From time to time I like to highlight organizations, services or products I think will benefit people on their financial journey and help them learn more about Biblical finance. If you’re a regular reader you know I’m a supporter of Crown Financial Ministries whose mission is equipping people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God’s financial principles so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
Crown was the result of a merger between two ministries. Howard Dayton founded Crown in the mid 1980’s and Larry Burkett founded Christian Financial Concepts in the mid 1970’s. According to Crown’s History page on their website, both men felt a calling from God to form the ministry and stretch each of their own ministries in a new direction. The end result was a merger in 2000 which has helped make an impact now on a global level.
My Experience with Crown Financial Ministries
Crown has certainly changed the lives of my wife and I. We first were exposed to Crown through their Biblical Financial Study at a previous church. During that study we learned there was more to personal finance than money and numbers. We learned about God’s economy and it has forever changed our lives and our perspective on money.
A few years later I decided to become a Money Map Coach to help people learn God’s financial principles and how to become better financial stewards. Coaching also provides me the opportunity to help people learn how to budget and track expenses which is key for making forward progress on the Crown Money Map.
I frequently return to Crown’s website to leverage their financial tools and resources to manage my own finances. I’m also a regular listener to the MoneyLife Podcast with Crown CEO Chuck Bentley.
Crown’s Tools and Resources
Crown has a number of great tools in place to help fulfill their mission. I thought I would mention a few if you’re not famaliar with them. There are many more, so be sure to check out their website at Crown.org as well as check with your church to see what is offered.
Biblical Financial Study
Many churches and small groups now teach the Biblical Financial Study offered by Crown. It’s a 10 week leader facilitated study about Biblical finance across various areas such as family, debt, ownership, etc. It includes memory verses and the use of practical tools along the way such as creating a budget, debt plan and spending diary. Crown has developed leader training to teach people how to incorporate the study into their church. Beyond putting your finances in order there are number of benefits including growing in your marriage and relationship with God. Many people also reduce or eliminate loads of debt while in the study once they understand God’s perspective of it.
God Provides Film Learning Experience
The God Provides Film Learning Experience is one of the latest tools Crown has produced. It is 6 theater quality, epic short films which help people understand how God will meet their needs. Each of the films comes with companion guides. They present Biblical truths and practical steps to grow your trust in God. I haven’t seen them all, but have seen Lifted Up which is remarkably well done and has an awesome messsage about trust without worry and fear. From what I’ve gathered in listening to the MoneyLife podcasts, I think the film series has helped Crown increase its global presence. So many people relate better to visual communication versus reading books.
The Money Map
Well, if you’ve been reading One Money Design you’ve learned quite a bit about the Money Map which is a 7 destination guide to your financial journey. Put simply, the guide works. I think the most overwhelming part of personal finance is knowing what to do when and where on your journey. The map provides you the priorities. You have to take the action and trust God to provide and do His part along the way. The final destination is true financial freedom which Crown defines as giving more of your time and resources to help others and serve God. Note: I incorporated true financial freedom into the OMD mission and tagline. Crown is running a special free giveaway for The Money Map right now which you can learn more about at their website.
Money Map Coaching
Near and dear to my heart is Money Map Coaching. While you can take the Biblical Financial Study and go to seminars, Money Map Coaching gives you focused help in learning Biblical financial principles, using the Money Map, creating a budget, debt plan and maintaining a spending diary. Coaching is provided by volunteers who have been trained by Crown. You can meet with a Money Map Coach in-person, over the phone, or online. Online coaching is generally 20 minutes which can be extended if needed.
Final Thoughts
I wrote this article because I want to help bring more exposure to Crown. Every little bit helps, right? I don’t receive any financial benefits from writing this article. Rather, my hope and prayer is you and Crown receive the benefit. Crown is a trusted ministry with utmost integrity. If you are looking for a place to extend or stretch your giving beyond giving to your church, I would like ask you to consider giving to Crown. My wife and I donate to Crown each month and I also donate to Crown with some of the earnings through advertising here at One Money Design. Visit Crown.org to donate online.
What has been your experience with Crown or in using their resources and tools?
Excellent article. Can’t wait to read more bout Crown Financial Services
Greetings from California. Very nice article, Jason. My comment about Crown Financial Ministries is that it can be an excellent investment in one’s time, talent, and effort. The gentleman who led the Crown class I took in 1995 later invited me to co-lead with him. We led several groups through the study over the years. 15 years later, I find myself at a different church which also uses the program and needs leaders. As long as there are individuals with money struggles there will be a need to teach the biblical financial principles (God’s Word). So, my advice to all is to get yourself out of debt, but before you even do that, make the “investment” in yourself and then in others. Those investments will reap spiritual rewards into the next generation. Keep up the good work (“The Price is Right!”, you might say!)