Almighty Debt Documentary Airs Tonight

O'Brien and Pastor Soaries

Black churches have always been different and the current economic crisis may have made those differences more pronounced, and connected churches and economics more closely.

"As much as it's bad for everybody, it's devastating for the black community," says Soledad O'Brien, speaking at a screening for her latest CNN documentary.

"Almighty Debt" debuts tonight from 9 - 10:30 p.m. on CNN and is the latest installment in the network's Black in America series.

It focuses on DeForest Soaries, pastor of a 7,000-member First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, N.J. Soaries himself focuses on black debt which he considers to be currently a bigger problem than racism.

The documentary tracks stories of several parishioners struggling after losing a job, seeking college loan, or needing loan modification to keep their home and examines the connections between the church members' debt and their faith.
"The black church is different," O'Brien says. "It's always offered something different to its churchgoers. It's always offered leadership, it's offered jobs, food and clothing. I think people go to church expecting a message that looks toward - not just spiritually - bettering themselves."