Wellington, raising funds to support others facing cancer.
Do you want to stand with us in supporting people like Belinda? Join “Christian KiwiSaver – Faith in Motion” or donate here.
This story is based on true events, but names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy.
Christian KiwiSaver Scheme is managed and issued by The New Zealand Anglican Church Pension Board (trading as Anglican Financial Care). The Product Disclosure Statement can be found here: Documents | Christian KiwiSaver Scheme.
