GAINESVILLE, Ga. (BP)–Larry Burkett, founder of Christian Financial Concepts and host of the national “Money Matters” radio program, has announced that Christian Financial Concepts has merged with Crown Ministries.
Burkett and Crown’s CEO, Howard Dayton, described the new Crown Financial Ministries as the world’s largest Christian financial ministry.
“It is rare for two healthy ministries to combine into a single organization,” Burkett said. “But this is truly such a merger in which the strengths of each individual ministry will contribute significantly to the new organization.”
Burkett, a Southern Baptist layman, is the author of two resources published by church stewardship services at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. “How Much Is Enough? 30 Days to Personal Revival” and “Jesus on Money” were produced with writer Kay Moore. LifeWay’s church stewardship services also has available several other resources produced by Burkett through Christian Financial Concepts.
Since 1976, Christian Financial Concepts, based in Gainesville, Ga., has focused on teaching biblical financial principals through broadcast media, seminars, resource materials, and volunteer budget counselors. Crown Ministries, begun by Dayton in 1985 and based in Orlando, Fla., utilizes small-group studies in thousands of churches around the country that provide practical, biblical training in financial stewardship.
“We use almost totally different means to accomplish the same objective,” Dayton said. “By combining our strengths, our respective know-how and our experience into one ministry, Crown Financial Ministries will be a new and comprehensive organization large enough to handle the new challenges of a new age, both in this country and around the world.”
With their combined strengths and resources, Crown Financial Ministries, to be based in Gainesville, Ga., is planning an expansion program that will include a new urban initiative, a collegiate initiative, a children/youth initiative and international programs that will help churches around the world become financially self-sufficient.
Burkett and Dayton will serve as co-CEOs until May 2001, after which Dayton will assume the role of CEO. Burkett will serve as chairman of the board of directors for three years. Dave Rae, former president of Apple Computer Canada and vice president of Apple Computer Worldwide, will serve as the new organization’s chief operating officer.
Ron Blue, president of Ronald Blue & Company and a member of Christian Financial Concepts’ board of directors, applauded the merger. “Almost nothing has been done internationally to train Christians to handle money,” Blue said. “The union of these two ministries creates an alliance that can have a far-reaching impact on the church in America and around the world.”
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