Stories of Stewardship

In 2017, Ben and Renée found themselves struggling under the weight of credit card debt, financial stress, and a lack of intentional planning. Money had become a source of frustration and tension within their marriage.

Determined to create a different future, Renée approached me and asked for help.

Through financial literacy education, stewardship principles, budgeting, intentional decision-making, and consistent action, they began changing not only their finances but also the way they communicated and planned together.

Over time, they moved from living paycheck to paycheck to building a fully funded six-month emergency fund and creating greater financial stability for their family.

Their story is a reminder that stewardship is not just about money. It is about creating peace, purpose, and alignment for the future you are building together.

For several years, Rob talked about starting his own community-based services business. We had many conversations about entrepreneurship, ownership, leadership, and what it would take to build something that could serve others.

Then one day, Rob made a decision. He stopped talking about building a business and started building one.

Since 2022, he has successfully operated a Community-Based Supports agency serving individuals through the Division of Developmental Disabilities.

One of my favorite things Rob says to me is: “Stenell, you build bosses.”

The goal was never to build a business for him. The goal was to help him believe he could build it himself.

For years, Jeanne struggled with maintaining a strong credit profile and understanding how credit scores actually worked.

Through education, intentional credit management, and consistent habits, she began improving her credit one decision at a time.

One of the most important lessons she learned was understanding credit utilization. A key principle we discussed was keeping credit utilization below 10% whenever possible and being intentional about how credit is used throughout the month.

Today, Jeanne continues to strengthen her credit profile through consistency, discipline, and stewardship.

Her story is a reminder that credit improvement is not about perfection. It is about understanding the rules, making intentional decisions, and staying committed to the process.

Danielle is a hardworking caregiver who, like many people, sometimes wonders what comes next.

As the cost of living continues to rise, she has found herself thinking about ways to create greater opportunities for herself and her future.

During our conversations, we began discussing the difference between having a job and building something of your own.

Together, we explored the idea that the skills, experience, and knowledge she already possesses may be more valuable than she realizes.

Her journey is still being written. But she is beginning to ask new questions, explore new possibilities, and think differently about what her future could look like.

Sometimes stewardship begins with a decision to believe that more is possible.