Bankrupt!

Tim and Melinda Inman thought they'd done everything right. So how did they end up in court, declaring themselves unable to pay their debts?

Renae Bottom

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Melinda and Tim Inman had known this day would be difficult, but they hadn't expected such a large crowd in the courtroom. More than 50 other people were waiting for the judge to call their names.

There was no exchange of polite conversation. Just being in bankruptcy court belied a secret so personal that few seemed comfortable with small talk. When the Inmans' turn came, Tim walked to the front, then turned and faced the onlookers. He answered the judge's questions: Are you Timothy Inman? Is this your correct address? Are these the debts in question?

Then the judge addressed the crowd: Are there creditors present who wish to present a claim against these debts? No one answered. When the judge was satisfied, Tim stepped down. He and Melinda hurried from the room, glad to escape the awkward scrutiny of strangers. It was now official: They had filed for bankruptcy.

How Could This Happen?

"You feel ashamed," Melinda says, recalling the scene in the courtroom three years ago. "It's a blow to your ego," says Tim. "Bankruptcy implies irresponsibility, that you couldn't take care of your family. You don't want to be known as a failure."

But the Inmans weren't failures. Tim had started a new job as postmaster in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Before their recent move there, the Inmans had lived for 17 years in Manhattan, Kansas, where Tim worked as a postal supervisor. Melinda homeschooled their five children and managed the household. In 1989 Tim completed his college degree while working full-time.

Although he had a good job and they budgeted carefully, the cost of raising a large family put a growing strain on the Inmans' finances. Mortgage payments, groceries, upkeep on their van, the perpetual needs of the children, college loans: It all added up to less and less money at the end of each month. They debated whether Melinda should get a job, but daycare costs were prohibitive; and both Tim and Melinda were reluctant to give up homeschooling.

While seeking advice, the Inmans discovered a series of videotapes made by Christian financial counselors. These videos promised something they had never heard before: that Christians, by tithing and practicing certain other principles, could be assured of freedom from financial difficulty. The Inmans had always given money to their church, but they hadn't made a point of giving a certain percentage of their income. They began to wonder if their failure to tithe was the cause of their financial difficulties. Perhaps God was waiting for them to show their trust in his ability to provide for their family's needs. Desiring to obey God, they began tithing.

Tim took on a second job, working on commission for a financial planning service. He and Melinda were optimistic. They had taken a step of faith, and they waited for the financial security that was promised. But almost immediately they were hit by a wave of medical expenses. Over a period of months, accidents, injuries and other unexpected circumstances forced more than half the family members to seek medical care. The aftermath was a long list of medical bills—ambulance fees, hospital stays, bills from surgeons, anesthesiologists, physical therapists and more. Some expenses were covered by insurance; others weren't. And even the medical care that was covered required a hefty co-payment. "At one point, we were sending money to more than ten doctors and specialists," Melinda says.

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Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 1997, Spring

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