When John and Kristin King began Budget Coaching in the fall of 2024, they were at a financial and emotional crossroads. John had just lost his job—an unexpected answer to prayer.

“I had been praying for John to be more relaxed at work and to possibly find an opportunity closer to home,” Kristin shared. “We did not see him very often.” But when that prayer was answered through sudden unemployment, the family found themselves in crisis. “We were not financially ready to lose our main income in an instant.”

Scrambling to stay afloat, Kristin took on more hours at work while John cashed in his 401K. The church stepped in with a timely mortgage payment, and their financial leaders recommended the Kings enroll in a Crown Budget Coaching program. It was a turning point.

“We didn’t really talk about finances,” Kristin admitted. “I paid my bills, and school loans and the kids’ medical bills, and John paid for everything else. We didn’t even know how much debt we were in separately.”

Through the coaching process with their mentor, Greg Wagner, the Kings began to change not only how they managed their money—but how they communicated as a couple.

“We started talking about finances for the first time in our marriage without too many fights and with a biblical view of how God wants us to be stewards of the money He has given us.”

As John secured a new job close to home, the couple saw God’s hand at work in more ways than one. “We got out of debt more than we ever have with less income,” Kristin reflected. “We learned that our money is not our money—it’s God’s money. We are just stewards of what He has given us.”

Today, the Kings are not only on a clearer financial path but are also seeing fruit in their spiritual and family life. “We have drawn closer to God through this, and we noticed the living God moving in our marriage, our finances, and our family,” Kristin said. “We have begun to teach our 18-year-old daughter about finances as well.”

Their journey through Budget Coaching has given them new purpose and perspective: “This experience was amazing, and we have a totally different view of what our money is for and how to manage it. I hope we can continue to move in the right direction and successfully get out of debt so we can use our money to further His cause and continue to be good stewards.”

To learn more about Budget Coaching, click here.