Inspiring stories of Financial Freedom

6/2/2010

I have listened to Christian Financial Concepts and Larry Burkett for years. I even rememeber the day that we all lost him and how saddened I was. He was truly my friend. Through all of his teachings, the one thing I have learned is that God can give you the desires of your heart.

I have 5 children and was able to be a stay-at-home mom and have my children in Christian school for most of those years, even though my husband is not even a Christian. At one time we had 3 children in Christian school, and he was driving a car worth $100. We have never done without. Today we are in our 50s and living with no debt except for 2 investment properties we have for our retirement. They will be paid for when my husband retires. I still do not work because we have one daughter in 11th grade, and I still carpool her to Christian School.

The one main thing I want to express is that even though more money often seems like the answer to our financial struggles, it is rarely the answer. Discipline and obedience are. We also need the wisdom to know what we think we need and what we really do need. The desire of my heart was not to have possessions but to stay at home and raise my children. We made choices to do without things that others may have but it was all worth it. Today our 5th child is looking to buy her first car. She will be the 5th one to pay cash for it, too. God bless Crown, for He has greatly blessed my family through His ministry. God bless all of you.

Nancy, MD

7/13/2010

Because of Crown Financial Ministries, I do not have a new couch. I also drive a Buick designed for a 99 year old woman, and I do not get to vacation at a spa. The carpet in my bedroom could be classified as "antique" and my house has never won an award nor been featured in a magazine.

Also, because of Crown Financial Ministries I get to stay at home with my children, and my husband only works a moderate amount of overtime. Visa has given up mailing us statements because we almost never even pull the card out of our wallets. My Buick is paid for, and I actually got to chortle at the bank cashier who asked if I want a new loan to buy a new car.

Most importantly, because of Crown, I have the peace of knowing this is all temporary. If tomorrow my husband loses his job, we drain our bank accounts, and the bank takes our house, the God of the universe will still be in control. He will still love us, protect us, and provide for us.

Thank you, Crown. But I still REALLY want a new couch. Could you do an article on that soon?

Jessie, MI

8/3/2010

I cannot explain how blessed our marriage became when my husband and I prayed together and asked the Lord to bless our marriage. Through this action, the Lord opened my eyes to work with my husband and to help him with our fianacial goals. It was only after I started helping him when the Lord truly started blessing our lives both in our marriage and financially. We both could see what an impact financial stress can be on a marriage. Today we are seeing our debts disappear as we continue to have the goal of being debt free and living according to how the Lord wants us to live financially and in our personal lives. What a blessing it will be to make decisions based on what the Lord says and not our creditors say.

Pauline, IA

8/4/2010

My goal before my 50th birthday was to be mortgage free. I did it! This month I paid off my 15-year mortgage in 10 years by giving $500 more towards the principal and paying the remaining balance in full. I can proudly say that I am debt free: no car payments (paid off both my cars in 2005), no credit card debt (in 20 years I have never paid interest on my credit card) and, now, no mortgage.

I have been tuning in to Crown Financial Minsitries for several years. By listening to your advice and testimonials, I have been encouraged to live a life of freedom. I will be fifty next month. I have two children ages 12 and 13 and no spouse (divorced). I would like to remodel my home as soon as I build up my savings. Thank you for your ministry.

Rosa, CA

8/16/2010

I was deep in debt, AGAIN, by about $16,000. This was even after I had misused credit cards once before and had to declare bankruptcy when my job situation collapsed. Now, I was back in debt again, with a huge bill from a hospital, a doctor, an ambulance company, phone bills, and, yes, once again, credit cards.

This was about 8 years ago. I am now debt free, except for my car. My interest rate on that loan is great, and I only have to pay $95 a month on a 2005 model! Crown and God helped me with all of that!

It began when a friend told me about her financial recovery through a group called Debtors Anonymous. I decided to attend and see if they could help me. By listening to others speak and share, I learned I was using credit cards irresponsibly and that this needed to stop. I knew I needed to make some real changes. I became willing.

I talked with creditors and worked out some plans for debt repayments. This is when I called Crown, too. I knew God wanted me to handle money HIS way, not any other way. I met with two Crown Counselors, a husband and wife team, in my area. They helped me set up a spending plan and witnessed me cut up my credit cards. I was willing to not use them again in such a destructive way. And I meant it. I have not since then.

I realized I had to cut costs in some categories. This was crucial to my recovery. I found a number of resources available, including the Salvation Army and food banks, to lower food costs. I did what I could. Somehow, I put $500 into savings. I knew I had to have that in case my car broke down and needed some repairs. I had to have my car working to do my job. I kept that $500 there!

The Crown counselors helped me write letters regarding my medical bills, explaining my income situation and how much I could pay. Some of the bills were forgiven. Slowly, I worked out paying off the rest of my debts. I moved to a less expensive house rental. God gave me some new customers and my income increased, and I paid off all the credit cards and all debts. In April 2009, I was totally debt free. Amazing! I didn't owe a penny to anyone.

I went through all the times in my life when I had cheated someone of money I rightfully owed or falsified myself to another for financial gain. I made amends to them all. I joined a Crown Financial Small group Bible Study and admitted that I had even cheated the IRS in my past and became accountable for that. I turned my life around to God's way with that group's help, the study work, and Bible passages, and all of it.

I still struggle with tithing and giving, but I do love to do it. And I do it, even if it's just a little bit. It shows my devotion to God, and my willingness to love and obey Him. I thank God repeatedly for all He's given me. He's even prospering me some, too. My little business continues to grow. He sends me to serve the nicest and some of the most godly families I have ever seen, as a nanny and/or a housecleaner. I love my work - most of the time!

As I see the stability and constant intervention and provision of God in my work, income and spending life, I trust Him more and more. Now, I am seeking to serve by perhaps returning to graduate school. I am seeking His counsel and direction on this. I can trust I will be in His will if I keep close to Him and do as He leads me.

I hope this has been of encouragement to someone else out there!

Sara, CO

8/19/2010

I took the Crown Ministries Seminar several years ago in Titusville, Pennsylvania. I have been faithful with my tithing and on this day (8/19/2010) I became debt free. I decided to quit my job and go back to school (which didn't work out) in December of 2009. Currently I am unemployed and looking for work. God has been good and provided for me until I get back on track. God is good!!!

Becky, PA

8/22/2010

We were drowning in debt, credit card payments, student loans, and other revolving credit accounts. We had been through a series of bad financial choices. I had become very "good" at moving credit card balances around to keep a 0% interest rates. But changes in the housing and credit sectors imploded on me. I was getting notices that my credit limits were being reduced, 0% interest rates were expiring, and I was frantic. I had almost $700,000 in debt between house, HELOC, personal loans, student loans, credit cards, auto loan, and even a mountain bike loan. It was disgusting. Even though we were still paying tithes, I knew we were not living God's economy.

Then, out of the blue I received an email from Crown because I had donated to the ministry in the past. The individual introduced themselves as a resource person for me and offered her availability to me. I responded with a quick overview of our situation and asked what was available. I received a couple of emails from Crown which ultimately led to contacting a Crown Money Map™ Coach.

Through some phone calls and a meeting with our Coach, my wife and I have made some changes and paid off all but one credit card, the auto loan, and one student loan. Our total debt is down to $610,000. God has blessed us in the last 10 months to pay down more than $50,000 and we are gaining more confidence to pay the rest off with more rapid success.

We attended a Crown Money Map™ seminar this past weekend and have completed Destination 1. Most of our debt remains the house but the realization that God is owner of all has taken away my stress and fear. I realize I was trying to be the owner, which I was never designed to do.

We are hoping to be debt free in less than 10 years. I am so grateful for your ministry, and it is my earnest desire to live God's economy in my life and family. I hope to be a Crown Money Map™ Coach one day and share God's economy with others who are breaking under the pressure of trying to keep up with the media blitz and their bankrupt neighbors.

I would also submit your prayers as we seek God's will in every aspect of our lives especially finances. It has been fun paying down debt, learning to live within our means, and most of all to surrender all to God. Surrendering the failures as well as the opportunities to Him is freeing.

Thank you again for your ministry! One last thing, God just last week provided another miracle. We had a 24-inch double oven set in a bricked kitchen, and it died a couple of months ago. We prayed about it and looked at many options with price tags into the $10,000 range to restore our kitchen's function. We purposed to honor God and wait. Well, last week I stopped at a local appliance store to process a refund and decided to check the "scratch and dent" area. You can guess my wonderment at God's providence when there was a brand new "misordered" stainless steel, double oven with the exact dimensions to fit the hole in our kitchen wall! So, for $1200 out the door, we took the oven home, installed it ourselves and praise God for taking care of us!

Matt, TN