New Crown Ministries Short Film Series - Crown Financial Ministries True Financial Freedom Blog

As you can see, it's been quite some time since I last posted. A new baby, ministry and business opportunities and other life fun will do that to you.

Just the same, please check out this great post from the new blog about the Crown Financial Ministries short film project. It features Crown CEO Chuck Bentley discussing production of Crown's upcoming short film series.

I'll attempt to post more Crown stories soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out Chuck Bentley's new Money Life podcast and other Crown resources linked to the right of this blog.

Couple Digs Hole, God Digs Them Out

Enjoy this Crown Story from this month's Crown Money Matters E-Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

My husband has been driving a truck over-the-road for the past 14 years. In January he made a sudden decision to "hang up his keys" and get a job so he could be home.

We were aware that this decision would create a financial challenge, but we thought it would be worth it to have him home. Wow! We could not imagine how challenging it would be.

With only two days of driving left, the differential went out on the truck, resulting in repairs exceeding $7,000 before we could even put the truck up for sale.

The truck, on which we owe approximately $60,000, has not sold, no longer produces income, and still requires a sizable monthly payment. Our fixed expenses exceed my husband's new take-home pay by $800 a month.

The good news is we were forced to reevaluate and study our non-fixed expenses as we urgently searched for ways to cut back. In so doing, we discovered we had a water leak. (I had thought the increase in our water bill was due to the fact that a son was doing his laundry at home.) It is very satisfying to plug two leaks, one of water and another of money to pay for that unused water.

I got out Larry Burkett's budget guidelines and compared his percentages to what we were spending. We are overspending on insurance, car, and house. We are in the process of bringing one of those areas into line with our new income. Please pray for us to have the courage to deal with the other two!

God provided a little three-hour-per-day job for me. I will only earn $400 per month—half of our shortfall—but it is in food service, so God is richly feeding us because I am allowed to bring home food that cannot be served a second day.

The most awesome thing about this experience is the sense of God's loving, non-judgmental presence. I know it is our foolishness that has brought us to this point, but He just offers us grace.

When I only had enough money to pay the principal on the truck loan, I followed your counsel to communicate with those whom we owe. Along with the check for the principal, I sent a note, explaining that we had put the truck up for sale, that I had taken a job, that we were aware of our debt and intended to pay it in full.

In just a few days, we got a fat letter from the loan company. I was sick at heart, fully expecting it to be a reproof and threat.

Instead, we found that they were rewriting our loan, giving us grace in the month of April (no monthly payment due), charging us basically only principal in May, and then beginning us with monthly payments again in June. With an income tax payment due in April, this grace gift is so appreciated.

God has shown me how to be creative with the resources I have. He has reminded me that He provided enough manna for one day at a time, and He has uplifted me with gracious prayer—and notes from Crown.

Sincerely, John and Ann

Editor's note: Since this letter was written, John and Ann's truck has sold. They had used two loans (from different creditors) to buy the truck and hoped to make enough to pay off both creditors. The price for which the truck sold was enough to pay off one of the loans, with an additional $101 remaining. The creditor issued them a check for this amount. They have four payments remaining on the other loan.

New Crown Money Life Radio Show - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Hello friends! Check out the new Money Life show from Crown Financial Ministries featuring Crown CEO and experienced entrepreneur Chuck Bentley.

Click here to listen and learn more.

Caller Finds New Appreciation for Husband through Crown Money Map - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Today I invite you to enjoy this great testimonial from a Crown radio listener whose marriage God strengthened through debt-free living via the Crown Money Map. FYI, the audio comes from the Crown How to Manage Your Money broadcast.

God Teaches Crown Friend to Trust and Obey...Even in the Small Things - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

"The area that I was most dealt with during the CROWN small group study was the area of my motivation. When I came up against certain situations, I was really tested.

My wife and I travel a lot, coordinating seminars and training leaders of the Ancient Paths ministry. We are often hosted in the homes of Christians. My wife, always very careful, would pack my personal hygiene items, including shampoo and conditioner.

But my heart motivation was twisted and I was caught by it: I would go into the bathroom to take a shower and suddenly I would be faced with a situation that some might think normal, but it wasn’t for me. I would look at my little bottle of shampoo, looked at our host’s shampoo... and you guessed it...I would leave my simple shampoo aside and use my host’s “imported” shampoo!

Normal thing to do, right? But for me it was an area that God dealt with. I realized that when I did that, with such a small thing, I was annulling God’s role as my Provider and I remembered the word in Matthew 25:23, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ”

I believe the Lord can use a big debt or even a simple bottle of shampoo to deal with our motivations. Today, because of the revelation of God through the study of his word, I am completely healed in this area of my life and in other areas where I was deficient.

My life and the lives of my wife and children have been restored day by day to the Glory of God the Father."

Crown Co-Founder Finds Spiritual and Financial Freedom - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Today's Crown Financial Ministries story features Crown co-founder Howard Dayton.

Click here to enjoy a 3-minute audio clip from the Crown Money Matters Show, in which Howard shares how God put everything in his life in order, after Howard placed his faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Blessings...

New Jersey Crown Financial Ministries Friend Shares Crown at Home and Abroad - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Greetings all! Enjoy this great letter to Crown Ministries from a friend who learned to live debt free and bless others in the United States and beyond through Christian Financial Concepts (which merged with Crown Ministries in 2000).

"About seven and a half years ago I started to study about Christian Financial Concepts from a book written by Ron Blue (Master Your Money). This book came with the study guide produced by CBN entitled 'Finances by the book'. These materials totally changed the way I live!

In 1997, I became a certified Counselor and Teacher by CFC. Then I started teaching this material in churches. I have traveled to New Jersey (were I live), New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, Florida, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

During these years, many people have come to me to tell me what a life transformation the teachings have worked in them. Our Associate Pastor B. Matias, told me about 3 years ago that after 20 years of marriage they went on their first vacation debt-free. Our Senior Pastor is committed to become debt-free, so both he and his wife can go full time into ministry.

The Lord Jesus Christ has continued to show His Love and Grace upon us. Through the years we have chosen to live debt-free. We are committed to our church and over ten other ministries with our financial support.

Thanks to your Ministry we have developed “Mayordomia Financiera Cristiana,” a bilingual ministry that is under the leadership and guidance of Woodbridge Christian Center and its Pastoral Staff.

Thanks for your ministry; we will continue to teach others as you teach us.

All Glory be given to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith!

In His Grip,

Nelson & Magali Ruiz
Servants of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

* This letter has been edited for length and English grammar. Click here to read the original.

Indian Crown Friend Discovers Crown is for More Than Just "Big Shots" - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Blessings to everyone visiting Crown Stories from around the world. We continue to receive traffic from Hong Kong, Europe, and beyond. We pray for God's incredible will for all of you. Please be sure to email us with any prayer requests, feedback, and especially if you would like to know more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - the Savior of all men who truly owns everything.

Today's story comes from a Crown friend in India, who learned that the biblical principles taught by Crown do indeed apply to all of us, regardless of our financial situation. Enjoy. . .

Introducing myself, I am C Stephen David, from the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was a JOY to hear God’s message through you in the Crown Financial Conference, which was held recently in Viceroy Hotel, Secunderabad.

When I first came to know about the conference, I was not interested to come. I was assuming this is for big-shots and for big-ministries. I thought I am a small minister of God and this does not help me. However, one brother called me up and told that he will pay the registration fee and encouraged me to come. Therefore, I with my co-worker (I am not with any organization but the Lord has blessed me with five wonderful co-workers in Christ) attended the conference.

It was really wonderful and I believe the Lord has led us to the meetings. The messages were practical, Scriptural and well-balanced. Especially, your sermon moved our hearts. It is true that the servants of God must first excel in the grace of giving and model ourselves before exhorting the believers to give. You know, Uncle (as a young man, I address you as Uncle, because, according to our custom it is disrespectful to call an elder with name), after few days, I shared with my co-workers, even your life example, and we all together bowed before God and made a commitment before the Lord and before each other that we give tithe (not maximum but minimum) out of all we receive.

I am sharing this as a note of thanks and to let know that you have been a blessing to us.

Uncle, if there are any study materials or videos you can send to help us learn more and to teach others, we will be glad to receive, learn and teach others. I am a young minister of God in full time ministry. If there is anything we can do for you, kindly feel comfortable to use our humble service in Christ Jesus.

May continue to bless your life and ministry abundantly in Christ Jesus. Amen.

With you in HIS service,
C. Stephen David

God Works Miracles in Life of Italian Crown Friend - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Today's Crown True Financial Freedom Story comes from an Italian Crown friend whom the Lord taught to be content in all things and teach his children the same. Enjoy...

"My name is Waldinei, my wife is Luciany and we have 3 children: Isabela, Letícia and Gabriel. We moved to Pompéia in January of 2002, up to our ears in debt that we had had for many years.

God really worked miracles in our lives. We were unemployed and when we arrived in Pompéia, I was invited to work in shipping at the National Office of the Nova Shalom Association and Luciany was invited to teach at the school. We heard about the Crown course but we thought we would only be able to take it the following year. But God knew our needs. We were invited to be in the first group.

We have lived on the basis of post dated checks, loans and investing in deals that never worked out. The verse that says “I have learned to be content in every situation, I know how to be honored and humiliated,” was never a reality in my life. I was dominated by ambition because the desire to become rich was very strong in my life. I never planned anything, did whatever I felt like doing without considering the consequences and without accepting advice.

After studying the Biblical principles presented in the CROWN small group study, my mind and heart were opened for the beginning of a transformation. For the first time in our lives, we decided to get out of debt and never charge anything. We are paying off all of our debts one by one.

We had a car that had been financed and we decided to return the car to the place we bought it. The funny thing was that no one wanted to take it back because they all thought it strange that someone would decide to take the loss of all the payments already made in order to get out of the remaining debt.

Without the car, my wife began to go to work by bicycle (borrowed) and one dark morning, on the way to work in the cold, the Lord spoke to her heart that in the midst of all her difficulties, He wanted to teach her as he had the apostle Paul who wrote, I have learned to be content in each and every situation...”

God taught us that he supplies all of our needs, but our dreams and the acquisition of superfluous things will come about if it is His will. And this demonstrates how much the Lord Jesus wants us to trust in and depend on him.

We have taught our children to depend on God, praying for the needs to be met and we are teaching them to manage their money according to God’s patterns. They are learning to give, save and spend.

The lesson that impacted my life the most was the one on Eternity. I discovered that being rich and getting everything that I wanted would get me nowhere because this life is so very short!"

God Helps Crown Couple Dig Out & Help Others - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

One of the major biblical principles taught by Crown Financial Ministries is that managing money God's way enables us to bless others, for His glory! To see this principle in action, check out the Crown story below...

"In January 2006 my wife and I decided it was time to take control of our finances after listening to your radio show. We purchased the Money Map Coach training material, read it, and started following the Money Map. God surely has been faithful on this journey!

In November this year (23 months), we paid off 2 cars, 1 small credit card loan, and paid down on a student loan all to the tune of just over $28,000. In addition we were able to save $5000.

Prior to starting this journey, we had virtually no savings and felt as if we were living paycheck to paycheck. In addition to all of this we also paid for a wedding and helped our son pay for some of the expenses in bringing his bride to the USA from Peru.

It gets even better! One of our children had a premature, 1 lb 4 oz baby 6 months ago. At the time this happened God had freed up enough monthly cash-flow so we could help pay for some of the medical expenses. A very stressful situation but none of it caused by a lack of finances!

Had we not decided to follow the Money Map two years ago, we really don't know where we'd be financially today. Our next goal is to have the remaining $13,000 in school loans paid within 18 months, and pay cash this summer to replace two 40-year-old furnaces and one old water heater.

Oh yeah!! In the last two years we've also been able to contribute $14,000 to our 401(k) and Roth IRAs.

God is great and Thank YOU for setting us on the course to true financial freedom!"

Jeff and Suzy , Montgomery, PA

Crown Couple Learns To Live Debt Free at Early Age - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Check out this great letter to Crown Financial Ministries from a Texas friend who learned biblical, debt-free living and passed it onto her kids...

"Two years into our marriage (1984), my husband and I read every Larry Burkett book available. We immediately put his principles into action in our financial affairs. We were debt free by the age of 35 (1993), with no help from outside sources.

We have been blessed with great jobs and incomes, but the simple principle of becoming debt free at a relatively young age in order to free up resources for compounding has been the main contributor to our financial success.

We recently met with a financial advisor to see where we stood for retirement. We were rather surprised to learn that we could retire today (at the age of 49), live very comfortably off the income from our investments, and leave the entire principal of our estate to whatever legacy we might choose. However, neither of us have any intention of retiring because we love our jobs!

Knowing that we go to work because of personal choice rather than necessity is a blessing indeed! But the biggest blessing in our lives from being debt free is the ability to have financial resources available to meet needs as they confront us.

We have tried to instill these principles in our children as well. Our daughters both began a Roth IRA when they were 13 using their babysitting incomes. We agreed to match the dollars they contributed in order to introduce them to the idea of a 401(k) plan where their employer might someday match their contributions. At 21 and 15, they are very proud of their investments.

Thank you for all you do in your ministry. We are proof that it works! I continue to listen to your radio program and have felt convicted numerous times to share our story with you."

Susan, Texas

God Shows Himself Strong in Life of Longtime Crown Friend - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Enjoy this excerpt from the incredible article by Chuck Thompson in the February 2008 Crown Money Matters newsletter...

God is the Great Provider, and when we follow Him, He has the resources we’ll need to accomplish His unique purposes for our lives. Jeremiah 32:17 says, “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (NASB).

For each of us, choosing to live out God’s purposes is an act of faith, as Raymond Harris has discovered. And seeing the results of this faith has led him to greater and more humbling glimpses of the greatness of God, to whom he gives all the glory...

“If I would be a faithful steward,” Raymond says, “God would entrust more to me over time. I remembered Larry Burkett saying that we shouldn’t be encumbered by earthly things so that we can serve the Lord more freely. As a result, I never incurred any debt and never entered any lease for longer than three years.”

In January 2007, Raymond took a major step by selling his company to internal partners. “I had no idea where I was going to go,” he says. “I’m only 52, and I’m not ready for retirement. But the Lord was preparing me for hopefully what I’ll be doing in the future."

The first hint of this future direction came to Raymond through the missionary work of his own family...

Read the rest of Raymond's inspiring story when you subscribe to the Money Matters newsletter.

God Gives Business Owner Wisdom and True Success through Crown - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Enjoy this quick clip from Crown Ministries' Money Matters show, featuring Christian business owner and Lucky Rock friend Raymond Harris of Raymond Harris & Associates in Dallas, TX.

In the interview Raymond briefly discusses the need for great wisdom to effectively run a business and how Crown helped him biblically manage his business and shape his approach to giving. Hint: if you do it God's way, you'll be successful in every way that counts.

FYI, click here to subscribe to the excellent daily Money Matters show and consider ordering God's Principles for Operating a Business, which was mentioned in the clip.

God Reaches Across the Globe through Local Crown Ignite Attendee - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Switching gears today, here's a great story on how God used an ordinary church member to do extraordinary things thousands of miles from home. (From the January 2008 Crown Money Matters newsletter.)

When Sharla Bickley woke up on the morning of June 15, 2007, she was looking forward to attending the Crown ignite! training that day but had no idea where it would end up taking her.

Sharla attends Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, and she decided to take a friend from church with her to the training. She knew the transforming effect of God’s financial principles and how He could use them to fulfill His purpose in a person’s life. And she knew that God could use the outcome of this process to impact the church’s work in other nations.

Although Sharla might not have awakened that morning thinking her attendance at Crown ignite! would send ripples throughout the world, that is exactly what happened.

“It just seemed to make sense to equip all of our international mission teams at the church to take Crown with them when they would go,” she says. “I was going on a team to Kenya, and we decided to take Crown’s teaching there, too. Combining our efforts with a faithful Kenyan pastor, over 300 attended training for pastors and business owners.

“Another friend of mine was going to Moldova. We thought, ‘Man, they could use God’s financial principles there, too.’ So in Moldova we partnered with Crown Europe and New Hope International to pull off a large event with more than 140 pastors in attendance."

Each of those pastors signed a covenant to teach at least 100 others. That means 14,000 people will be taught God’s financial principles in that small, but important, country in Europe!

“Getting caught up in the momentum, I realized that we have church missionaries in Turkey that needed this too. So right now we are in the process of training our leaders in Turkey to take the important message of stewardship and sustainability to their people.”

Sharla doesn’t claim to have any special gifting or ability in this area. She’s just an everyday, ordinary follower of Christ who has been used in extraordinary ways.

Like her, you can be involved in helping to bring the life-changing message of stewardship and sustainability to the people your church reaches out to in the world. Even if you don’t personally go yourself, you may be able to influence a mission team to take this life-changing teaching with them.

We invite you to attend the next Crown ignite! training on April 3-5, 2008 at Crown Financial Ministries’ Home Office, just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Join us in our effort to spread sustainability all across the globe!

God Adjusts Debt-Thinking and Finances of Chiropractic Student - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

I would like to give a huge praise and thank you to Jesus Christ for what He has done for us. Let me start from the beginning. I began school July 2004 at Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA. The Holy Spirit challenged me approximately two years ago to stop taking out any school loans. My initial thinking went something like this … great but there is no way this can be done.

My wife is a school teacher which provides basically just enough to pay our day to day expenses. So how were we going to come up with approximately $6500 per quarter? I had no clue how He would provide, but I knew that if it would be done only He could do it.

Well, it has been two years now and our faith has grown much, much stronger, and we have not taken out even one more penny to pay for school. When there seemed to be no open doors, He miraculously provided one. Here are some of the amazing ways He provided: He provided three competitive scholarships in one quarter, a $7300 scholarship that I was not qualified to receive but was given the opportunity to get because I was the only one to apply, a double payment from my wife’s job when they changed the pay cycle, a great work-study job which mostly gave me time to study for class, extra part-time jobs, gifts from family members, incredibly cheap rent for the area, and a few times where we had no idea how the money was in the account (but we definitely knew Who provided it).

I tell you this story because I am no different than any other listener. I followed Howard’s advice as well as other financial experts. Most importantly it forced me to stand on God’s word at all times, especially during the times when it seemed like He was a little late. Well, He was always right on-time and He promises to do the same for you.

P.S. Just before I finished this email, God provided another scholarship that I was not “supposed” to be qualified for. This time it was for an amazing $3500. He does not lie when He promises to give us more than we can imagine.

GOD Bless,

Your brother and sister in Christ

Stephen and Amie , Marietta, GA

Medical Emergency Proves Wisdom of Biblical Call to Save - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

Check out this recent testimonial from a couple who benefited from Crown...

"My husband and I have been married for 27 years and have followed many of the Biblical financial principles your program repeatedly endorses. The principle of having 3 months living expenses on hand finally proved invaluable to us this year.

In our 27 year marriage, my husband, Bryan, had been to a doctor only 2 or 3 times, never been in the ER, OR, nor admitted to a hospital, and he never even had taken any antibiodics. In September of this year, he found himself with a ruptured appendix and had a hospital stay of a week; he was very sick. In the course of his 6-week recovery, he used accumulated sick days at work but still only received about 2/3 of what he normally earned over that course of time. In addition, we were responsible for a small portion of his medical bills amounting to about $1,500.

Three months after Bryan's surgery (just this past week), our deep freezer (only 7 years old) quit working, and the very same week an ice storm hit our area, and due to some electrical malfunctions during a power outage, our dish washer (5 years old) and VCR/DVD player were zapped.

We have used this scenerio to bear witness to our 3 adult children that God's principles do work, even if it takes 27 years to experience some of the benefits of them. How very grateful we are to have had that 3 month surplus of wages on hand to get through these last 3 months! There were times over the years when we considered using some of that surplus to upgrade to a nicer vehicle, grander vacation, new furniture, etc., but we never had peace about it. Keep up the good work proclaiming the financial freedom that God's Word encourages! Thanks so much!"

Bryan and Barb Burkholder, Lebanon, PA

Former Business Owner and Single Parent's Journey to True Financial Freedom - Crown Financial Ministries Stories Blog

God brought Helen of Atlanta, GA, to a place of complete surrender after her circumstances collapsed around her. Watch Helen's testimony and see how God's word and a Crown Financial Ministries Small Group Study helped change the course of her life to one of True Financial Freedom.