Inspiring stories of Financial Freedom

11/3/2008

Thank you so much for your radio programs. I hear your program most often when paying bills and banking online, or on WFIF 1500 AM at 3:30 p.m. when I'm in the car. It is a great help to me. Now I'm meeting with a Money Map coach at the nearby Navy base. I plan to return to work soon. I'm working with the coach to decrease debt and increase savings. God bless you all and your ministry.

Sharon, CT

11/5/2008

Dear Crown,

I wanted to write you a quick note and thank you for your encouragement and your wisdom. I married my husband 1.5 yrs ago, and we quickly started following the Money Map, albeit sporadically. Recently, we have gotten more serious about saving money, and now have 1.5 months of paychecks saved.

The reason I am writing is because yesterday our family was struck by tragedy. My husband is from South Africa, and yesterday his brother's baby boy died. My husband is very close to his family, and it is grieving us that we are not with them at this moment. We wrestled with the decision to go to South Africa for the funeral, and while we ultimately decided to support our family in other ways, I am comforted to say that MONEY was NOT one of the deciding factors. It was comforting to know that if we felt that going was the right thing to do, we would not go into debt to do it. It would have broken our hearts to know that God called us to be with family at this time, but we could not because of lack of finances. Thank you for your guidence, and for helping make this situation a little easier to bear.

Warmly,
Alishia, IL

11/7/2008

Thank you for your ministry and the way you are reaching people in these troubling times. I have been a listener for the last several years. Your counsel has led me to eliminate credit card debt and reduce my indebtedness to my mortgage and my car payment. The car will be paid off early next year (2009). I will then take that payment and apply it to the principal on my mortgage. I would like to get that paid off as soon as possible as I am now 67 and know that I will not be able to work forever. (If I were not working, I would be doing Christian volunteer work.) I have managed to piece together the supplement to the mortgaage payment which is almost the amount I must pay monthly and that is put on the principal. I recently had an experience I would like to share.

I needed some very expensive dental work. I just automatically asked at the dentist's office about financing. Well, that began to bother me. I have a small money market which I could draw on, but was reluctant to do so. Even though I had applied for the loan, I was still very hesitant to go that route.

I began to pray about it and soon realized that I could borrow from myself - from the money market account - and then pay myself back in monthly payments drafted from my checking account. I was much more comfortable with that arrangement. Several weeks later the dentist's office called to tell me that my dental insurance would pay half of the expenses. God has always taken care of me and I have always had a roof over my head, food on the table and clothes to wear, not to mention a car and gas. It has been hard at times, but not impossible.

MY motto: NEVER pay full price for anything. I shop garage sales, thrift shops and consignment shops. Sales at the department stores are a last resort. Your food savings tips are what I have done for years. I am alone now, so putting up food is not practical from a time and space standpoint. But I still buy on sale or at the store with the lowest prices on staples.

That is about it. Oh, yes, my financial stability began when I decided to tithe. I also give to Faith Promise at my church. Lest I sound as though I am bragging, I am not. All of this has been with God's leading and blessing on my life.

God bless you and the ministry.

PS I have lived through many recessions and financial upheavals in this country and am here to say one can survive and prosper despite man's doings.

Debbie, GA

11/10/2008

I just wanted to thank you for your recent radio program about King Uzziah. It was a very timely lesson in humility. Our country faces very difficult times, and there isn't much encouraging news out there. I pray that our leaders seek the wisdom of God in their decisions.

Thanks again.

Tim, NJ

11/11/2008

Dear Crown,

May God bless your ministry in the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I just wanted to let you know that I am participating in the 40 days of prayer and fasting with you. I've taken on a "pauper's diet,", that is, I am not eating any meats, sweets, or treats for 40 days. Though I miss meat terribly, I have a much greater appreciation for how difficult it is to live on a subsistence diet.

I am also praying each day for your seven step solution for our economic crisis. On Monday I ask for God's help; on Tuesday I pray that Christians start living the new American dream; and so on until I get to Sunday when I really strive that God change me and prepare me for whatever may come. I am looking forward to ending my fast on November 21st and then to participating in the "Day of Generosity" on November 30th with the abundance that God has blessed my family with. Thank you for your ministry.

Tony, IN

11/20/2008

My purse strap broke at work, so I put my wallet and other purse contents in my tote bag, then went to choir practice at my church. When I came out to get in my car, the driver's window had been completely busted out and my tote bag stolen (I had forgotten that my wallet was in the tote and had left it in the car.)

Well, because I am putting Crown's principles into practice, I've been working hard to pay off credit card debt, and have been leaving my credit cards and checkbook at home so as not to be tempted to spend. Here's the added blessing - the thieves didn't get them! They got about 3 bucks in cash, and I was able to quickly put a freeze on my bankcard. After I asked God's forgivness for leaving the tote where it could be seen and cause temptation, but I gave thanks to God for this principle of proper stewardship taught to me by Crown!

Deanna, TX

11/25/2008

I took this class so I could learn to stay on a budget. I had tried so many times but never succeeded. I got more than learning how to prepare a budget and keep track of my spending. I met wonderful people who encouraged me and I found out that many were experiencing the same kind of problems in managing money. I have started to make a will and am very aware of how I spend my money.

My concern was, "How am I going to implement all that I've learned?" The last chapter made me realize that it will take a year or sometimes more to implant all the changes that I need to make to be a good steward of what God has entrusted to me. I need to teach/model it for my children so they can start learning to be good stewards of their allowances and material possessions.

Thank you, Crown Ministries, for opening my eyes to better serve my Lord and His people and to have a more intimate relationship with Him.

Millie, FL

11/27/2008

Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2008

Dear Crown Ministries,

I am certainly thankful for many wonderful blessings the LORD has bestowed on me and my family this day. But I especially wanted to take some time and thank the LORD for your ministry and share this with you. Through the focus of your ministry, which is helping people like myself and others make our focus on GOD instead of anything else, you have helped me to let GOD turn my life around.

I am not debt free as of yet, but I know that as long as I follow the principles that your ministry has laid out and keep my eyes and ears on what the Bible has to say, that I can’t go wrong.

I guess like many others who have let themselves get into a financial mess, I have prayed for a “miracle” such as hoping that a bag of money might fall from heaven like manna. And even though I thoroughly believe that manna can fall from heaven, I now know that without hard work and “a renewing of the mind,” I would go right back to my old habits and get myself into a mess no matter how much money I might be blessed with.

Thank you, Crown Ministries. I will continue to pray for all of you and make contributions to your ministry as I am enabled by the LORD.

Your sister in Christ,
Naomi, CA

P.S. The donation today was a result of my “fasting” experience. One of the things I gave up was carbonated drinks. The amount I donated is the amount I would have spent on them over the 40-day period. Just another way that God through Crown has shown me that you can find extra if you let God get creative in your life.

11/28/2008

I was listening to Crown on the radio the day after the big bank fall-out. On this program, they were encouraging listeners to fast and pray and then on the week of Thanksgiving have it be a true week of thanks and giving.

After the program the Lord showed me how greed had become a prominent sin in my life. I bought what I couldn't afford, used money from one envelope to pay the shortage from another envelope, and consumned more than I needed. I asked the Lord to forgive me and started the process of repentance and dying to self. I talked things over with my husband, and we started on the Money Map together.

We looked over our budget and eliminated areas that we didn't need. We monitored our spending and only spent what we had. We talked to our five children and got them involved with the process. We talked about all the things we were going to have to give up but showed them the map and talked about all the things we would be able to do if we were faithful.

This process started at the end of September. As of today, November 28, 2008, we have already met Destination #1 (we celebrated by going to my parents lake cottage and spent the night as a family), we will hopefully be able to meet Destination #2 by the end of this year, and we were able to give $300 away this week. Plus, the Lord provided a Thanksgiving day full of answered prayers and true gratitude.

Thank you Crown Finanacial Ministries. The Lord used your ministry to work mightily in my life and in the life of my family. We praise Our God and Father for His faithfulnees and His perfect provision.

Thank you.
Suzy , IN