. >> reporter: soaries is the senior pastor in central new jersey, and he's on a crusade.roblem than racism? >> yes. >> you didn't even hesitate. >> there's no question to me that debt is a bigger problem than racism. >> it's a provocative theory but soaries stands by his claim. >> we still do pay day loans, rent-to-own, but you see we'll drive shiny cars and we'll wear designer clothes an we have all the appearances of doing well but we won't admit that we're broke. being in debt is slavery. when i'm paying last month's bills with next month's check, that's slavery. when i'm writing a check hoping that it doesn't bounce or when i pull out my credit card praying that it's not rejected, then i'm living in financial bondage. >> reporter: it's a problem exacerbated in today's economy, the worst since the depression. longtime church members doug and mary jeffries feel like they're living in financial bondage. they refinanced their home twice and are now on the verge of foreclosure. they've turned to their pastor for help. >> one day i just broke down. we were at a funeral at t

christy is the 28-year-old youth minister at buster soarie's church. she has a masters from divinity at princeton seminary. believe he needs most valg and if i wasn't here or anybody here pushing him, then i think he would be a lot more nervous and i think he would probably choke. >> has he choked before? >> yes. >> my name is frederick fill p junior. >> he really wants to go to college but it will likely cost him tens of thousands of dollars so christy adams has entered fred in an ncaap acting competition. if he make this round an makes it to the nationals, the grand prize is $2,000. >> fighting a financial crisis from the pulpit. the black church has fought for civil and human rights. now it's waging a war on debt. soledad o'brien's "almighty debt kwn a black in america special. ". >>> does that make him a bigot. we'll ask two muslims what they think right after the break. >>> he used to -- used to host "the talk of the nation." but this week juan williams took on the title himself. he made comments that some think are bigoted against muslims. now th