Rev. DeForest B. Soaries will provide principles for living a debt-free lifestyle to audiences in New Jersey, Georgia and Ohio this weekend.

Contact: Stephanie Ahenkora, 732-839-2423

SOMERSET, N.J., Jan. 17, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The National Foundation for Credit Counseling reported in 2009 that one in four adults -- 28 percent of the population -- acknowledged not paying all of their bills on time, and more than 18 million people reported that their household carries credit card debt of $10,000 or more. DeForest Soaries, Jr., D. Min., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J., and author of "dfree: Breaking Free from Financial Slavery" (Zondervan), will continue the fight against consumer debt, predatory lending and financial illiteracy among African Americans on Jan. 17 in Hamilton, N.J. as part of a 40-city, cross-country tour.

Soaries launched the tour on New Year's Day at a citywide Emancipation Day service in Durham, N.C. The tour includes stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Baltimore, Boston and other major cities. In most cities, he will be hosted by black churches that will take part in a curriculum uniquely designed by Soaries: "dfree Lifestyle: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom" (UMI).

The first tour stop in Durham, N.C. was hosted by the Rev. Michael D. Page and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA) on Jan. 1. "Dr. Soaries sensitized us to the demand for financial freedom in our communities and how we can no longer take a 'back seat' approach to cure this problem," said Page, executive director of United Christian Campus Ministry at North Carolina Central University.

"We are quickly losing our freedom with our finances, and until we began to focus our efforts on debt reduction, as a society we will be doomed for failure. This emancipation message brought the audience to its feet in mobilizing us to action," he added.

The Reverend returned to his birthplace in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 5, as the next tour stop, to continue his message for financial liberation. The event was hosted by the Central Brooklyn Leadership Council and the Mens Ministry of Historic First Church of God in Christ. "His speech at our community fellowship breakfast..., was the first time many of us saw debt as the second slavery, Buster [Soaries] woke us up and began the process of breaking the shackles of this new slavery," stated Bob Law, the moderator for the event.

In a historical context, the year 2013 marks the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the "Emancipation Proclamation" that President Abraham Lincoln signed to free black slaves in 1863. Soaries' crusade will promote dfree® - his church-based strategy to emancipate blacks from the second slavery -- debt. Furthermore, he is challenging black America to pay down $1 billion of personal and family debt. According to National Foundation for Credit Card Counseling, 54 percent of African Americans do not have savings in contrast to one in four Caucasians -- 28 percent. The public can get more information at www.billiondollarpaydown.com.

The 40-City tour will make additional stops in Cherry Hill, N.J. on Jan. 18, in Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 20 and in Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 21 also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. During the tour, Soaries will introduce churches to a free web-based tool that allows people to set debt reduction goals and track their progress. Churches will be enlisted to sign up their members for the Billion Dollar Challenge and join forces to motivate their members to get out of debt.

Soaries began this campaign at his own congregation in 2005, and many families have now reduced their debt, increased their savings and are enjoying financial security even during these tough economic times.

For tour information, contact Keri Spencer at 732-839-2432.

For more information about dfree®, visit: www.mydfree.org.