What People Say

Pamela (my wife) and I were a seemingly happy couple who had a financial situation which is sadly considered to be normal in our culture. We made an average income and had the ability to pay all of our bills. We both worked fulltime and rarely had time to ourselves. I was struggling to climb the corporate ladder so I spent countless hours per week working to impress the boss and Pamela spend countless hours wondering when we would start a family. A marital divide to say the least. A friend of Pamela's referred us to her financial counselor. We really enjoyed the education and time we spent with the counselor very much and began to make some progress. Even though we had counsel from and outside source, (and quite good but not extremely effective) was missing something we later found to be the Word of God, otherwise known as the Bible.

After starting secular counsel and before finding Crown we found out we would have our first baby. (fall 1998) We knew our desire was for Pamela to stay home and raise the baby. We tried to find a way to make that happen financially even though we couldnt see it on paper. To make things even more complicated we were also starting a new business. We looked around to find a way to help facilitate our goals that we strongly believed God had for us. In OUR infinite wisdom we borrowed using a second mortgage on our home to finance our plan. Needless to say the next year was not any better with more debt and a new baby meanwhile I was still not home most of the time.

We heard about the crown one morning in service. Ron & Judy Staub gave their testimony and Roger gave a glowing endorsement for the class. We decided that morning to sign up and take the class.

Pamela and I first took a Crown class in the fall of 2000. The class we attended was so enlightening we wanted to share in the responsibility of teaching others what we had learned, so we decided to lead a class. (We had serious coaching from the Staubs) As leaders we gained more understanding than when we were students and God continued to develop our character through convictions. It was apparent that we previously lacked Gods perspective because when we first started with Crown we had a 2nd mortgage, 2 car payments, 2 credit card payments and not much money in the bank. Our giving wasnt even talked about much less planned. Our communication as husband and wife was at the very best minimal where financed were concerned except when we blamed each other for the money being a mess. When I would come home before my daughter Samantha went to bed, which was not very often, she would run from someone she viewed as a stranger or acquaintance at best. Needless to say I ended up going to work for someone else to steady the income.

During the first Crown class that we lead (fall 2001) guess what We found out we were having another baby and were faced with starting a new business again. During this class the company I was working for was breaking apart and I had an opportunity to create a partnership with my best friend and work for myself once again. This time we had some help that we didn't have before and that was Gods perspective. This tends to be quite helpful. This time we didn't look around for anything but straight up and praying "God we have the feeling that this is the right path so please slam the door if it is not." We had been saving and paying off debt over the past couple of years and were making great progress. This time we didnt use debt but had faith that God would provide. (Most likely that would have produced success the first time) God continued to not only provide but also prosper us in ways we couldn't have imagined.

Today with Gods faithfulness and grace plus our understanding of stewardship and incorporation of discipline we DONT have a 2nd mortgage, 2 car payments, or 2 credit card payments and we now have a fully funded: emergency fund in the bank, retirement savings, our children's educations savings and most importantly a sizable giving account. I am a certified budget counselor with several cases currently in progress and it is amazing to watch God work in the lives of the people who commit to follow his principles.

God allows me to participate in a business of which I am a partner with a Godly and faithful believer who is my best friend with plenty of time to counsel others who have the desire to commit to Gods principles. I also have the blessing of walking through the door to my home every night just before dinner and being greeted by 3 beautiful ladies that liver there: Pamela, Samantha and Savannah who are happy to see me. Now planning our giving and spending has brought us closer as a couple and much needed joy to our lives.

We cant recommend strongly enough for every person to take a Crown Small Group Study. The study will require self-sacrifice, discipline, self-evaluation and the willingness to read and study scripture daily. Follow the scriptural principles faithfully your heart and life will be changed forever and not just in the area of finances.

Sincerely,

Christopher & Pamela Baird