Meet Marilyn Butler

David and I grew up in a church, during a time when money was not a topic of conversation. We had little knowledge or wisdom about finances and being a good steward. Turning to the Bible for answers in making financial decisions, was not considered. During the 1980’s, married with children and many responsibilities, like many others in the Houston area, David’s real estate business failed as a result of the real estate crash. Additionally, poor business decisions led to highly leveraged investments, taking us to the brink of bankruptcy. David and I began learning God’s principles for financial stewardship through the ministry of Larry Burkett, founder of Christian Financial Concepts, now Crown. We realized God would meet our family’s needs if we would be obedient to His authority and acknowledge our complete dependence on Him.

God used these circumstances to transform our thinking and our lives, from self-dependence to the realization that we are completely dependent on Him. This brought the peace that passes all understanding even in the face of seemingly insurmountable financial and personal challenges. We put our trust in God’s promises and made a vow to obey Him and follow His principles to the best of our ability. We chose God’s way knowing that He would provide for us, and, more importantly, he would protect our witness for Him.

Now, a distant memory, it was a very difficult time, especially with the responsibility of a family of seven, one, a newborn baby. We began transferring ownership to God and trusting Him in every aspect of our life. We made a commitment before the Lord to pay off our debt, which we knew could take a lifetime. Our Debt List became our Prayer List and we praised God as He directed our steps to free us from the bondage of debt. We came to realize that this experience was not punishment for poor decisions, but preparation for a ministry where David and I were given the opportunity to impact the lives of many people through stewardship principles set forth in God’s Word, and, in doing so, glorify Him.