At 72 years old, Judith Chaonza, affectionately known as “Gogo” (grandmother in Shona), is a living testament to faith, resilience, and faithful stewardship. Her journey is one of unwavering determination, a commitment to hard work, and a deep trust in God’s provision.

Gogo’s transformation began in 2009 when she received training at Foundations for Farming. With newfound knowledge and a heart eager to apply it, she planted her first Pfumvudza plot. What started as a single plot has now expanded into five—an incredible feat for anyone, let alone a woman in her seventies!

Gogo is a proud mother of six and grandmother to 15. Her dedication to providing for her family never wavered, especially after the loss of her husband in 2013. Left with full responsibility, she refused to let grief or hardship define her future. Instead, she took action—working her fields, drying herbs, purchasing chickens, and constructing a coop to raise broilers for sale.

Her perseverance bore fruit. By 2021, her children, recognizing her hard work, built her a beautiful and comfortable home, hoping she would finally rest. But Gogo had other plans. She saw no reason to slow down and instead requested her children to help her build another chicken coop. They obliged, and today, she successfully sells broilers and eggs, with plans to expand even further. Her vision? Another chicken house to accommodate 75 more birds.

Over the years, Gogo has exemplified what it means to be a faithful steward of God’s blessings. She has earned income through maize, produce, dried herbs, eggs, and broilers—all while inspiring those around her with her relentless work ethic and trust in God’s provision.

At the recent Champs conference, Gogo’s story was one among many testimonies of transformation. The training on the Money Map and God Provides movies continues to be a crucial element in equipping individuals with financial wisdom, teaching them to manage their resources effectively, and helping them develop long-term sustainability plans.

Gogo’s journey is not just one of survival but of thriving. She is a beacon of hope, proving that faith, diligence, and wise stewardship can break the cycle of poverty and create a lasting legacy. Her life is a powerful reminder that, with God, no challenge is too great.

Gogo’s house in 2016

The house Gogo’s children built her (dated 2023)

Praise Report from Decapolis, our Crown Stewardship Center in Nigeria

2024 was an incredible year for Decapolis, marked by significant growth, expansion, and new opportunities. These achievements inspired them to rewrite their mission and vision statement, which now reads:

“To empower the most vulnerable, lifting communities out of poverty through hands-on training in conservation agriculture, vocational skills, healthcare access, and renewable energy solutions.”Since attending the Foundations for Farming training, Decapolis has trained over 1,000 trainers. Looking ahead, they plan to equip 5,000 farmers in 2025.Their program is presented as teaching regenerative agriculture rather than conservation agriculture. This is because, in Nigeria, much of the land has been so degraded that there is little left to conserve—it must first be regenerated.

Although only 10% of trained farmers can report back on their progress, anecdotal evidence and the visible results from trained farmers suggest that the implementation rate is significantly higher.Decapolis has also been invited by an organization to train 1,000 farmers in their community. Of these, 400 have already completed the training.

Please keep them in your prayers for protection, renewed energy and for them to be able to continue to impact so many in Nigeria.

Background
Alina, from Germany, is engaged to Lore, the Worship and Youth Leader at Maranatha Faith Assemblies in Lordwar town, in Kenya. Last year, someone gifted Alina a copy of the African Money Map and encouraged her to consider using it in Kenya. One day, while reviewing the material, Lore expressed his deep concern for the youth group members who were deep in debt and felt hopeless about their future. Alina shared the AMM with Lore, and together with Cynthia, who offered to become the facilitator for their youth, reached out to us for permission to teach it.

Their city, while not rural, struggles with high unemployment. However, the Lord has been using Cynthia, Lore and Alina in incredible ways to bring hope and transformation.

Alina shared:
“For Lore and me, knowing these principles brings more peace and clarity into our relationship and future plans. It feels like the perfect marriage counseling. We are doing the spending plan every day. While it helps me have an overview and more control over my spending and where to invest, it helps Lore minimize costs and focus more on priorities. The perspective changes, we see the unique ways to use what God has given us. And as a result, we feel more at peace and better equipped to handle the needs and requests from people around us.

Earlier this year, they began investing in a small business. “In March, we started to invest in a little shop which Lore now owns, ‘Amakuru Family Goodies.’ It’s an investment into his financial freedom and the community,” Alina explained. However, they quickly faced challenges.

“A few weeks after we completed our own 10 Money Map facilitator sessions, we realized we had lost track of some financial things at the shop. It grew fast, we faced issues like burglary and theft against our shop and a constant changing market prices. Both of us lacked the necessary skills to calculate properly with so many different things. But God planned for it. Through the Money Map, we were able to talk and pray about it differently. Now, we’re receiving teachings and proper accounting skills from a church friend in Germany.”

Despite the challenges, the shop is stable and continues to grow, while Alina and Lore learn to steward it faithfully.

Impact on the Youth Group
Currently, 10 people are actively participating in the African Money Map sessions every week, with others occasionally joining. Cynthia described how the group is benefitting:
“It took a bit for them to open up for honest conversations, as often there’s no room for it. But they are really enjoying the sessions. The spending plan has been especially useful for them. They’ve been able to bring their unwise spending habits to light and connect them with peer pressure. Peer pressure is a huge topic for the youth, so it’s good to see them growing together. It’s life-giving to invest in these peer relationships.”

This update is a powerful reminder of how God can use practical tools to bring hope, freedom, and transformation in unexpected ways.

Impact on the Youth Group
Currently, 10 people are actively participating in the African Money Map sessions every week, with others occasionally joining. Alina described how the group is benefitting:
“It took a bit for them to open up for honest conversations, as often there’s no room for it. But they are really enjoying the sessions. The spending plan has been especially useful for them. They’ve been able to bring their unwise spending habits to light and connect them with peer pressure. Peer pressure is a huge topic for the youth, so it’s good to see them growing together as peers. It’s life-giving to invest in these peer relationships.”

This update is a powerful reminder of how God can use practical tools to bring hope, freedom, and transformation in unexpected ways.

Kittikun Meetang, National Director of CCI Thailand, shared a powerful testimony about the impact of training pastoral leaders in Thailand on God’s financial principles. Over the course of 2024, approximately 150 people have participated in this training from January to October.

Kittikun emphasized the significance of these teachings, saying, “We are reminded and modeled to live a life of faith that is subject to God’s principles in our finances, careers, and personal lives.” He highlighted the urgency of this mission, explaining that without such training, many people risk falling into the traps of Satan, who uses wealth, fame, and greed to lead them away from God.

Kittikun expressed concern over the current cultural climate in Thailand, where financial temptation and greed are pervasive. “The situation of temptation and falling into the trap of sin of greed in terms of finance and wealth is influencing many Thai people,” he noted. He sees this training as a critical tool in equipping God’s people to resist these temptations and remain faithful to Christ.

Many participants have shared how the training has transformed their outlook. “These people have become aware and careful about how they live their lives with a right attitude between God and money,” Kittikun said. He added that this shift has restored their relationship with God and strengthened their commitment to being good stewards.

As the work continues, Kittikun asks for prayer: “We ask that you pray for us that we will speak this truth, bring freedom, and bring about change.”

Mvurwi Church Visit

On October 13, 2024, the Mvurwi Christian Community Church welcomed William Tom, a trainer for Foundations for Farming International, to lead a financial training session centered around the African Money Map Game. The event was an impactful opportunity for the congregation to explore biblical principles of finance. “It was a blessing to fellowship and serve their congregation,” William shared, expressing his gratitude for the invitation and the warm reception.

This particular training session was significant for William, as it was the first one he conducted with his family present. After a time of worship, the session began with a focus on two foundational scriptures: Matthew 6:24 and 1 Timothy 6:10, which set the tone by encouraging the group to prioritize serving God rather than money.

Participants were seated in family groups, with a mix of young and old to ensure inclusivity, especially for children whose parents were not part of the church. The game started at a slow pace, with one group carefully deliberating over how to allocate their resources. Their patience paid off, as they were later recognized as the most profitable and generous team.

Robert, one of the church leaders, was so impressed by the impact of the training that he expressed a desire to extend it to the Mvurwi pastors’ fraternity. “This is a wonderful tool to reach families and encourage them to work together on finances,” Robert noted. He also saw potential in translating the Money Map Game for marginal tribes in the community, further extending its reach. The elders of the church echoed his sentiments, remarking that while it was presented as a game, the lessons learned were profound and applicable.

Tabernacle of Worship Couples Retreat

A few days later, William and his wife, Doreen, were invited to speak at a couples’ retreat at the Tabernacle of Worship Church. The event was focused on managing finances within the context of marriage, and many attendees were surprised to hear that the Bible contains over 2,350 verses on money and possessions.

William introduced a framework for handling money according to God’s economy, emphasizing the importance of working, giving, saving, spending, and investing. Drawing on examples from a presentation he had given in Eswatini, William challenged the participants to reflect on their own financial habits. When asked if they followed the biblical order of priorities, the crowd responded with a resounding “No! We work and spend.” One woman jokingly added, “My husband works, and I spend.”

The conversation also touched on how many in Zimbabwe tend to give only when there is leftover money, prompting a reflection on God’s call for first fruits and the importance of giving from the best we have. In the Zimbabwean context, William noted, many families are caught in a cycle where spending comes first, leading to debt before any money is earned. “How should I save when I don’t earn enough?” asked one participant, highlighting the practical challenges many face.

The discussion also delved into whether a wife’s earnings should be part of the family budget or if she should manage them independently, given the traditional expectation that men provide financially. By the end of the retreat, many felt they had gained valuable insights, especially on the topic of debt. “Freedom is more important than future wealth,” William emphasized, encouraging attendees to prioritize settling debts.

Reflecting on the event, William expressed his gratitude: “It was my first time speaking at a couples’ finance platform, and I am so humbled by the feedback and response.” Debt became the most-discussed topic after the session, with participants also appreciating the lesson on saving, inspired by the habits of ants. The retreat left attendees more mindful of their financial habits and encouraged to make meaningful changes.

Egypt

Our Alliance Partner in Egypt, MELTI (Middle East Training Institute), recently trained 157 people across Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey. The training introduced key teachings from Bible on Money and Managing Your Money God’s Way to attendees from various nationalities, including Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, Sudanese, and Kurds. Participants were highly engaged and appreciated learning from Crown’s materials. In Egypt, the training was provided to students from the Coptic Counseling Institute and MELTI’s school.

Egypt

Egypt

Turkey

Lebanon

Lebanon

Please read this update from Mobali, our dedicated leader in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):

“This year has brought its share of challenges. A few months ago, a large portion of our crops were lost in a fire, and Cedric, my right-hand man, was burned while trying to extinguish the flames. On top of that, my oldest sister fell seriously ill, and we’ve encountered some difficulties getting our registration and bank account set up.

Yet through it all, God continues to show us His grace and provision.

During the summer, we were blessed by the visit of two children, Leo and Bene ages 16 and 14. They came to the farm asking if we could teach them what we were doing. Their dedication has been nothing short of amazing—they’ve shown up day after day, learning and helping with various tasks around the farm. Though they aren’t paid, their attitude has been incredibly positive, and we are deeply thankful for their lives and efforts.

With their help, we’ve been able to plant, mulch, and water onions, eggplants, and tomatoes. Leo and Bene returned to school on September 30th but continued to visit and help on the farm when they could. We pray that the Lord will use this time to mold them into young men with a bright future, filled with the hope that only comes from Him.”

-Mobali

Read other updates from Mobali here and here.