
Belinda’s journey to recovery
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? Would they manage on Sam’s income alone? Their children, Katie and Max, were still so young, and they had only recently bought their 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 – Their basic family 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 they had some financial security if things took a turn gave her peace of mind.
- Christian KiwiSaver Scheme – Belinda and Sam 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 and Sam had been paying their mortgage aggressively, but perhaps it was time to reassess their payments. If they could adjust the term or find a lower interest rate, it might ease the burden.
- Other Financial Support – She wasn’t Anglican Financial Care newsletter had mentioned that they sometimes helped with medical costs for clergy and their families. Another question for the Anglican Financial Care team.
- Childcare Support – Thankfully, Sam’s parents lived nearby and were more than happy to help with Katie and Max.
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, her family 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.