When Marilee first connected with Crown, she described her life as chaotic and unmanageable. Despite a thriving design business and a sizeable inheritance, she admitted, “In all honesty, I ruined my life.” Failed investments, broken relationships, and a restless search for fulfillment left her exhausted and empty.

Everything began to change when she started working with a Crown Budget Coach in June 2024. Though she had long practiced daily Bible reading and prayer, she realized her faith hadn’t fully reached into how she handled money. “The scriptures started working, and my thinking began to change,” she recalls.

Her coach, Brian Young, walked patiently with her through the realities of budgeting and financial stewardship. The process wasn’t easy—at one point she quit in discouragement, sold her home, and gave away nearly everything she owned. But even through upheaval, God was guiding her steps. She eventually resettled in Reno, purchased a small home with cash, and returned to the coaching process with renewed hope.

Work for her interior design business began to flow again, but this time she saw it differently. No longer was she striving to make her name great. Instead, she recognized that God could use her in small but meaningful ways. “I cried buckets in disbelief,” Marilee says. “All along, there was the answer to God’s will.”

As she embraced her spending plan, she began to experience freedom. “I feel taken care of by God when I deposit my monthly ‘salary’ and take care to make it all work. I’m grateful that God is providing, and I can afford to live a healthy life in a blessed, paid-off house.”

Looking back, Marilee describes the experience as a turning point: “It is like a faucet has opened up in my life of new resources, business, and LIFE—true living in the Kingdom. I am humbled and so grateful!”

She credits her transformation to God’s faithfulness and the steady support of her Crown Budget Coach: “I am forever grateful for Brian, Crown, and that one sunny day when this lost sheep got tracked down! Thank you to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I want to build for You!”

When Josh and Natalia first signed up for Crown’s Budget Coaching course, they weren’t sure what to expect. Busy schedules and lingering doubts made them hesitant. “We had done another financial course,” Josh admitted, “yet were not making the significant steps we needed to make toward healthy financial stewardship in our lives, marriage, and family.”

But what started as uncertainty soon turned into transformation, both financially and spiritually.

“Honestly,” Josh said, “coming out the other side, the mix of practical financial training, advice, and guidance, with deep biblical and spiritual teaching and insights was a game changer for me. It really made me feel that what we were doing was so significant and honoring to the Lord.”

For Natalia, the course offered more than just structure and tools. It became a place of growth in her faith and her marriage. “This course not only helped us get a better handle on our finances,” she shared, “but improved our communication with each other about our finances, our goals, and how to best get there.”

One of the most helpful tools for the couple was the Money Map. “To have a visual plan was so helpful,” they said. “It took the mystery out of it and gave us a clear path.” They also praised the deep dive videos on saving, which taught them both practical strategies and a strong theology of saving.

“The course helped us see saving not just as wise preparation, but also as a way to be generous and support God’s kingdom,” they explained. “We’re now looking forward to having a generosity fund and giving more to the church and missionaries.”

They also found great value in the spending plan and other financial forms. Being able to track and adjust their monthly spending made a tangible difference. “The most significant financial change was that we made a healthy, functioning, God-honoring budget that enabled us to begin to save and pay down debt,” Josh said. “We were able to pay off our van loan, and now we’re down to one non-mortgage loan. There is light at the end of the tunnel and hope for the future!”

But beyond the financial victories, what impacted them most was the consistent reminder that everything they have belongs to God. “We were challenged to use His resources for His glory and purposes,” Josh shared. “This course stretched us, caused us to trust Him more, and helped us find more contentment in Christ.”

Their coaches, Phil and Vanessa Matheny, also played a key role in their journey. “They really poured into us and helped us so much with their wisdom, experience, shepherding, and practical advice,” said Josh.

Now, on the other side of the course, Josh and Natalia are hopeful, encouraged, and ready to live out their new perspective: stewarding God’s resources with joy, faith, and purpose.

Start your own journey toward financial freedom and deeper faith—sign up for Budget Coaching today.

“I’ve come to realize that everything I have—money, possessions, resources—belongs to God. I am simply a steward of His blessings. This understanding has shifted my perspective from focusing on this life to thinking of eternal life.

• I’ve developed a renewed, biblical vision of wealth: understanding that it’s a resource to glorify God and serve others.
• I’ve become more responsible in managing resources, always remembering that I am managing what is His.
• My priorities are clearer now: pursuing God and obeying His Word above all else.

• I’ve started to budget and plan my finances more effectively, aligning spending with God’s principles.
• I’ve worked on reducing debt and unnecessary spending, choosing a more sustainable lifestyle.

• My financial anxiety has decreased, as I’ve learned to trust God and manage resources wisely.
• I feel more confident making financial decisions that honor Him.
• With better financial management, I’ve discovered greater generosity—becoming more willing to help others and use wealth to serve God and His purposes.

I know this transformation is a continuous journey, as I strive to apply biblical principles to every aspect of my financial life.”

Claudia’s journey is a testament to the lasting impact that biblical financial principles can have when embraced with faith and commitment.

When Micki Phenix began her journey to become a Crown Budget Coach, she felt uncertain and unqualified. But through the training, she not only gained practical tools and confidence, she also experienced a personal transformation in her own stewardship. Her story is a powerful reminder that Budget Coaching isn’t just about helping others—it’s about being changed yourself by biblical truth and practical wisdom.

“When I began the Budget Coach Training Course, I felt completely inadequate and unprepared to coach another person in their financial habits and decisions. After all, who am I to guide people regarding their money?

Over the course of the training, We have soaked in God’s principles about money and learned practical tools to help people cut costs and manage their money. I have even grown accustomed to using a spreadsheet, which is not my favorite tool. The coaching has helped me see areas that I can refine in my own life, and improving my own stewardship has given me better understanding of how God wants me to use my resources. Prayer and reliance on the Lord for every step of the counseling process is key, and knowing that I will have a mentor to come to as I coach others gives me additional confidence that I am prepared to begin coaching others in Biblical financial principles and practical application. 

I learned that my sons need clear and intentional coaching in the area of budgeting categories and a maintenance plan. My new confidence with a spreadsheet will help me accomplish this.

The more I reviewed the case studies provided in the course, the more I realized that over time I had personally become less attentive to keeping a maintenance account of my spending. My spending has always been reasonable and within the limits of our budget, but I had become lax about keeping accurate accounts of where my money goes. I realized that I can be a much better steward of our finances if I am more intentional with my spending.

The course emphasized God as our provider, and it encouraged us, as coaches, to direct our clients to turn to God, their local church and their family if they were in great need. Through the case studies, I could see the humility and vulnerability that happens when we are in financial need, and it gave me a more tangible perspective that God is our provider in every circumstance, no matter what.”

If you’re ready to become a better steward or help others walk in financial freedom, consider connecting with a Budget Coach or becoming one yourself.

For many students, Restoration Path is more than just a program—it’s a lifeline. It offers a safe space to confront deep wounds, break free from destructive patterns, and rediscover their God-given identity. One student’s journey reveals just how transformational this process can be.

Because of deep childhood traumas, one student was angry, lashing out at people and stressed about her financial situation. After Restoration Path she shared, “This program has taught me to have patience with others, trust in God, love myself, know I have a purpose. I have learned everyone is made in the image of God and to always remember we are all God’s children and we all have a purpose for being here even if we don’t know why, or what for… Moving forward I will always trust that God has a plan for me and to not question my worth or why I’m here!”

Kevin and Alison MacLean have experienced a transformative journey with Crown Budget Coaching, guided by their coach, Brian Young. The couple credits their sessions not only for introducing practical budgeting tools but also for fostering deeper personal insights and spiritual growth.

According to Kevin, one of the most profound lessons was realizing, “everything I think I have is really God’s and that I must ask him how he wants me to steward what he’s entrusted us with.” This shift in perspective helped him recognize that every resource, including finances, is a gift that should be managed with care and intentionality.

Alison, on the other hand, discovered a parallel lesson in the realm of time management. She explained that “the overspending that I was so angry with Kevin over was actually evident in my life in a different resource, the resource of time.” This insight allowed the couple to see that financial challenges often mirror broader issues in life, prompting them to address both with equal commitment.

The coaching program equipped the MacLeans with tangible tools to manage their finances, particularly for saving for irregular expenses, emergencies, and long-term purchases. “We finally have a tool to help us save both for irregular expenses, emergencies, and long-term purchases,” they noted, emphasizing that biblical stewardship principles are both practical and sustainable.

In addition to financial tools, their Budget Coach provided the space for the couple to engage in honest, sometimes difficult conversations. The regular accountability meetings with Brian have been essential in keeping them on a consistent path of growth, contributing to their overall sense of peace. As they shared, “we feel so much more at peace being able to see the big picture more clearly.”

Through thoughtful budgeting and spiritual reflection, Kevin and Alison MacLean have made significant strides toward a healthier, more balanced life, setting them on a path toward lasting peace and stewardship.