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.

Keyla Drake, a participant in the Budget Coach Training Course, describes her experience as transformative, fundamentally reshaping her perspective on money and stewardship. “I came into it thinking I had a solid grasp of biblical budgeting, especially after getting out of debt with my husband in 2021. I was excited to share our journey with friends and guide them toward financial freedom,” she recalls. However, what she learned during the course went beyond her expectations, impacting her views on money, contentment, generosity, and legacy.

One of the most profound lessons Keyla learned was understanding that God is the creator and owner of everything, which shifted her mindset from, “How much of my money should I give to God?” to “How can I best manage God’s resources?” This new perspective transformed the way she approaches budgeting, no longer seeing money as something to control, but rather as something to steward faithfully for God’s glory.

Stewardship, Keyla admits, was the biggest takeaway from the course. “I used to think that as long as I gave my 10% to the church, I was doing enough,” she explains. But she came to realize that God doesn’t just want a portion—He wants her entire life to reflect faithful management of His resources. This lesson prompted her and her husband to re-examine their financial priorities, moving away from the desire for material upgrades and focusing instead on contentment and intentional giving. “We also made it a priority to give more intentionally to causes that align with spreading the Gospel, like buying Bibles for places like Malawi,” she shares.

The spiritual growth Keyla experienced through the course has been profound. She reflects on how the encouragement to “seek first the Kingdom of God” became not just a familiar verse but a guiding principle for her life. Even during financially challenging seasons, Keyla says, “He has provided for us in surprising and beautiful ways,” reminding her of God’s abundant provision. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations” (Ephesians 3:20-21), she concludes, celebrating the lasting impact the course has had on her faith and finances.

We recently received this encouraging testimony from Tammy Thain whose life, faith and financial journey has been impacted by our Budget Coaching program.

“Being in the circumstances that I find myself, I needed this financial course in a huge way! I have gleaned so much from this course, especially from the spiritual aspect of finances: Where is my heart? To whom should I give? Is my family provided for?  My coach was perfectly placed in my life and situation by God! What a blessing, a help, and tremendous teacher she has been!

The significant lesson was how God wants me to work, give, save, spend, and invest – and the Bible verses that go along with each of these.  A change in my heart to understand what God wants of me. To understand His economy of how we are to steward what He’s given us. Everything is His!  Chuck’s videos were Spirit-filled. The videos spoke life back into my heart concerning God’s desire for me to use my gifts that He’s given me and to give generously, and that it is all for God’s glory.”

Mark and Claire Pelletier have rediscovered financial stability and marital harmony through the help of their Crown Budget Coach. Claire Pelletier shared with us, “We have been struggling for years to stay on top of our ‘budget’ — we (mostly me) made purchases out of wants and without much reflection. When we sat to look at our ‘numbers’ together, it was a source of stress. Mark is more of a saver and not a spender; I am the opposite. We also approach money differently: the way we look at our budget, the way we spend.”

The couple recognized their need for external assistance, reminiscent of the guidance they received two decades ago through a Crown Bible Study course at their church. Claire recalled, “We knew we needed something or someone to help us get back on track and to approach it (again) the way we had done almost 20 years ago. We wanted that sense of peace again and we wanted to get out of debt, which was a great source of stress for Mark. So I searched online for Crown and found this online mentoring option, which I thought would be perfect for this time in our life. And it has been!”

Mark echoed Claire’s sentiments, emphasizing the transformative impact of the coaching: “The Crown class was an answer to prayer as we had gotten into too much debt and felt controlled by it. The course has made us re-evaluate our use of money and we are growing in our understanding of what it means to be good stewards.”

One of the critical changes the Pelletiers implemented was eliminating their reliance on credit cards. Mark noted, “First and foremost, we have stopped using our credit card for all our purchases as it became obvious that the card was the primary source of our problem. We switched to using our debit card for our day-to-day purchases.”

Additionally, they have become more discerning in their spending habits. Mark explained, “Growing in understanding and working to implement the principle of needs vs. wants vs. desires. Now when we food shop, for instance, we get what we need. Same with other shopping.”

Another significant step the couple has taken is establishing a savings account for emergencies. “We have also established a savings account for emergencies, something we have not done since we were first married 35 years ago,” said Mark. “This has resulted in greater peace and trust in God.”

Weekly financial reviews have also played a crucial role in their progress. Claire highlighted the importance of these discussions: “It is important being consistent and committed to discussing our finances on a weekly basis. It has made us hold each other accountable, given us a renewed sense of direction and hope: we are making decisions together again a lot more easily and (which is key for us) more frequently.”

Mark added, “A weekly review of our spending has helped us be more open and confident in discussing our use of money.”

Through prayer and trust in divine provision, the Pelletiers have found greater financial peace. “We are praying a lot more about our finances and trusting that God will provide in His own way,” Mark shared. “We actually have started to put away true emergency savings and believe this is part of being a good steward.”

In conclusion, the Pelletiers’ journey demonstrates the profound impact of Budget Coaching and spiritual stewardship in achieving financial peace and marital harmony. As Claire succinctly put it, “It feels great to approach this part of our marriage together and to work towards growing in Godly stewardship of ALL He has given us.”