What or Who is Crown Financial Ministry and How can it help me?

Have you ever heard of Christian Financial Concepts?  Or Larry Burkett?  What about Crown Ministries and Howard Dayton?  Larry Burkett and Howard Dayton had been acquaintances for years as leaders of their own Christian financial ministries, and friends since the early 1990s. Concurrently, God had impressed both men with the need to expand into new areas for their respective ministries.

Howard recognized that Crown Ministries was doing an excellent job one church at a time with small study groups in many parts of the country and the world. However, he had a vision to reach millions, not thousands. Something was missing.  Larry had seen phenomenal growth in the outreach of Christian Financial Concepts, but the one area he wanted to impact with small study groups was the local church. The radio broadcasts had given Larry ready recognition all around the country and in many parts of the world. But something was missing.

Every once in a while a really good idea comes along, like ministries combining forces to do God’s work better. But then personalities and possessiveness get in the way and it usually falls apart. Not this time. This time the leaders listened to the Lord, and Christian Financial Concepts and Crown Ministries decided to get married.  After much study, discussion, and a lot of prayer, the boards of both Crown Ministries and CFC unanimously agreed to merge into a new organization, Crown Financial Ministries.  The mission of CFC is simply to teach people to handle money according to the financial principles in God’s Word.

Several years ago, God also birthed a desire in the hearts of another two Christian friends to begin a financial ministry at Parkwood.  Tom Parnelle and Brad Reed were first involved on a Benevolence Committee while serving as Deacons, and began to pray about what God would have them to do regarding a broader financial teaching and counseling ministry.  Tom experienced how God had used the ministry of Christian Financial Concepts while serving as Youth Pastor at Unity Baptist Church in Belmont.  Upon researching what teaching materials were available for the local church, they learned of Crown Financial Ministries’ Bible Study materials.  Tom and Brad discussed the material with Parkwood’s Pastors Jeff and Kem, enrolled in one of Crown’s training classes in the summer of 2002, and were certified as Crown Small Group Bible Study Leaders.  A mission statement for the Financial Ministry at Parkwood was developed, which is “to teach the members of Parkwood Baptist Church God’s principles of financial freedom and responsibility in order that they may know Christ more intimately and be free to serve Him.”  Tom and Brad have now completed Crown’s counseling curriculum and are certified as Crown Financial Counselors.

The first Crown Bible Study Group at Parkwood was held in the fall of 2002 with eight participants.  The second cycle of Crown Bible Studies is now in progress, and three of the original eight participants are now co-teaching the curriculum to three Small Groups along with Tom and Brad.  It is our hope and prayer that God continues to bless and expand this ministry at Parkwood by having more people enroll in and complete the Small Group Bible Study.  Afterwards, we hope to have many of the Bible Study graduates volunteer to lead future Small Group Bible Studies, and some continue on and obtain their Financial Counseling certification from Crown.

God’s Word has the answers to the financial concerns you may be facing.  Sixteen of Jesus’ 38 parables were concerned with how to handle money and possessions.  The Bible offers 500 verses on prayer, fewer than 500 verses on faith, but more than 2,350 verses on money and possessions.  Enrollment for the next cycle of Small Group Bible Studies will begin in April.  Please join us as we seek God’s answers to handling our finances together.  To get more information on enrolling in the Crown Class, please contact Parkwood Baptist Church at 704-864-3681 and ask for Barbara Weekly.