Inspiring stories of Financial Freedom

6/3/2008

Chuck,

Thanks so much for your program and your work with Crown.

I want to share my experience with generosity. Though not a lot in total dollars, God has blessed us to the point where our tithe goes to our local church and we are now able to give offerings EQUAL to our family living expenses over and above. We are now to the place where when we consider some extra for family living we need to find an equal extra as an offering. Helps keep things in perspective and God has been faithful in supplying our needs!!!

Our main source of income comes from our family farming business, and we are looking at expanding our land base and will move forward in confidence that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." The more we move our method of operation away from the world and the more closely we allign our business with Scripture, the more blessed we have become.

Thanks again,

Karl, PA

6/8/2008

My husband and I started Crown in 1989. We were the first "singles" to lead a group. We became friends and shared our problems that we had financially with our previous spouses. We came to realize that we had the same perspectives on life, finances, and the Lord. We then became the first couple that married through Crown. My husband and best friend passed away on May 30, 2008. Because we were faithful and planned as Crown taught us, I will have no debt and no worries about his funeral. It was all taken care of due to the careful planning we were taught. Thanks, Crown.

Carol, FL

6/22/2008

I just completed the Crown 10-week study at my church a couple of weeks ago. I have always been a giver not only to my church, but to individuals and other charities as the Lord has led. Although I know that the Lord owns everything, I somehow thought that as long as I was faithful to give a little over my 10%, that I could spend the rest as I wanted.

By getting deeper into the homework and Bible study each week, I have come to realize more fully that the Lord owns the other 90% as well, and that it is really not mine. I have been more aware of every purchase and have declined to buy some things that I otherwise would have before doing this study. I understand more clearly how the Lord wants me to manage all of the resources He has given us.

My goal for the moment is to trim down spending as much as possible and get out of credit card debt. We do have a little savings, but we need to get a few more months of living expenses saved up. Then, we would just have our mortgage, funding for our son's education, and our retirement to work toward.

I am thankful for what I have learned over the past few weeks. It is a challenge for me to get the budget ironed out to where we can live with it, but at least I am more tuned in to the total picture and have set some financial goals. Thank you for the excellent study material. This study has changed my perspective on how I live out my faith in Christ in the daily realm of life and finances. Our lives as Christians should not be sectioned out into separate categories, but rather our lives should be seamless in our service to Christ. I long for the day when we no longer owe any outstanding debt. That will be so liberating!

Cynthia, MS

6/23/2008

My husband and I attended the Crown small group study last year. My husband dragged me into it without my really understanding what I was in for. This was at a time when our financial condition was at its worst and our marriage was falling apart. There was much resistance between us for a few weeks, but with prayer and understanding that God is in control, we succumbed to the trials. We are now in a better position both in our relationship and financially. We are slowly incorporating the Crown principles into our lives, and we are doing great. Thanks to you all!

Merila, FL

6/26/2008

I thank God for Crown Financial Ministries. This radio program has truly been a blessing to me. The Holy Spirit was already working in me to get out of debt. Browsing through the podcast, I just happen to stumble across MoneyLife. I had never heard of MoneyLife before. The topic interested me. So I listened to the show. Chuck Bentley (an annointed man of God) had just begun to host the show. I didn't know what to expect from this show, but in my spirit I knew it was going to be good. I was right! MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley has truly been a blessing to my soul. The encouragement, along with the wonderful guests Chuck has on the show has really touched my life. I am so glad Crown has come into my life.

The topics are so meaningful and helpful to my life. The radio show of the week on generosity was awesome. Every minister that spoke touched my heart. I continue to listen to those messages over and over again. It just made me want to give more. That very week the Holy spirit led me to help a friend that was sick that I felt needed some help, but I also knew that I'm also trying to put all my extra money on my debt. At times we tend to think about only what we want, not realizing God wants us to help those in need. Right then the Holy Spirit let me to know that I didn't have to worry about my debt, that God was going to take care of my debt, and I will become debt free. Not only that, but He reminded me that if I give, it will be given back to me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. I gave from my heart cheerfully and He gave it all right back to me the same week and more. God can not lie. He said in his word that whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap, and you will reap more than what you sowed.

I love the show! I didn't get to listen to the show when Howard was there, but I know it was good then too, because one day Howard was on with Chuck and just listening to Howard talk, I know he was awesome, too.

Thanks again to Crown and God's principles on handling money, I am on my way to becoming debt free in the name of Jesus!

Wanda, GA

7/6/2008

My husband are on week 10 with our Crown group. We've been involved with other "themed" small groups before, and suprisingly this is the one I will miss the most. (Suprising because who would think I would MISS a "financial" class?)

This class has helped us so much...

1. To see God's heart and plan for managing all of our resources. (There are over 2,300 related verses...wow!)

2. To give us tools and a direction to find our way through this difficult process of tracking and managing our money, a subject that we have avoided like the plague. The tools make it easy to get on track and to actually be excited and have hope about staying on track.

3. To help us cast a vision for our lives and to see that how we handle our money is a reflection of where our heart is and how God sees us (ouch). We have a new vision and see that managing money is NOT like jail, but to the contrary, it is like a huge gift of freedom.

I only wish we would have taken this class in our twenties!!!!

Thank you to Crown, to our Crown leaders, and to our terrific Crown small group!

Tammi, OR

7/9/2008

God showed me how to handle my finances through the blessing of Crown Financial Ministries in 2004. Until then, I had lived paycheck to paycheck, had declared bankruptcy, and had an eviction notice on my door. I had no idea how to plan or live without financial chaos.

What I didn't know was that I was a steward of all that God has given me. Crown opened my eyes and my heart that everything is His, and I am its caretaker. Because of His teaching, I give God's portion first. I now have a savings account and a Roth IRA that I fund faithfully as well. I am not rich by the world's standards, but I am unbelievably wealthy!

Diane, DE