Inspiring stories of Financial Freedom

3/2/2008

I've been following the Crown Money Map since October 2007, and in that time I've paid down $16,000 in consumer debt. This would not have happened without putting God first in my life and my finances and following the Money Map. Thanks to Crown for all you do! Praise, honor, and glory to the Lord!

Chris, SC

3/4/2008

Dear Crown,

It finally came. D-Day! As of today, March 4th 2008, we are officially debt free. This journey started with our first Crown Small Group Study in March of 2004. Through this amazing study, not only did we manage to pay off $35,000 in consumer debt, but it catapulted my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I signed myself and my husband up for this study after listening to Money Matters on the radio everyday since April 2002. I found a church near us that offered the Small Group Study. They graciously took us in and assigned us to a small group. I was ready to learn about all the things I had heard on Money Matters, but was surprised at how the study changed my spiritual life. It, in fact, was the sole reason my relationship with Jesus Christ evolved into the relationship I had always desired with Him.

We completed the 10-week study in May of 2004 and right away knew that we wanted to bring Crown into our home church. That fall, we had our first small group in our church. I loved every second of it and continued to learn so much about God's Word.

My husband and I diligently used our debt repayment plan and budget, adjusting it each time our income changed. We stopped using our credit cards altogether and used the envelope system for spending. We cut out all unnecessary spending, cut coupons, walked places when we could instead of driving, did as much cutting back as we could, literally spending only what we truly needed.

Living in Los Angeles doesn't make this easy, especially with high rents and insurance topped with an often changing income, but we saw God's faithfulness and He provided everything we needed at the right time. He surprised us in so many different ways. It was amazing to see how He provided when we gave Him the chance instead of trying to just do things ourselves.

So, today is the day! Through gifts from our family and friends, (like two cars - very used of course, but greatly appreciated!) and a gift from Mom and Dad (who witnessed this rough but amazing journey) that helped pay off that last bit of credit card debt, we are debt free and plan to stay that way! Our lifestyle will not change. We will continue to use God's principles we learned from our Crown studies.

Crown Financial Ministries helped to change our lives in so many ways. Yes, we are debt free, but more importantly, we love Jesus and know Him better because of Crown. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Julia and Greg, CA

3/6/2008

In 1991, I was at my wits' end financially when my church had a women's retreat. The topic was "finances." I could hardly wait. I was introduced to Crown Finacial Ministries. That was the turning point in our finances. Since then, I have attended 3 Crown Financial Seminars, facilitated God's Way of Handling Money, and taught the Junior High, High School, and College group for Sunday School at my church. I've read Your Money Counts a few times, and facilitated Money and Marriage twice with much sucess. I give all the glory to God for this new life of financial freedom. We give more, save more, and are no longer in bondage to debt.

Valerie, CA

3/6/2008

When my husband and I married in 1990, we read Larry Burkett's book, The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples. We have tried to follow the advice in that book to live just on the husband's salary and to tithe. We pay off our credit card every month.

The Lord has used the principles in that book to see us through seven layoffs (without ever being unable to pay our bills). While we have not been perfect financial managers (the great temptation has been to spend my salary rather than save it), we've always had what we needed.

We did lose our townhouse last year, though, due to a noise dispute with a neighbor that we were unable to resolve (long story - we were forced to sell so we could get some sleep, because even the police could not keep this guy's late-night noise under control). We lost several thousand dollars in the sale, due to the downturn in the economy, and so were unable to afford to buy another home. But we did not lose so much that we could not pay off our mortgage, unlike so many other people these days. Fortunately, again thanks to the Lord and Larry's advice, we had tried to pay down a good chunk of our mortgage, so we at least had some equity when we did have to sell.

So while we are not currently in the financial position we would like to be in (owning a home, plus having a job for myself), we are at least debt free and my husband has a job.

I thank the Lord for the ministry of Larry Burkett and Crown Financial Ministries. We might not be as well off as we are today without you.

Melanie, IL

3/7/2008

I became a Crown small group study leader in October 2004. I have just started leading my eighth class.

It was the day before the third week, and the notes talked about the widow's oil & how God can provide all at once or over time. My daughter is planning her wedding for Sept 5th, and my husband and I prayed together that God would be glorified and that we would rely on Him to provide provisions for the wedding.

At 7 AM the very next morning, I received a call from my former supervisor. I had retired from my job at age 50 after 32 years, primarily because of the Crown class. Anyway, she informed me that because I had worked through September, I was entitled to a performance bonus. The amount: $600 less than the budgeted amount we had given our daughter!!

Not only has He blessed my leaving my job to stay home and take care of my family and home while receiving a pension, He has just dumped blessings on us in miraculous ways.

Crown has been a blessing to us on so many levels. Continuing to lead classes keeps us focused and on track. We have only two more debts, which includes the house, and we will reach D Day!!

Thank you for your ministry. God is blessing your work.
Donna, TX

3/10/2008

In preparation for new Crown class we started this week, March 9, 2008, in our home, here is what we discovered as we reviewed our financial situation, when we first started Crown in March 1999 and compared to March 2008, only nine years later.

Most of this was done on a single income until 2007 when my wife returned to work to help with our youngest daughter's private college expenses.

• Retired for 2.5 years
• Served as a volunteer for Crown Financial Ministries 30 to 40 hours weekly for 1.5 years
• Net worth increase 400%
• Investment increase 400%
• No investment debt
• Giving increase 300% (we were already giving generously in 1999)
• Intimacy with God - Immeasurable! off the charts.
• Trust in God - HUGE
• College Debt - NONE
• 1st child - 6 years in college, 2nd child 5+ years in college, 3rd child 2 years in a private college
• Wedding debt for daughter 2006 - NONE
• Mortgage reduced over $30,000
• No significant credit card debt

We are so grateful to God, for His generosity in our lives as we learned and applied His truth over the nine years. His faithfulness is incredible. For this we are joyful. I only wish all of the church and the "rich" could enjoy Him this much, too!

Paul & Trudine, GA

3/10/2008

Hey Howard,

I've been a long time listener and learner. I praise God for the instruction and encouragement that I received from your program. I am a 52-year-old wife of an unbeliever and I'll share what's been going on so that this can be a testimony to others.

We helped two children through college and paid for an expensive wedding last year. Expenses were $3-4,000 more than it should have been due to miscommunication with the hall rental. This turned into a testimony though. I've been asking God to be debt free for over a year now, and He kept saying "Wait," and I kept saying "When? Now?"

Well, last Friday I paid off our home equity loan, and we owe no man interest. Praise GOD! The only debt we have is a $4,000 hold-on-till-we-need-it-back loan from his parents and a small purchase (no interest) for our rental property. We have no vehicle loans, and we own our home and two rental properties.

And the best part is that my husband just had heart surgery last November and is doig fine. Pray for his salvation if you would. GOD is good and He can and will work - persistance pays off.

In Christ
Donna, PA

3/11/2008

I have been listening to Crown radio for years. It only takes me about 500 times to hear and make a change. I have been a faithful tither and giver of offerings for years. However the rest of God's provision, I spent any way I wanted. I will be consumer debt free within 18 months. The mortgage will still need to be paid but it will be a huge load off of me. I also started a savings account and am working on three months of income. Savings has taken a lot of pressure off of me. Thanks for your ministry.

Julia, MN

3/11/2008

My husband decided to go back to school the year after we were married. We had paid off his truck with my salary that first year and were able to save so we wouldn't have to take out large school loans. When he transfered to a university, we lived on our savings and only took out enough to pay for housing. The total was $21,000. When he graduated in May of 2006, we paid off one loan immediately and just sent our last check to pay off the loan completely this past week!! We were able to pay off our loan in less than two years.

We will be putting all that loan money into our savings to purchase a newer vehicle for cash in the near future. We don't have a cell phone, TV or eat out. We have three children that I homeschool. We live on his salary of $38,000 a year. I cringe when I hear people say that they can't make it on one income, because it is possible. Our extended cab pickup truck is our only vehicle. It is 14 years old but it works, and we will drive it until we can pay cash for a larger and newer vehicle.

Whenever we would get discouraged and feel that we just wanted to have the loan paid off NOW, we would hear Howard say be patient and the time will come. The time has come, and we look forward to buying a house someday with the same saving determination.

Melissa, MT

3/11/2008

I was working out at the "Y" today and I was listening to Crown with my portable radio and earphones. As I listened, I realized I need to share my testimony.

I started listening to Moody radio in about 1995 and would listen to Money Matters with Larry Burkett. I purchased the book Sound Mind Investing and gave it to my husband. That is when your ministry planted the seed with my husband and I to get debt free and have our new house completely paid for by the time we retired. I give my LORD and Savior all the praise for the ability to carry out this plan but the seed was planted by Crown.

Praise God. My husband and I have now been retired for two years. We are debt free, own our own home, and have so much financial freedom from not being indebted to others. It is so difficult to put into words how wonderful that feels. My husband is the one that took the responsiblity to keep us on track, eventually paying off all our credit card debt and then tearing up the cards except for one card we pay off monthly. I was eager to do this myself after learning God's principles in His Word for indebtedness offered daily through the Crown broadcast. That seed that was planted is now reality. I can not thank Crown enough for what you did for our financial freedom. Sometimes people ask how we did this and first and foremost I give God the praise but second I give Crown credit for showing us how to accomplish His will for us.

God Bless you and your ministry. I am just one family who was touched but I am sure there are many more just like us. Again, Thank You.

Elaine, TN

3/11/2008

I heard about Crown Financial Ministries a couple of years ago but regretably didn't pay attention to it. I started the Journey to Financial Freedom in January 2008 with $12,000 of consolidated debt. Two more years of $500 monthly payments, and I'll be free at last...free at last. Thanks, Crown, for the clarity about how to prepare your life to be a life of giving. I can't wait to be able to give to GOD'S work as I should and desire!!! The posted testimonies are sooooo helpful when traveling this journey. Because of Crown, I am and forever will be a good steward with the things GOD trusts me with. May GOD bless Crown richly!!!

Samuel, TX

3/11/2008

I have grown up (spiritually) listening to Larry Burkett and Howard Dayton over the past 18+ years. I remember in 1991, deciding to tithe for the first time because of Larry Burkett's teaching. I have listened to the broadcast on the way home from work everyday for all those years. It has gotten to the point that I can often quote what Howard will say (and Larry would have said) to a caller who has a question.

While my financial success in life is all from the Lord's blessings, it is the Money Matters broadcasts and the teachings there that have given me the ability to handle and be a good steward of those blessings. I believe God blessings have increased because of how I have handled things financially, and that is because of what I have learned from God's word about handling money AND THAT is because of Larry Burkett (and now Howard Dayton).

I can honestly say that if it wasn't for Larry and Howard, I wouldn't have been able to support my local radio station or Crown through the years. Thank you for your ministry.

On my way to destination #4,
Kyle, OH

3/13/2008

My husband started a full-time ministry 2.5 years ago. One of the Money Map Coaches at Crown helped me work on a budget for our family. Although my husband's 2007 W-2 was only $12,000 (and $12,000 for my part-time job, totaling $24,000), our family of four made it through the year without any debt. We used our emergency fund two times, but were able to pay it back both times. Thank you!

Susan, NM

3/14/2008

It has been a long and sometimes frustrating process. My wife and I have been married for almost eight years. When we got married, we had a combined debt of over $50,000, and that didn't include a house. We weren't able to get a mortgage loan, for good reason. Our budgeting skills were horrible.

We weren't Christians, but about a month into our marrige, we started going to church, and after a while, we accepted Jesus. We had bill collectors calling, threatening to sue. We even went to a lawyer to file for bankruptcy, paid him and everything, but God intervened. The words we heard Him say to us were very clear, "I will never leave you or forsake you. You made the bills; now pay them."

We prayed that God would send people into our lives to show us how. I was listening to the radio one day and guess what came on? Yes, Money Matters. This was in 2002/2003. I heard the testimonies of others and I said, "One day, that will be us." We took the advice of paying the smaller bills first and then applied that money to the next debt. Every month, every bill we had was paid. It may have been $20 to this place or $10 to that. But when we were faithful, so was God.

We are now completely out of debt except for the car payment. We have only $2500 left on that. And a year ago, we were approved for a house loan, and by the grace of God, we moved into our house and have never missed a payment or been late. Thank you, Crown, and Mr. Burkett in Heaven. God bless you.

Matthew, IA

3/16/2008

My wife and I became familar with Crown about 20 years ago when it was run by Larry Burkett as Christian Financial Concepts. We met Larry in Denver at an FCCI convention. He told us that he needed counselors for his ministry and asked us to pray about becoming counselors. We did and went to Georgia for training, and then learned how to budget our own money, according to God's way. We wanted to be good counselors and knew that we had to follow the budget and get debt free.

We did become debt free and applied our budgeting methods to our small business. We also made the business debt free. If we didn't have the money to buy something, we didn't buy it. I can only say that God has blessed over these last 20 years in so many ways that I couldn't put them all down in writing here. Being able to concentrate on God's will and not money or things has allowed us to stay in our walk with Christ, always being able to help people in need when the need arose, etc.

Through Crown's teachings we have been able to help them change countless lives, including our own for the Kingdom's glory. There are so many benefits from this program of becoming a good steward of God's money. Once you realize that God owns your money, your time, your car, your home, your children, and all other things, God seems to be right beside you in everything you do. It becomes so much easier to serve Him.

Russ & Karol, OH

3/16/2008

Today will be the last day for the 10-week Crown Financial Bible Study. My husband and I would like to retire within the next two years. After going through this study and because of poor planning earlier and the way the national economy is, it will be impossible. We also planned on selling our small farm as our retirement income but, because of legislation in NJ, our property has been devalued by 50% and more.

As all of this sounds negative, this Bible study came at a very appropriate time because I have been wanting to budget more accurately and just haven't gotten around to it. Having the fact reinforced through the study that God is in control of everything and knows all our needs is a comfort. Because so many young couples are getting into trouble financially, I would like to help them learn how to budget and prepare for retirement. One of the greatest bits of knowledge I got out of this is STEADY PLODDING.

God Bless,
Karen, NJ

3/24/2008

We are a family that has chosen to home school our sons. When our oldest reached his junior year in high school, we purchased the Career Direct educational program and taught it as a course. The feedback the course provided assisted our oldest son in choosing his college and field of study. He graduates next year, and has enjoyed his studies in Communications, which was a field of study not on his list to pursue before Career Direct showed him it was a viable option for his life.

Our middle son has taken the course and is happily pursuing two careers that Career Direct helped him to focus in on. Next year our youngest son will take the course, and he is looking forward to receiving the insight gleaned from the interview of questions. Thanks, Crown, for helping our sons to invest their time and money wisely.

Jo Ann, GA

3/26/2008

Dear Howard and Steve,

I would like to thank you both for your wonderful and uplifting Money Matters program. I listen to you on the Internet every afternoon at 3:30pm (EST) and love to hear how you help people with their financial questions.

I have been listening to Money Matters on and off since 2005, but only started getting serious about your advice at the end of 2006. A woman in my 30s, I had debt on three credit cards and had no savings (lived paycheck to paycheck). In 2007, I got a higher paying job in another city, and later ordered the Money Map.

With the Lord's help, I have been able to pay off all my credit card debt and have started saving. I am currently on Destination Four [of the Crown Money Map] and praying that the Lord will bless my finances so that I can continue to be generous to God's work, take a vacation, and help my daughter with some of her college expenses when she enters college next year.

Because of what I have learned on your show, I have been encouraging friends to be better stewards of God's money. I feel like I know you! May the Lord continue to bless you both in your future endeavors.

Choto, MD

3/26/2008

Hello Howard,

I have been listening to Crown Financial Ministries for a long time. In 2007, you had goal setting online. I put, "I want to be debt free." I went to the seminar on True Financial Freedom with my husband. We disciplined ourselves and, Howard, we are free from credit card debt. We only have our mortgage and my student loan. I thank God for you and all the staff in Crown.

Sincerely,
Price, MA

3/31/2008

My husband and I went through the Crown study together, and it has brought us closer to each other and to God. We are able to put to use the practical and the spiritual lessons that we have learned and are on the same page as to what needs to happen in our financial lives and spiritual lives.

We prayerfully consider things that before we would have just leaped in without much thought. We will hopefully be laying a good foundation for our children to see and follow as well. Above all we have learned that prosperity is not just about money. We have learned that treasures in heaven are much better that earthly treasures. God provides. Wealth can be more than money and things.

Mary and Joe, NE