For a group of women in rural Kisumu, Kenya, five chickens became more than livestock. They became a lesson in seeing possibility in what God has already provided.

Kelvin Otieno of Better ME Kenya, a Crown Alliance Partner, began investing intentionally in women whose families face significant financial challenges. Many are raising large families while their husbands struggle to find steady employment.

His program combines farming, entrepreneurship, and the African Money Map to help women recognize the resources and opportunities already in their hands.

What began with seven women has grown to include a second group of 12, and the women are now operating small businesses and learning to save and invest.

Last year, their savings group enabled each woman to purchase five chickens. Kelvin then challenged them to make an inventory of all the opportunities those chickens represented. Some saw them as a form of savings. Others saw the beginnings of a business.

Kelvin’s goal isn’t simply to create more groups. He wants to invest deeply in these women so they can eventually mentor others and pass along what they have learned.

And the impact is already reaching the next generation. Every Saturday, Kelvin spends time with 35 of their children, using arts and crafts and Bible stories to help them know and love the Lord.

Five chickens may seem like a small beginning. But when people learn to recognize and faithfully steward what God has already placed in their hands, small beginnings can become something much greater.

When Pastor Yeat Dara first learned biblical principles of stewardship and farming, he decided to start with the ground right outside his own home.

In his community, families worked large plots of farmland but rarely planted small gardens to provide food for their own households. Instead, much of their hard-earned income went toward purchasing basic food at local markets each day.

Pastor Yeat decided to lead by example. His family transformed the empty soil surrounding their home into a thriving garden filled with fresh vegetables.

Over the next two years, the idea spread.

Today, Pastor Yeat reports that his household and almost his entire church congregation of more than 200 people are growing food that once had to be purchased. Families are saving money while providing fresh food for their households, and people from neighboring villages have begun coming to learn what the community is doing.

The transformation has been more than financial.

“We are hungry to continue growing in wisdom,” Pastor Yeat shared, “and we thank God for using this ministry to bless our people spiritually, physically, and financially.”

What began with one family choosing to put biblical stewardship into practice is now influencing an entire community—and reaching beyond it.

As part of Crown’s ongoing collaboration with SIFAT in Latin America, a Money Map training was recently held in La Tigra, San Carlos, Costa Rica. Twenty-three participants representing eight countries—Honduras, Guatemala, Bolivia, Angola, the Philippines, Ghana, the United States, and Costa Rica—gathered to receive biblical financial literacy training.

Many of the participants had traveled to Costa Rica for other educational opportunities and were able to take part in the Money Map training thanks to the coordination and support of Crown’s leaders in Costa Rica. The impact will continue next week as participants begin Foundations for Farming training led by Laynus Martinez, Crown’s Latin American trainer, who is traveling from Bolivia to facilitate two trainings in Costa Rica.

Please join us in praying that these leaders will be equipped to apply and share biblical principles of stewardship and farming in their churches, ministries, and communities across the nations they represent.

This month Frank Gonzalez, Managing Director of Crown Solutions Spanish, led an introductory financial literacy training in Madrid utilizing Crown’s MoneyLife Study and God Provides Film Series, while also introducing Crown Español to ministry leaders across Spain. Hosted by COMiMA (the Fellowship of Ministries and Pastors of Madrid), the event brought together approximately 200 pastors and leaders.

The response was overwhelmingly encouraging. Frank shared that “the response was very positive,” and there is “strong interest in learning more about biblical financial principles and the resources Crown Español offers.” We praise God for this opportunity and ask you to pray for “a new season of multiplication in Spain” as pastors and leaders begin exploring how biblical financial stewardship can strengthen families, churches, and communities throughout the country.

In May, twelve emerging leaders from eight African countries gathered at the Crown Innovation Centre in Cape Town for the Crown Leadership Academy. Representing stewardship centers across Burundi, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, these young leaders came together for a week of learning, growth, and encouragement.

Led by Chuck Bentley and Craig Deall, the training was intentionally focused on equipping the next generation with the tools, wisdom, and character needed to lead effectively in their families, organizations, and nations.

One of the highlights of the week was hearing Chuck and Craig openly share both their successes and failures in leadership. According to participant William Tom, “their transparency helped the young leaders understand not only what to pursue, but also what pitfalls to avoid.”

The training explored both personal and organizational leadership. A powerful lesson was the idea that a leader must be able to “lead, fight, and heal”—what Chuck described as wearing the right “hat” at the right time as a Leader, Medic, or Soldier.

For William, one message stood above the rest:

“My greatest takeaway was the emphasis on character as the anchor of leadership.”

He went on to describe character as “the non-negotiable starting point for anyone entrusted with responsibility,” highlighting three essential qualities emphasized throughout the training: integrity, humility, and reliability.

Another lesson that resonated deeply was that leaders must be bearers of good news—remaining calm under pressure and bringing stability to those they serve.

Beyond the classroom sessions, participants built lasting relationships through fellowship, team-building activities, games, and time together at the beach. William shared that these experiences strengthened relationships and created a sense of unity among the leaders.

As the week concluded, participants expressed deep gratitude to Chuck and Craig for their generosity and willingness to share the wisdom they have gained over many years of leadership.

Looking ahead, William wrote:

“We look forward with great anticipation to seeing these young leaders rise to their calling—taking up leadership roles in their families, communities, and organisations across Africa.”

Please join us in praying for these young men and women as they return home equipped to serve, lead, and influence others for God’s glory.

A powerful example of multiplication is taking place in Kenya through one of Crown’s Alliance Partners, Duncan Olumbe of PEER Team Welfare Association.

After traveling to meet with Crown staff member, Johann van Der Ham, at Kentegra to learn how to use the African Money Map Game in his teaching, Duncan quickly began sharing the training with others. Just weeks later, he led his first solo African Money Map training for leaders from CHE (Community Health Evangelism) Kenya, along with members of his own organization.

Sixteen participants attended the training, and many immediately began exploring ways to integrate the African Money Map with CHE lessons and Foundations for Farming. Discussions are already underway for future trainer sessions and deeper partnership opportunities.

We praise God for the growing impact of these biblical stewardship tools and pray that the seeds planted through this training continue to bear fruit across Kenya.

At a recent Whinshape and Thriveworx Training Summit in Costa Rica, Crown Español Costa Rica led a workshop titled “From Donors to Partners,” presented by Pablo Barrantes alongside Jeni McLane of Young Life Latin America and the Caribbean.

The session encouraged leaders to build meaningful relationships in fundraising and develop true ministry partnerships. More than 55 church and community leaders from across the country attended—many of whom have previously participated in Crown’s financial stewardship and Money Map training.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue equipping leaders with biblical principles that strengthen ministries and advance the Kingdom.

This testimony is shared by John and Mary Beth Flippen from The Crown Stewardship Center in Malawi.

Mr. Phiri, a tailoring business owner, shared how biblical financial training brought transformation not only to his business, but to his entire family.

“Before the training, I had a good tailoring business, but it was not going anywhere. I would hide whatever money I made from my wife. I always thought I did not have enough money to do anything… now I know differently!”

Through what he learned, Mr. Phiri began to shift both his mindset and his habits. Instead of managing finances alone, he chose a new path of transparency and partnership at home.

“I started sharing with my wife the money and we began budgeting together. We now work together. She has learned how to sew and run the business if I am not around. My family is not changing because of me, but because of my wife!”

That change has created lasting impact in both their marriage and their business.

“Learning to plan together about finances transformed my family!”

He also emphasized the importance of applying what is learned, not just hearing it:

“If you want to be fruitful, you have to try what you learned. My wife is my helper. If you are free, she will be free. Transformation had to start with me.”

His story is a powerful picture of how financial discipleship can lead to restored trust, shared purpose, and generational impact within families.