Rolling out the "Small Group" Crown classes to our church last spring was a grand success. God opened doors to get certified instructors and sign up people for classes. 35 people enrolled and 32 people finished the classes, a very good completion rate. Here are some testimonies from our "graduates."

"What immediately comes to mind when I think of money? STRESS! So when the opportunity to learn God's financial principles came along, I was jumping at the chance to sign up for the first round of Crown Financial Ministries. My husband on the other hand kept saying to me, 'A 10 week course. I don't think so. I've got too much to do.' And if you know my husband, he's right. He does have too much to do. But, I just kept thinking how much we really need this and how desperately our finances need an overhaul. So, I kept praying that God would open up a convenient time for my husband and I to make it to a weekly class and by God's grace that time was provided.

"The Crown classes came at a very important time in our lives and through this ministry, we have begun to view money, our jobs, and even our relationship, in a new light with a twist from what society tells us is the way it should be. Now we not only have a plan to reconcile our current financial situation, but also a plan for the future. The most important part of this plan is understanding that we are now moving in the direction of sound, biblical principles not only within our spiritual lives but in how we interact with God's money as well."

-Chris and Stephanie Craft

"I started the Crown Financial class about 5 months after I got married, and just about a year and a half after graduating from college. While I think that Crown is great for getting yourself out of financial trouble, I really wanted to learn how to handle my finances in a godly way right at the beginning of financial independence, so as to hopefully avoid ever being in any trouble. I loved our class, which had several individuals and couples that were in very different places in life than me, and could share a lot of wisdom and experience with me. It really is like a small group, and we got to know each other well. The organization of it is great -- we discussed verses and precepts relating to our perspectives, desires, and values with each other, and then had the practical application/budgeting tools to do on our own. The most important part of the Crown class is that it teaches a godly perspective on money and possessions. So while it won't make you rich, if you take it to heart, it will make you much more content with much less."

-Abbey Daniels

"When we enrolled in Crown Ministries, we weren't sure what to expect except to learn how to handle our finances better. Once we started the classes, it opened our eyes to another perspective on how to look at our finances, our possessions, our way of thinking about everything really ~ that it is all God's, not ours.

"After going through the class, we have a fresh, new look on how to go about our spending, saving, pretty much, our whole lives. It was a wonderful experience and we are so glad we did it! 

"Thanks to Diana Casten and Larry Kiser for being such awesome leaders and people!"

-Gina Quimbey

"Taking the Crown Financial Ministries Biblical Financial study has been an eye opening experience. The study teaches us that God is our provider, because he gives us the ability to earn money. I never before completely accepted the statement that God is my provider, especially when I am the one getting up every day and going to work. I always thought I was providing for myself, since I was the one doing the work. I prided myself in my ability to work and "work ethic." Now I know that what I do for a living, I do because God gave me the ability to do what I do, and I acknowledge him as my provider, as a Son acknowledges his own father when he is a boy. I guess growing up and leaving the home, no longer being dependent on my earthly father for provision, made me think that I was providing for myself. I never considered the fact that my heavenly father was providing for me through my job. I now understand that God wants us to realize that he provides for us so we will not become proud in our God given talents and abilities, that we will give him glory for what we have, and that we will be more at peace when giving to a person in need, or a special need in the Church, or outside of the Church, since what we are giving is God's own money, and not our own."

-Eric Hale

"My husband, Bob and I were a part of a Crown Financial Ministry Small Group this past spring and I have to say it was an eye opener for us. I knew God intended for us to be financially free, but I didn’t know just how to get there. The lessons we learned and the close fellowship with our small group during the 14 weeks were invaluable. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to dig deeper into God’s word to find out what He has to say about money and how we as Christians are to use it to His Glory."

-Rebecca Carpenter